Asbestos Exposure and Military Personnel: Risks and Compensation

The enemy wasn’t the only danger that service members faced.

Unknown to the United States military, they bought asbestos goods based on their benefits from manufacturers who failed to disclose the inherent dangers of inhaling the toxic material. As a result, service members who lived in asbestos-constructed quarters and handled asbestos products have been exposed to numerous health risks.

Asbestos Exposure to Military Personnel

Asbestos Exposure in the United States Navy

The U.S. navy saturated most of its ships with asbestos products due to its heat resistance capability, thus exposing the captains and crew members to the material’s toxicity. Asbestos exposure in the U.S. navy has left many veterans to pay the price with their health after decades of service.

The areas with more concentration of asbestos in the naval ships were below-deck compartments, such as in ammunition storage rooms, boiler rooms, mess halls, engine rooms, and sleeping quarters. Hence, more than one-third of individuals who file asbestos-related lawsuits are veterans who have served in the navy.

Asbestos Exposure in the United States Army

The 20th century saw the United States Army service members exposed to asbestos fibers in the homes, barracks, and buildings where they ate, slept, and worked. Materials used to cover pipelines contained asbestos and were used to make cement, roofing, and flooring.

Although asbestos was no longer used in new construction by the late 1970s, it was still found in Army installations years later. 32 Army bases were decommissioned or relocated before the turn of the century due to the exposure caused by asbestos. It was regarded as one of the primary pollutants, necessitating a $1 billion environmental clean-up.

Asbestos in the United States Marines

Marines were most at risk of asbestos exposure when traveling to warring zones in armored cars, planes, and ships. The exposure was also derived from the bases where they were housed and trained.

Like the other armed forces personnel, marine mechanics and repairers were among the military members who diligently, but unknowingly, handled friable asbestos that discharged deadly dust into the air. This caused mass exposure.

Factors That Exposed Military Personnel to Asbestos Exposure

World War II involved widespread military use of asbestos.

Due to the lack of data, the number of World War II veterans who have passed away from asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma cannot be determined with any degree of accuracy. Nevertheless, no generation of combat heroes had ever been more exposed to the ravages of this deadly material.

Asbestos materials helped fireproof military vehicles, buildings and equipment, but they pose huge health risks.

Leaders in the navy believed that items containing asbestos were perfect for use on ships and submarines, except for the surgeon general, who expressed concerns about asbestos’ potential health risks in 1939. Sadly, this cautionary warning was disregarded, and the army, air force, and marines followed the navy’s example.

Government officials had designated asbestos as a much-needed material before the United States entered World War II—shortages caused by the product’s global demand surpassing its supply frightened military authorities.

The Korean War and Asbestos Exposure

Almost all forms of transportation utilized during the Korean War contained asbestos, including ships, aircraft, jeeps, tanks, and trucks. On ships constructed during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, asbestos was found in more than 300 parts.

A veteran of the navy, Jeff Burdine from Salem, Ohio, served on the USS Neosho for two years during the Korean War. According to the News Herald of Port Clinton, he received an asbestosis diagnosis in 2012.

Cleaning asbestos-insulated steam pipes was one of Burdine’s usual tasks. He felt that the Navy was the only source of asbestos exposure, even considering his post-navy work experience, which made him eligible for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.

Asbestos Exposure from Burn Pits in Iraq 

When stationed abroad, the military must figure out how to eliminate all kinds of waste and garbage without domestic standards. The military used burn pits for a long time to create and sustain a solution to this issue. 

The smoke from these burn pits was highly poisonous and hazardous to breathe in. In addition, exposure to asbestos-filled fumes resulted in various illnesses and diseases for service members in Iraq and Afghanistan.

AsbestosClaims.Law

For Justinian C. Lane, getting compensation for asbestos victims is personal.

Justinian’s grandparents and his father all worked with asbestos in their younger years and died from asbestos-related cancers in their later years.  

At the time of each of their deaths, no one in Justinian’s family knew that they were eligible to file an asbestos lawsuit and to seek compensation from the asbestos trusts.

Because no one in Justinian’s family knew their options, they never received any compensation for the death of their loved ones. 

If you believe that you or your family member’s injury was related to asbestos exposure, you could be entitled to significant compensation.

This is money you could use to cover the costs of asbestos removal services, pay for medical treatment, and preemptively protect your physical well-being. 

There are also asbestos trusts that offer compensation much more quickly and easily (without filing a lawsuit.)

If you’d like help with filing a claim, please get in touch by email at [email protected], or call or text us at (833) 4-ASBESTOS (427-2378) or (206) 455-9190. We’ll listen to your story and explain your options. And we never charge for anything unless you receive money in your pocket.

In addition to legal claims, veterans disability, social security and employment protection like workers compensation, FELA and The Jones Act for maritime workers, there are asbestos trusts that have been set up to compensate those harmed by asbestos without having to file a lawsuit.

There is no risk or cost to speak with one of our staff about your asbestos litigation. There are no fees unless you receive money.

If you have any additional questions or concerns related to asbestos, check out our website and YouTube page for videos, infographics and answers to your questions about asbestos, including health and safety, asbestos testing, removing asbestos from your home and building, and legal information about compensation for asbestos injuries.

Introducing the largest database of asbestos information on the planet.

W.A.R.D., which stands for the Worldwide Asbestos Research Database, helps clients to narrow down when and where they may have been exposed, as well as which products may still contain asbestos. W.A.R.D. will also help indicate compensation types and how much a person may be entitled to.