BACKGROUND

     How Mesothelioma Affects Veterans

Asbestos exposure is the leading cause of the rare cancer known as mesothelioma.

This cancer affects the protective lining around the lungs called the 'mesothelium.'

Asbestos related lung diseases and cancer are not easily diagnosed and unfortunately, do not trigger in the body until many years after exposure.

There are many individuals who have been exposed to this deadly fiber in their homes and work locations.

Typical environments where asbestos was used are shipyards, construction sites, and places where the fiber was used for insulation purposes.

What most people fail to recognize, however, is that many US veterans who served in the military were also exposed to the toxic hazards of asbestos in their daily routines.

Those who may have been directly or indirectly in contact with asbestos fibers include Navy shipyard workers, other military branches and even civilian workers employed on or off shore in different commands.

Specific jobs that have been researched to contain asbestos in their environments are machinists' mates, machinery repairmen, and those who worked in the boiler room.

There is a higher rate of those workers on different Navy Ships to contract the deadly disease.

This was due to asbestos being used more frequently in shipyards than any other military location in the country.

Since mesothelioma and other lung related diseases are triggered in later stages of life, veterans who were involved in the military between 1940 and 1970 are those that are at an increased risk.

Unfortunately, there were a number of companies during the 40s through the 70s that created products infested with asbestos fibers for military use.

It is even safe to say that exposure caused the individuals infected to bring the asbestos fibers home with them through their clothes gear and contaminate their families.

These companies however, did not know at the time the complications that could arise because of the asbestos, and therefore, could not warn those who were being exposed.

By the 1950s, however, there was a generous amount of information being published about the hazards of asbestos exposure, leaving employers (military and non-military) no excuse to making their employees aware of the danger.

Moreover, the industries that did not tell their workers about the danger knew how much money they would gain by using and distributing products that contained asbestos and were confident they would not be to blame for the adverse reactions years later because of the developed time it takes to develop the lung related illnesses.

Asbestos related diseases are on a path where they are able to increase drastically within the next twenty years.

Fortunately, there is still research being conducted to determine more information about mesothelioma, its causes, its symptoms, and where exactly people have been exposed.

There is not, however, enough being done to determine how veterans will be compensated for the damages done to their health and quality of life.

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MORE INFORMATION

According to statistics, more than 30% of Americans suffering from mesothelioma—a deadly asbestos-induced lung cancer—were exposed to asbestos while serving their country.

Veterans and shipyard workers face the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma or similar diseases because of the extensive use of asbestos in military equipment and products, buildings, ships, and submarines.

This is especially true for veterans who served during or after World War II and before the1970s when the government began regulating use of asbestos.

Sadly, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of American veterans have suffered exposure to asbestos, putting them at higher risk of developing asbestosis, mesothelioma, or other illness.

Veterans who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-induced lung cancer such as mesothelioma have legal rights and may be able to recover compensation for their losses and suffering.

Only an experienced mesothelioma lawyer will know if you have a valid legal claim.

The Risk for Navy Veterans

Asbestos-induced lung cancer is a significant problem among Navy veterans, particularly because the use of asbestos was so very extensive on ships. Virtually no area on a Navy ship built before the 1970s is safe including:

· Fire and engine rooms
· Boiler rooms
· Navigation rooms
· Mess halls
· Sleeping quarters

Additionally, commonly used products such as gaskets, cables, insulation, adhesives, valves, and numerous others contained asbestos.

Navy veterans, like other veterans, were prone to carry asbestos dust home on their clothes, thereby exposing their loved ones to the dangerous fibers.

Veterans' Rights

Veterans groups across the country have started taking action to ensure their rights are protected.

For instance, some veterans organizations have called on Congress to fund early lung cancer detection programs, which is especially important given the long latency period for mesothelioma—usually 30 to 50 years.

Individual veterans, and, in some cases, their families, are filing legal claims to hold responsible parties accountable for the suffering caused by asbestos-induced lung disease.

If you or a veteran you love has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, you may be entitled to seek financial reimbursement for your damages.

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