In Summary: The risk of exposure to asbestos and other chemical toxins is generally much higher in shipyards, compared to many work environments. Longshoremen, harbor workers, and other employees of maritime ports are subsequently at risk of developing long-term, work-related illnesses. Chronic diseases workers may be at risk of, if they work in a shipyard, include silicosis, cancers, and other respiratory complications.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), shipyards and their workers’ injury and illness rates are nearly double those of the entire U.S. workforce. Additionally, among all types of maritime work, shipyard laborers face the highest work-related injury and illness rates.
Shipyard work includes various types of shipbuilding, cleaning, and maintenance with a range of metals, chemicals, and other potentially carcinogenic materials. As a result, the potential risk of exposure to toxins in shipyards is significantly higher than in other areas of the shipping and maritime industry. The variety of toxins a shipyard worker can come into contact with include:
In general, the risk of exposure comes from inhaling hazardous particlexs or dust. Before 1982, many manufacturing plants made materials, parts, and products with asbestos. These products were considered necessary in the construction of shipyards along longshore, as the risk of fire and corrosive material was great. Today, these particles can be spread into the air from welding, cutting wood or metal, paint, fluids, insulation, and more. Once ingested, the toxic particles (often too small for the eye to see) can become lodged in the tissues and linings of the mouth, throat, airways, stomach, and other organs.
Over time, hazardous exposure to these materials can lead to cell damage and mutations. Some mutated cells can become cancerous – even up to 45 years later. Many of the people who have been diagnosed with a chronic disease as a result of working in shipyards were exposed to carcinogens between 1930 and 1990.
Lung and stomach cancers, mesotheliomas, and chronic respiratory diseases are risks that have been associated with shipyards. Early symptoms of occupational lung diseases include:
Anyone working in or near shipyards can be exposed to its airborne toxins. However, certain occupations have a much higher risk of being affected by cancer-causing agents. Shipyard jobs whose main cancer risks are larynx, lung, and mesothelioma cancers include:
In addition to the risks to workers, members of an individual’s household may also be at risk of exposure to shipyard toxins. Studies of Los Angeles County shipyard workers and their families revealed asbestos-related diseases in members of the worker’s household. Between two and seven percent of children eventually developed asbestosis, and 11 percent of wives showed signs of pulmonary disease.
Some side effects (such as a cough or burning throat) may occur early in a worker’s tenure, though many of the long-term health risks take years to develop. Known long-term health complications caused by toxic exposure in shipyards include the following cancers:
Treatment for cancer typically depends on your stage and prognosis at the time of diagnosis. Surgery may be able to remove large tumors, though other methods (such as chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy) may be used alone or in combination for advanced forms of cancer.
For workers or their family members who have been diagnosed with a chronic disease caused by shipyards, legal and financial aid is available. While workers’ compensation covers victims who are currently employed, others may need to speak with an attorney about their compensation options.
We can help guide you through this process as our team of patient advocates have decades of experience in the field and are connected to the nations top doctors and specialists. Contact us today or download our free Mesothelioma Guide to explore your treatment and legal options.
Destiny Bezrutczyk is a content writer from Iowa and has earned a Bachelor’s in English Language and Literature from Texas Tech University. After working as a freelance script and blog writer, she began writing content for tech startups. Maintaining a passion for words, she took on a variety of projects where her writing could help people. She enjoys spicy food and video games about robots.
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