This Is The Advanced Guide To Asbestos Exposure By Mos
Asbestos Exposure in the Military
Asbestos was a widely-used material in military bases, barracks and vehicles until it was found to cause deadly and dangerous health consequences. Veterans from all branches of the military may have been exposed asbestos and be at risk of developing mesothelioma among other diseases.
The Navy veterans are the most at risk of asbestos exposure due to the extensive use of asbestos on Navy vessels. However, Army Veterans who repaired or built ships and motor vehicles also had risks of exposure.
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)
Asbestos had been a popular building material for decades before its detrimental health effects were discovered. Asbestos exposure in the United States military was widespread, with many veterans of every branch exposed to asbestos and developing mesothelioma or other ailments from breathing in the dangerous mineral. Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers, Boston asbestos lawyers, have extensive experience in helping Army veterans obtain VA benefits and compensation relating to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
During WWII the Navy used asbestos extensively in both ships and submarines. Asbestos was likely to be present in compartments, sleeping quarters, and other areas aboard and in nearby shipyards, construction sites, and shipyards.
Air Force veterans may also have been exposed to asbestos during their time in the service. Asbestos is a common component in aircraft, such as fuel systems and rotors. Asbestos was also used for thermal insulation, fireproofing and gaskets.
Navy pipefitters and welders were frequently exposed to asbestos while doing maintenance on Navy vessels. For pipes that ran across the length of a vessel asbestos-containing lagging was frequently employed. Welders in the Navy were often required to remove this lagging prior making repairs. Navy pipefitters were often working with asbestos in the form of loose asbestos, asbestos-containing gaskets, seals, and insulation. One Navy pipefitter named William Smith developed mesothelioma after having lung cancer as a result of his asbestos exposure.
Metal fabricators and steelworkers working in the Navy were frequently exposed to asbestos when working in a shipyard or at construction sites. Asbestos was used for insulation, fireproofing and as a welding material. Inhaling asbestos fibers poses an extremely dangerous health risk for any type welding work especially when it's wet.
Asbestos was a common substance in the work of veterans of the Army, Marine Corps Navy, and Air Force who worked on vessels or motor vehicles. Veterans can focus on the treatment they receive for mesothelioma rather than worrying about everyday living expenses. Veterans could be eligible for compensation for mesothelioma from negligent asbestos manufacturers. These companies were aware of asbestos's dangers and should be responsible for the medical costs of their victims. Asbestos lawsuits have helped many asbestos victims receive substantial compensation.
Symptoms
Many asbestos-related victims have suffered from a variety of serious illnesses. Exposure to asbestos can increase the risk of mesothelioma and lung cancer. These illnesses can take 20 to 50 years to develop. Many veterans who served in Army bases, Navy Shipyards, and Air Force Bases can receive compensation for exposure to asbestos and health issues.
Until the 1980s, the military relied heavily on asbestos-based products. Navy shipyards, Coast Guard yards and Army bases all used asbestos for the construction and repair of naval vessels. Navy sailors are at greater risk of exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is commonly found in ship engine rooms as well as boiler rooms and deck flooring.
In addition, military personnel in various other jobs also were exposed to asbestos, for example plumbers, pipefitters, insulators and auto mechanics. Asbestos is frequently used as a building material to construct walls as well as roofs, doors, and walls. The Navy even employed asbestos to make fireproofing.
These dangerous materials posed a threat to service members' health even when they were off the base or ship. If a person breathed asbestos fibers, they remained in the lungs for long periods of time, and caused scarring to the lung's cells. Over time the scarring on the lungs was so severe that the condition asbestosis was triggered.
Asbestosis, while not cancerous but it can cause other health issues, including mesothelioma. This disease takes between 20 and 50 years to develop following exposure. Mesothelioma is six to nine-times more likely to occur in people with plaques in the pleura. Pleural plaques are a form of asbestosis that is not cancerous.
Exposure to asbestos from the outside can cause mesothelioma as well, particularly if the family member was a laborer or military personnel who worked with asbestos-based materials. This is due to the fact that asbestos fibers can travel through the air. Asbestos victims often brought these harmful fibers home with them on their clothing and exposed to their family members. Secondhand mesothelioma is typically caused by spouses, children and children of asbestos workers. In these cases, the surviving spouse or children of a mesothelioma victim can receive compensation from the VA for the asbestos-related illness of their loved ones.
Treatment
Patients suffering from mesothelioma have a variety of treatments that can help them manage their symptoms, slow the progression of the disease and avoid complications. These include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Most often, doctors recommend a combination of the treatments, depending on the type of asbestos-related illness.
Asbestos was used extensively in military bases as well as aircrafts, ships, and vehicles. It was used in drywall as well as cement mixtures, spacklings and roofing to insulate and protect components. During maintenance and repairs, these materials were disturbed and put workers at risk of exposure.
Marine Corps veterans were exposed asbestos in barracks and on naval vessels during transport as well as when they worked on vehicles and aircrafts. Asbestos was found in the insulation of ships, boiler rooms and electrical wiring, as well as engine parts as well as fabricated items like brake pads and clutches. Marines who worked on vehicles-related equipment were at a high risk of exposure to asbestos because they often interacted with these components.
Asbestos is a flexible and durable material that was used to insulate pipes, valves and boilers. It was also used for floor tile and ceiling insulation. Its properties as an insulator as well as its low cost and simple manufacturing made asbestos a perfect material for fireproofing. Asbestos also resists heat, which helped make it an extremely popular choice for engine components like turbines and engines.
Asbestos has been linked to numerous illnesses including mesothelioma. Lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma are the two most common forms of the disease, and both are caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. These cancers affect the lungs as well as the chest wall, causing malignant tumors to grow.
Those diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease are usually qualified for financial compensation from the asbestos producers responsible for their mesothelioma. The money is used to pay for medical treatment and other support services. To be eligible for these funds, patients must undergo a thorough process that includes getting medical records and other important documents. Many mesothelioma victims have suffered the pain of living with this disease, and it is important to have legal representation to safeguard their rights.
VA Benefits
Veterans suffering from asbestos-related diseases are entitled to disability benefits and compensation. However, it is difficult to prove that the condition is related to their military service. Many symptoms can be confused with other ailments, like smoking-induced COPD. Veterans must submit an VA claim as soon as possible. A mesothelioma lawyer will help veterans gather evidence to support an effective claim.
Each veteran's exposure to asbestos is unique, but certain branches of the military were at higher risk. The exposure of Navy veterans to asbestos was typically the highest because of their work on ships and shipyards. The vessels were contaminated with asbestos in a variety of locations, including the engine and boiler room as well as living quarters and aircraft machinery. Air Force veterans also faced an increased risk when they worked with aircrafts and vehicles that contained asbestos.
Although asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally, it must be mined and processed to be used in the military. If it is not handled in a proper manner tiny asbestos fibers may break up and then become airborne. These tiny fibers can get into the lungs, abdomen and cause irritation of the membranes that line the chest and stomach. Over time these fibers can cause the linings to scar and develop tumors. These tumors are known as mesothelioma, and are the most deadly asbestos-related cancer.
Other types of asbestos-related illnesses that could develop include respiratory issues like chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD). These symptoms can be mistaken for smoking-induced COPD. However, it is important that Veterans visit a doctor to get a precise diagnosis.
Many Veterans who are diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness receive treatment at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami. The facility is just only a short distance from the Miami VA Medical Center. For Veterans who do not live in the region, the VA may provide financial assistance for travel and housing expenses. Fall River asbestos lawyers offer private practice options to patients who don't want to be seen in an VA facility.