Veterans and Mesothelioma Cancer

Among all those individuals in the United States stricken with mesothelioma cancer, veterans represent the group of people with the highest rate of the disease. The reason why is simple. Asbestos, the only known cause of mesothelioma, was used by the U.S. military for literally hundreds of applications. From the 1930s until the late 1970s, veterans - especially those who worked aboard ships or in shipyards - were regularly exposed to hazardous asbestos, a naturally-mined substance whose sharp fibers can be inhaled and can penetrate the lungs, causing scarring and, eventually, tumors.

The branch of the service one served in does not matter. Asbestos was present in many locations owned or frequented by members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Because exposure was unavoidable for some, mesothelioma remains one of the most serious diseases affecting veterans, particularly those who served between World War II and the Vietnam Conflict.

Navy

U.S. Naval veterans are the most seriously affected by asbestos of any group of military men and women. This is because these were most often the individuals who worked both aboard ships and in shipyards. Ships were strewn with asbestos. The mineral could be found in many parts of each ship, from the galley to the gun rooms. Because of its excellent heat-resistant properties it was used in insulation, to cover pipes, as an adhesive, in floor and ceiling tiles, in gaskets and valves, and wrapped around boilers - just to name a few of its many uses. Members of the U.S. Navy were exposed daily and it was not unusual for them to breathe in airborne fibers, which would later result in a diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Army

Even though members of the U.S. Army didn't generally serve aboard ships, they were still exposed to a variety of asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos was inexpensive and readily available, so the government used it in many of the buildings that lined the Army bases in this country and oversees, mainly as insulation. As buildings aged, the material became damaged or crumbly, resulting in airborne dust and the inhalation of tiny, sharp particles of asbestos. As a matter of fact, anyone living or working in an old or ill-repaired base facility - even today - may be susceptible to developing the disease.

Marines

Traditionally, the U.S. Navy and the Marines have enjoyed a close relationship, working side by side, especially in times of war. For that reason, many Marines served on U.S. naval ships, incurring many of the same dangers face by Navy veterans. Asbestos exposure in the tight quarters of ships caused some U.S. Marines to develop mesothelioma, an asbestos-caused cancer. As with members of the Army, Marines may have also encountered asbestos in buildings in their camps or bases.

Air Force

Members of the U.S. Air Force may have encountered asbestos-containing parts in airplane engines, brakes, and other pieces of equipment that were insulated with the mineral to make them more fire and heat resistant. Anyone who serviced or repaired these planes or machinery may have inhaled asbestos dust on a regular basis. In addition, the mineral was used in housing for members of the United States Air Force and their families, largely because it was cheap and easy to come by.