10 Asbestos Exposure Tips All Experts Recommend
Military Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is used in the construction of Navy ships for pipe insulation, fireproofing and floor tiles. It was also used in ship engines, boilers brakes for aircraft and vehicle vehicles and clutches.
Service personnel exposed to asbestos in bases for military may have developed mesothelioma or other health issues. These veterans include Army personnel, Air Force personnel and Marine Corps personnel.
Navy
The most at-risk group were Navy veterans due to the widespread use of asbestos in ship and shipyards. People who were exposed to asbestos included those working in the construction and repair of naval ships and those who were employed in day-today service aboard vessels.
Asbestos was a popular choice for Navy ship construction since it could provide insulation against heat, fire and water. It was used in the hull of Navy ships and also in engine rooms, boilers rooms and other mechanical spaces. It was also used in adhesives, industrial compound, cabin insulation, and plumbing fixtures.
Due to these uses, many Navy veterans developed mesothelioma as a result of working on or within ships. This includes those who were laggers on Navy vessels (insulators) and mechanics' mates who fixed engine components and machinery containing asbestos packing, as well as damage control workers who perform rescue and firefighting in the event of a hostile attack.
Furthermore, those who served in the Coast Guard face exposure risks due to the fact that military ships typically included asbestos. The main reason for this was the fact that asbestos was a cheap and fireproof material which insulated against cold and heat. It was used in many Navy ships and a variety of military vehicles, aircrafts, and barracks.
Veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma can apply for compensation through the VA's disability compensation system. However an asbestos exposure report is required to prove that the condition was related to military service. This includes the location and time the veteran was exposed to asbestos, and the specific role they were involved in. It must also show that at least half of the veteran's exposure to asbestos was during military service.
Air Force
Asbestos, a mineral that is of natural origin, has distinctive properties that make it a valuable resource in military construction projects. It is durable and fire-resistant, insulates from electric and heat sources, as well as chemical corrosion, and is inexpensive to acquire and use. It was employed in the military from 1940 to the 1990s. In the process, veterans from all branches of the military were exposed to asbestos at high levels. St. Cloud asbestos lawyers who served in this period are at a greater risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma.
As with other branches of the military, the Air Force built its bases with asbestos-containing components. The toxic material was often used in boilers, pipes, and other insulation products across bases. Airmen were exposed to asbestos in bases, such as mess rooms, hospitals and even shops. Asbestos is a very fine and scaly material, so the resulting dust could easily be carried from one area to another by those who were who were on and off base. Mechanics, electricians, custodians and other employees could carry asbestos fibers in microscopic pieces from one area of the building to another on their clothes and in their hair.
mechanics, welders, and other airmen who work on aircraft are also at high risk of asbestos exposure. The fibers that pose a risk could be absorbed into the lungs after inhalation and cause damage to the lung tissues, which often develops into mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the lining within the chest cavity and the lungs. It can cause serious symptoms.
To learn about their legal rights asbestos victims should speak with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. A lawyer can help veterans, or their family, in filing a lawsuit against manufacturers who sold toxic products that exposed them to mesothelioma. These lawsuits seek compensation for companies that place profits over safety.
Army
Asbest was most likely employed by soldiers who served from World War II to the 1970s. These men and women are at risk of developing mesothelioma that is aggressive and other asbestos-related diseases later in life.
Soldiers could have been exposed to asbestos in barracks and bases which contained asbestos. Asbestos was a well-known building material in the era of asbestos because it was fire resistant and long-lasting. It was also inexpensive.
The Army used asbestos in a range of products, such as pipe insulation, fireproofing sprays and flooring materials. These products were employed in the construction and repair of various kinds of vehicles, including tanks, ships, and automobiles.
Asbestos-related diseases can take years to develop, and many veterans were diagnosed after their active military service. During wartime, troops in combat zones were exposed to further asbestos-related risks. These locations had asbestos-containing structures that were destroyed or bombed, releasing toxic fibers into the air. This type of exposure also happened at bases in the United States, as well as at ports and other locations in other countries.
Veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases caused by their military service are entitled to file an VA disability claim. Compensation is based on the degree of the veteran's illness, and the amount of asbestos exposure he or she was exposed to as a military member. The Department of Veterans Affairs will not pay compensation to veterans with mesothelioma if the condition wasn't directly connected to their service in the military. The agency instead offers monthly compensation for veterans who meet the requirements for disability. The money is used to pay medical bills, living expenses, and other expenses associated with the illness.
Marines
Marines may have been exposed to asbestos via military ships, vehicles, bases and aircraft. Marine vehicle mechanics, as well as those who worked on transport vehicles, such as the M60 Patton Tank, were most at danger of being exposed to asbestos. These veterans were exposed asbestos gaskets, brake pads and seals on vehicles. If these materials degraded or were damaged, they released asbestos fibers into the air. Inhaling these fibers can lead to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Navy veterans who served before the 1980s also faced the risk of exposure. Asbestos was used in Navy ship components like boilers, incinerators and engines to guard them from fire and excessive heat. Asbestos fibers could circulate through the compartments of the ship due to the lack of ventilation. As the insulation deteriorated, fibers would be released into the air. Veterans of the Air Force could also be exposed. Asbestos was a component of military aircraft that was found in engine parts, rotors, fuel systems and hydraulic systems.
In 1994 in 1994, the Marine Corps implemented an OSHA-compatible asbestos safety program to protect workers from asbestos. Prior to that, there were hundreds of Marine base facilities, barracks and mechanical shops where haphazard asbestos removal was performed. This was usually done by untrained groups comprised of enlisted soldiers.
Marines exposed to asbestos can develop serious health conditions such as mesothelioma and cancer. Veterans suffering from these ailments are advised to seek specialist care at a VA Hospital or top mesothelioma treatment facilities. It is important to know that mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases have long latency time. This means that symptoms typically don't manifest until decades after the initial exposure.
Coast Guard
Asbestos was utilized throughout the Coast Guard to insulate and fireproof vessels. Coast Guard veterans who served at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard were particularly susceptible to exposure. The yard was home to more than 100 asbestos-contaminated shipbuilding and repair buildings, including barracks, a hangar and an engine shop. Asbestos has also been found in the piping and insulation of a number of Coast Guard vessels. Because of their exposure for a long time to asbestos-containing materials, the veterans are at a high risk of developing mesothelioma as well as other respiratory illnesses.
Like the Navy and Air Force, Coast Guard veterans may have had to endure regular exposure to asbestos in ships and in shipyards. They conducted missions of search and rescue, protected the environment, and protected U.S. coastlines and waterways. Due to the duties of the branch it's not a surprise that asbestos was found in Coast Guard ships and at military bases.
Veterans of the Coast Guard are eligible for VA benefits that will assist in the payment of medical expenses when they suffer from asbestos-related ailments. Due to the lengthy mesothelioma latency time it is essential that victims be diagnosed as quickly as they can.
Veterans of the Army are at risk of mesothelioma due to their frequent exposure to military vehicles, aircrafts and barracks. Asbestos was utilized in military equipment because of its low cost, fire resistance and insulation properties. In the 1980s, asbestos was banned for use in new ways. However asbestos-containing pipe insulation cement sheets floor tiles, floor tiles and roof tiles remained in a variety of military zones. This "legacy asbestos" preserved the danger for soldiers.
Veterans may be entitled to legal assistance to obtain compensation from asbestos manufacturers regardless of the branch of service they were in. While nothing can take away mesothelioma in a veteran, financial assistance could provide some stability for families facing need of help.