Skip to content
Menu
Mesothelioma Lawyer CenterSponsored by Attorney Paul Danziger

Call to learn about getting your best possible financial compensation

800-793-4540
  • Legal Options
    • Pleural Mesothelioma Lawyer
    • Peritoneal Mesothelioma Lawyer
    • Mesothelioma Legal Advice
    • Mesothelioma Law Firms
    • Mesothelioma Claims
    • Mesothelioma Lawsuits
    • Class Action Mesothelioma Lawsuit
    • Mesothelioma Compensation
    • Asbestos Trust Funds
    • Mesothelioma Settlements
    • Mesothelioma Verdicts
    • Asbestos Lawyers
    • Mesothelioma Wrongful Death
    • Mesothelioma Personal Injury
    • Determining Case Value
    • Trust a Mesothelioma Commercial?
    • Mesothelioma Case Rejected?
    • Lawyers by State
    • Mesothelioma Lawyers in Canada
  • Mesothelioma
    • Mesothelioma Treatment Guide
      • Top Mesothelioma Doctors
      • Top Mesothelioma Cancer Centers
      • Surgery
      • Chemotherapy
      • Radiation Therapy
      • Multimodal Therapy
      • Alternative Treatments
      • Mesothelioma Treatment Costs
    • Mesothelioma Symptoms
    • Mesothelioma Diagnosis
      • Mesothelioma Prognosis
      • Mesothelioma Life Expectancy
      • Mesothelioma Remission
      • Mesothelioma Support
    • Mesothelioma Causes
    • Mesothelioma Types
      • Pleural Mesothelioma
      • Peritoneal Mesothelioma
      • Pericardial Mesothelioma
    • Mesothelioma Stages
      • Stage 1
      • Stage 2
      • Stage 3
      • Stage 4
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Mesothelioma Statistics
    • Mesothelioma and Talcum Powder
      • Talcum Powder Lawsuits
    • Mesothelioma and Women
    • Mesothelioma Misconceptions
    • Mental Health
  • Veterans
    • Veteran Claims
    • Navy
      • Ships and Asbestos
      • Shipyards and Asbestos
    • Air Force
    • Army
    • Coast Guard
    • Marines
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Asbestos
    • Asbestos Cancer
    • Asbestos Diseases
      • COPD
      • Interstitial Lung Disease
      • Lung Cancer
      • Pleural Effusion
    • Asbestosis
    • Asbestos Exposure
    • Asbestos Manufacturers
    • At Risk Jobs
    • Asbestos Industry Cover-ups
    • Asbestos Laws
  • Settlements We’ve Won
  • Who We Help
  • Reviews of Our Services
  • About Us
Home / Veterans & Mesothelioma Cancer Guide

Veterans & Mesothelioma Cancer Guide

Page Updated on February 08, 2022
Paul Danziger Page Reviewed and Edited by Mesothelioma Attorney Paul Danziger

For more than half of the last century, the military used asbestos for shipbuilding, repair, and construction of different facilities. The armed forces utilized the toxic mineral primarily to resist heat and fire. In turn, many veterans developed mesothelioma, a fatal disease caused by asbestos exposure.

If you or a loved one suffer from mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for substantial compensation. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file an asbestos trust fund claim, and much more. 

FREE Financial Compensation Packet

  • Info on law firms that will recover your highest compensation
  • Learn how to get paid in 90 days
  • File for your share of $30 billion in trust funds
Send My Free Packet >
Financial Compensation Packet

Free Financial Compensation Packet

    Financial Compensation Packet
  • Info on law firms that will recover your highest compensation
  • Learn how to get paid in 90 days
  • File for your share of $30 billion in trust funds
Send My Free Packet >
veteran

Asbestos: Helpful But Deadly

As useful as asbestos-laden materials might be, they also pose serious health risks.

Exposure to the sub-microscopic fibers found in asbestos causes serious illnesses that can affect the lungs, abdominal cavity, and other organs, in a rare form of cancer known as malignant mesothelioma.

Many veterans worked around and with asbestos-containing products, which put them at direct risk of developing the deadly disease. Airborne asbestos fibers are odorless and easily inhaled without detection.

History of Asbestos Use in the Military

Connections between asbestos exposure and health problems were known for decades, but companies suppressed that information for many years. The widespread use of asbestos-laden materials in the military peaked in the 1940s during World War II.

World War II and Asbestos Use

All branches of the military used asbestos before the late 1970s. The U.S. Navy was an especially large user of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), particularly during World War II. Large amounts of asbestos were added to the building materials used to build Navy vessels of all types to help protect them from fires.

Asbestos was also widely used in naval ships and shore facilities built between World War II and the early stages of the Vietnam War. Asbestos materials can be found mainly in fire-prone areas such as ships’ engineering spaces and boiler rooms.

Not only were combat and support ships’ hulls made with asbestos-laden steel, but their electrical systems, including the insulation and wiring, were also manufactured with asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).

The Navy and Asbestos

The U.S. Navy has always considered fire at sea one of the biggest hazards to its ships and their crews. In turn, measures are taken to reduce fire-related damage. Therefore, many Navy personnel assigned to refit or repair naval vessels were exposed before the health risks of asbestos were officially acknowledged in the 70s.

After the U.S. entered the war in late 1941, the Navy expanded in size to meet the needs of a global conflict. The U.S. Navy started World War II with several hundred warships and auxiliary vessels, but by the time the war ended in August of 1945, it operated over 1200 warships.

All of these vessels, whether they were combatants or support craft such as tankers and transports, were full of asbestos.

Warships were especially packed with asbestos. Almost every compartment or component of a fighting ship had asbestos insulation or parts built with the mineral to prevent fires from spreading. In addition, sailors assigned as firefighters wore protective gear such as fire proximity suits made from asbestos fibers.

Although the Navy’s intentions may have been geared toward safety, the long-term effects of extensive use of asbestos in its ships proved to be negative.

Working with Asbestos

As early as the 1960s, many ex-sailors, Marines, and shipyard workers began to show symptoms of asbestos diseases, including asbestosis and mesothelioma. Also, many World War II-era vessels were in active service in Korea and Vietnam. This exposed even more people to asbestos long after World War II ended.

At the height of asbestos’ widespread use, military and civilian personnel in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard were exposed to asbestos fibers in tiles, construction materials, automotive parts (such as brakes and clutches), and the insulation used in steam pipes.

Engineers and construction workers involved in erecting or renovating barracks, repair facilities, offices, and schools on military bases are thus more likely to be exposed to asbestos fibers. However, due to the widespread use of asbestos before its initial restriction by the U.S. government in the late 1970s, anyone is at risk of being exposed.

Korean War and Asbestos Use

Similar to World War II, military personnel during the Korean War were exposed to asbestos. A good majority of equipment used during the Korean War was manufactured during the World War II era.

Along with the Merchant Marine and Navy ships that were created with loads of asbestos, barracks, chow halls, shops, and buildings that housed all branches of the military were laden with asbestos during the Korean War.

Many who served in the Korean War began experiencing mesothelioma and asbestosis symptoms during the 1980s, and by the 1990s, thousands were diagnosed with these dangerous diseases.

The average age of those who served in the Korean War who developed an asbestos-related disease is around 65 because of the long dormancy period associated with the illnesses.

As veterans reach their 70s, more cases of mesothelioma come to light as symptoms of mesothelioma begin to surface. As diseases go, mesothelioma is not a common affliction. Averages of 3,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.

Vietnam War and Asbestos Use

Vietnam veterans were also exposed to asbestos in numerous ways. Regardless of what branch the veterans served in during Vietnam, the risk of asbestos exposure was extremely high, resulting in thousands upon thousands of severe illnesses.

The Navy particularly placed veterans at the highest risk for exposure. Every naval ship contained asbestos in various parts, from tiles, cables, pipes, and gaskets. Of course, this is not to say that veterans in other service branches weren’t at risk for exposure.

Much like the wars that preceded Vietnam, asbestos was used in motorized vehicles, barracks, insulation, ceiling tiles, flooring tiles, brakes, gaskets, and more.

Suppression of Health Risks

The asbestos industry did its best to cover up evidence of the dangers of asbestos for many years. As early as the 1920s, doctors in Great Britain discovered a link between asbestos fibers and respiratory illnesses affecting workers who inhaled them at their workplaces.

Most of these early warnings were dismissed by the asbestos industry. Asbestos fibers, which cause asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, continued to be used by both the military and civilian industries for many years.

The U.S. stopped mining asbestos in 2002, but many military and civilian workers continue to face asbestos exposure.

If you served in the military and have an asbestos illness, contact a lawyer to find out what you can do about it.

Getting Help

If you’ve been injured by asbestos, keep in mind that there is a good chance that you’ll qualify for considerable compensation. Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. If you have questions or need additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540. 

FREE Financial Compensation Packet

  • Info on law firms that will recover your highest compensation
  • Learn how to get paid in 90 days
  • File for your share of $30 billion in trust funds
Send My Free Packet >
Financial Compensation Packet
Calculate Your Case Value >
Paul Danziger

Page Reviewed and Edited by Mesothelioma Attorney Paul Danziger

Paul Danziger grew up in Houston, Texas and earned a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. For over 25 years years he has focused on representing mesothelioma cancer victims and others hurt by asbestos exposure. Paul and his law firm have represented thousands of people diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer, recovering significant compensation for injured clients. Every client is extremely important to Paul and he will take every call from clients who want to speak with him. Paul and his law firm handle mesothelioma cases throughout the United States.

Full bio and contact info

References
  1. http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/asbestos/
  2. http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/asbestos/index.asp
  3. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/type/mesothelioma/about/what-mesothelioma-is
  4. http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/asbestos/index.asp
  5. http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2006/1298/c1298.pdf
  6. http://www.defencetalk.com/asbestos-exposure-in-the-us-navy-24124/
  7. http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/asbestos/index.html
  8. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra050152
View All References

Navigation
  • Home
  • Legal Options
  • Mesothelioma
  • Veterans
  • Asbestos
  • Settlements We’ve Won
  • Who We Help
  • Reviews of Our Services
  • About Us
  • Blog
Contact Information
Office Address:
1225 North Loop West Houston, Texas 77008

Handling mesothelioma cases nationwide

Call to learn about getting your best possible financial compensation

800-793-4540

Follow Us
MesotheliomaLawyerCenter.Org BBB Business Review
Sponsor: Paul Danziger, Attorney

The information provided by MesotheliomaLawyerCenter.org is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Standards
  • Contact Us
©2023 | MesotheliomaLawyerCenter.org