Shipyard workers and crew members were routinely exposed to asbestos-containing materials during the World War II era and through the 1980s. At the time, asbestos was thought to be an ideal material to use because of its resistance to corrosion and ability to withstand high temperatures and fires.
However, the side effects of asbestos exposure are still being felt today as past shipyard workers and Navy veterans are still developing asbestos-related diseases. The ships that were built during World War II were heavily contaminated with asbestos. Areas and materials that commonly contained the hazardous mineral were boiler rooms, sleeping quarters, pipes and parts that needed to be insulated.
Due to close quarters and heavy use of ships during the war, materials that contained toxic asbestos fibers were routinely being damaged and replaced. Crew members would often bump into the walls and pipes that contained asbestos insulation, which unfortunately led to the dispersion of asbestos fibers into the air. In addition, the overuse and age of a ship would often contribute to asbestos exposure because the natural deterioration of materials could also release asbestos fibers.
Throughout the 20th century, shipyards across the nation employed hundreds of thousands of workers. Those that were heavily exposed to asbestos usually included welders, painters and machinists on the ships.
Many of the workers did not have access to proper preventative gear to protect them from exposure. In fact, most were completely unaware that exposure to asbestos carried any risk at all. Today, asbestos is a hazardous material that is known to cause several forms of serious disease, including lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Many shipyard employees have either passed away or have been diagnosed with the disease and more are expected as the latency period associated with mesothelioma can range from 20 to 50 years.
Diagnosing this cancer is particularly difficult, as symptoms often resemble those of more common illnesses. In many cases, patients are diagnosed at a time when the cancer has already reached the latest stages of development, leaving them with limited treatment options.
Those who may have experienced asbestos exposure from the shipyard industry should receive regular checkups from a doctor that can recognize signs of exposure. Receiving an early diagnosis gives a person a much greater chance of having a positive effect from treatment.
Additional information about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.
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