The United States Department of Veterans Affairs stated that out of the millions of veterans who have served the country, hundreds of thousands have been exposed to asbestos during their service. Veterans were exposed to asbestos while working on naval vessels where asbestos was used as the main form of insulation.
Used by every military branch in the United States, over 300 products containing asbestos were used by the Navy and other military sectors from the 1930s through the 1970s. Products containing asbestos were utilized due to its fire and heat resistant qualities. The mineral frequently appeared as insulation for ships, aircraft, vehicles and buildings.
Shipyard workers, sailors and tradesman aboard these ships were wrongfully exposed aboard navigation rooms, sleeping quarters and mess halls. Asbestos was so valued that its use was not phased out by the military until the 1970s.
In 1983, the Navy Asbestos Control Program was created to help facilitate compliance with asbestos-related regulations set by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Despite these actions, many veterans continued to be exposed to high levels of asbestos even after the Navy began to replace contaminated ships.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, officials discovered that the number of deaths relating to asbestos exposure steadily increased between 1999 and 2005. Approximately 30 percent of those diagnosed with mesothelioma are veterans.
Mesothelioma and asbestosis are rare illnesses caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are reported every year in the United States alone, while 10,000 are reported worldwide. Mesothelioma develops in the mesothelium, the thin layer of tissue that lines the area around the heart, chest cavity and the abdominal cavity, as well as the outer surface of most organs. Due to the fact many symptoms of mesothelioma mimic those of less serious conditions; diagnosis of mesothelioma is a difficult task.
Although mesothelioma is an aggressive disease, many veterans have found themselves living a long life, even with the illness. Those who served decades ago are beginning to demonstrate symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses, which can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years to develop.
For more information on veteran asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, please visit the Mesothelioma Center.
This entry was posted on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 10:00 am and is filed under Asbestos Exposure, Jobsite Exposure, Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.
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