Asbestos Used In Navy Vessels May Put Veterans, Shipbuilders at Risk

For years, asbestos was a key building material in nearly every vital component of U.S. Navy ships. Asbestos’s unique flame and temperature retardant properties made it ideally suited to Navy ships’ purpose as combat vessels.

But, in the long run, asbestos may have cost far more lives as a hazardous substance than it ever saved through its fire-resistant attributes. Thousands of Navy vessels, especially in the war eras of the 1940s and 1970s, were heavily laced with asbestos, even after its dangerous nature began to become apparent to key decision makers. Now, it is well-established that asbestos exposure can lead to serious health consequences, and legal help for asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma victims is available for those impacted by asbestos exposure in naval service or support roles.

Those Exposed To Asbestos in Naval Service at Risk for Several Diseases

Asbestos is a fibrous material that occurs naturally in the environment, and we all breathe in tiny amounts of asbestos that hang in the air. But, when exposure to asbestos is concentrated, particularly over a long period of time, it can have severe negative health consequences, including:

• Pleural plaques, scarring in the area surrounding the lungs and the inner surface of the rib cage that causes breathing problems
• Asbestosis, scarring of lung tissue that, compared to pleural plaques, typically results in more severe breathing problems
• Cancer, primarily lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining or abdominal cavity

Often, these diseases do not appear until years after the initial asbestos exposure.

Although millions of U.S. Navy veterans and workers in American shipyards have been exposed to asbestos over the years, many of them are unaware of it until the onset of a serious health condition. While any Navy veteran or shipbuilder could have encountered asbestos, those involved in mining, milling, insulation work, demolition, carpentry, construction and certain manufacturing processes are particularly likely to be at risk for lung conditions.

Get Help From an Asbestos Lawyer

Navy personnel exposed to asbestos may have several avenues to pursue compensation. Veterans who encountered asbestos during military service may be entitled to VA benefits for, among other things, health care and disability compensation. Veterans, shipyard contractors and other workers may also be able to make legal claims for monetary damages beyond any government-provided benefits.

If you were exposed to asbestos in naval endeavors, you deserve compensation for putting yourself at risk in service to this country; if a loved one has died due to a Navy-related illness, his or her family should be taken care of in light of this ultimate sacrifice. Contact an attorney specializing in asbestos, lung cancer and mesothelioma cases today to learn more about the monetary recovery you may be entitled to.