Before the 1980s, asbestos was considered a miracle. It was a mineral that was cheap, yet could make anything more durable and fire-resistant. Naturally, the U.S. Military used it in every application possible for decades. It wasn’t until the 80s that it was publicly known that asbestos-caused cancers, such as mesothelioma. Today, veterans are eligible for compensation if diagnosed with certain cancers.
Asbestos is a carcinogenic mineral that was mined in the United States until the late 1900s. The mineral’s strength, durability, and heat resistant properties led to its widespread use in commercial industries, homes, school buildings, and the military.
Many products that contain asbestos are still in use today:
Several agencies have labeled asbestos a carcinogen, including the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), and the EPA.
When crumbled or disturbed, asbestos fibers create a dangerous dust cloud. It’s easy to inhale or ingest these microscopic fibers. The military used insulation and other products that were significantly friable or easy to crumble when renovated or repaired.
Once asbestos dust enters the body, the fibers attach to the mesothelium, a protective layer that lubricates the organs in the chest and abdomen. The fibers end up lodged in delicate tissue, creating friction against the organs, which eventually leads to the mutation of cells and the formation of mesothelioma or other diseases.
All five military branches relied heavily on asbestos and products that used the mineral from the 1930s until the 1970s, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) restricted its use due to health concerns. However, some military construction used asbestos products as late as 1991.
Decades of widespread asbestos use meant hundreds of thousands of service members were exposed to toxic dust and fibers. The amount of asbestos exposure often depended on the military job or location:
The Air Force became a separate military branch in 1947 when asbestos use was widespread. As a result, the Air Force used the material to build a majority of its structures. Ceiling insulation, walls, as well as floor tiles in buildings and barracks all contained asbestos. Air Force mechanics came into contact with materials like aircraft brake systems, engine valves, and gaskets.
Army buildings and military vehicles also contained large quantities of asbestos. Veterans may have been exposed to the toxic fibers when coming into contact with insulation, cement flooring, roof tiles, and plumbing.
Insulation and plumbing pipes contained asbestos. Marines were exposed to the carcinogen in sleeping quarters, mess halls, and boiler and engine rooms. It was also common for Marines living and working close to Navy shipyards, which contained the largest concentrations of the mineral.
Members of the Navy and Coast Guard faced the highest levels of asbestos exposure. The insulation and paint used on vessels contained asbestos. Boiler and engine rooms on Navy ships, which were often dusty and small, meant thousands of sailors and crew members inhaled or ingested it.
Service members could have potentially exposed their loved ones to asbestos. The microscopic fibers could easily attach to the clothing, hair, and skin of those who worked with the carcinogen daily, and carried it home. Medical professionals refer to this form of exposure as ‘indirect’ or ‘secondary’ exposure.
Asbestos is fire resistant, durable, and cheap to produce. At first, the military used it to protect service members. Instead, many veterans now face a higher risk of developing mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer.
The United States didn’t start removing asbestos products until the mid to late 1970s when lawmakers began to restrict the carcinogen. As a result, the removal of the mineral came long after it was discovered to be harmful to humans.
Around 3,300 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. Nearly a third of those patients are veterans exposed to asbestos during their service. The latency period, or time it takes to develop symptoms after asbestos exposure, is typically between 10 and 50 years. For this reason, veterans are likely to be diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers benefits to individual military members who have developed mesothelioma. Veterans will have to prove their eligibility to receive compensation for medical bills or loss of income. The VA requires a record of the following:
In some cases, the VA may deny benefits, or the benefits may not cover all of the patient’s expenses.
If VA benefits aren’t available, patients may be eligible to seek legal action against companies that manufactured or used asbestos. Asbestos trust funds from bankrupt companies are available for patients seeking compensation. Patients can also file a personal injury claim against the manufacturers that used the carcinogen knowingly.
Legal actions are not against the U.S. military or government and will not affect VA benefits. To learn more about taking legal action, fill out our free case evaluation form, and speak with a legal specialist.
Rachel Ernst is a content writer at Mesothelioma Hub. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she majored in communication and minored in sociology. She hopes to create public awareness about cancer through her writing. In her free time, Rachel likes to be outdoors, watch movies, and spend time with her animals.
Dana M. Hollins, et. al. (2009) A Visual Historical Review of Exposure to Asbestos at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (1962–1972). Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B, 12:2, 124-156. Retrieved on August 20, 2019, from DOI: 10.1080/10937400902729176
John E. Till, et. al. (2019). Asbestos exposure and mesothelioma mortality among atomic veterans, International Journal of Radiation Biology. Retrieved on August 20, 2019, from DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2018.1551641
Ohio State University. (n.d.). Environmental Health and Safety. Retrieved on August 20, 2019, from https://ehs.oregonstate.edu/asb-when
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Learn About Asbestos. Retrieved on August 20, 2019, from https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/learn-about-asbestos#find
Zaebst DD, et. al. (2009). Summary of retrospective asbestos and welding fume exposure estimates for a nuclear naval shipyard and their correlation with radiation exposure estimates. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene. 2009;6(7):404-414. Retrieved on August 19, 2019, from doi: 10.1080/15459620902922573.