Mesothelioma: A Threat To Naval Forces

Navy veterans, as well as veterans of the other U.S. military branches, may at some point in their lifetimes develop mesothelioma cancer. In fact, although exposure to asbestos, which has proven to lead to the contracting of mesothelioma, occurred in U.S. Army and Marine barracks, vehicles, amphibious craft, etc., asbestos exposure was most prevalent among veterans of the U.S. Navy. Asbestos was the material of choice because of its resistance to heat and its outstanding ability to insulate. Asbestos was the least expensive choice for building not just military barracks, but all types of ships and other watercraft.

Cancer-causing asbestos was used in ship building from the 1930’s, through World War II, during the Viet Nam Conflict era, and on into the late 1970’s. The use of asbestos in building watercraft and in construction of ships was not ceased until the early 1980’s when scientific evidence of the cancer producing quality of asbestos exposure was finally determined and evidence was released to the public that asbestos does indeed cause mesothelioma.

Navy veterans may show no signs or symptoms of having contracted mesothelioma for as many as twenty or more years.

Mesothelioma, or malignant mesothelioma, is a form of cancer that appears in the protective membrane that lines many internal organs of the body. The primary cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma that begins in the pleura or lining of the lungs may induce the following symptoms:

• Persistent coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain and discomfort
• Wheezing while breathing
• Hoarseness while speaking
• Blood in the sputum

In the most severe instances/cases, tumors in the tissue of the lungs can metastasize or migrate to other internal organs of the body and even to the bones by invading bone marrow. Other symptoms which may occur as a result of the cancer spreading include problems with swallowing and facial swelling, and pain in the legs.

Pleural mesothelioma of the lungs is only one of three types of mesothelioma which may be contracted as a result of Navy veterans having been exposed to asbestos.

Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the abdominal cavity.  Peritoneal mesothelioma may cause the following signs or symptoms to appear:

• Fever
• Anemia
• Obstruction of the bowels
• Loss of weight
• Swelling of the stomach as a result of a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity

A third type of mesothelioma is called pericardial mesothelioma.  Pericardial mesothelioma affects the lining of the heart, causing an accumulation of fluid between the tissues of the heart itself and the lining of the heart. 

Pericardial mesothelioma may produce the following symptoms among Navy veterans who have been exposed to cancer-causing asbestos:

• Chest pain
• Mild to severe irregularities in breathing patterns
• Coughing
• Fatigue that does not go away over time and periods of rest
• Irregular heartbeats

Cures for the three types of mesothelioma have not been found, but treatment procedures have been established which may lead to prolonged life and improvement of the quality of life. 

Once discovered in the lung cavity or elsewhere, surgery can be done to remove as much of the tumor as possible.  By itself though, surgery may not be effective.  Surgery is most often accompanied by chemotherapy and radiation.  All three have been proven to extend the lives of patients who are suffering from mesothelioma.  Lives may be extended from months to as many as twelve years or more.  Twenty-one percent of mesothelioma cancer patients live for at least two years.

Naval workers were exposed to deadly cancer-causing asbestos particles while involved in the construction and renovation of warships. They were also exposed during the demolition of ships and while performing maintenance. Navy personnel serving on board these ships constructed with asbestos often breathed in tiny asbestos dust particles. When asbestos is dry and becomes brittle, this dust is released into the air and breathed in by those present. These are the particles that adhere to the linings of the lungs, heart, or abdomen. These are the fibers that may lie dormant for many years but may eventually lead to the contraction of one of the three types of mesothelioma cancer.

Due to the fact that asbestos was used in ship building, there were several shipyards in the U.S. where workers were exposed. They include the following:

• Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
• San Francisco Naval Shipyard in California
• Washington Navy Yard located in the District of Columbia
• Philadelphia Naval Shipyard/ Naval Base
• Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth , Virginia
• New London Shipyard also known as New London Naval Station in Groton, Connecticut
• Long Beach Naval Shipyard in California
• Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Hawaii
• Brooklyn Navy Yard near Brooklyn, New York
• Charlestown Navy Yard also known as Boston Navy Yard in Massachusetts
• Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California
• Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington

Types of ships on which cancer-causing asbestos was used for all types of construction purposes include battleships, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, destroyers, destroyer escorts, frigates, escort aircraft carriers, patrol boats, minesweepers, submarines, amphibious ships, aircraft carriers, cruisers, etc.

• Enginemen
• Boiler Technicians
• Fire control personnel
• Electrical Technicians
• Damage Control Men
• Construction workers and mechanics

Cancer-causing asbestos still exists on some Naval ships today, embedded in brakes, gaskets, clutches, and other older construction materials.  Naval records indicate that asbestos can also be found in insulating materials, pipe coverings, deck covering materials, boilers, coatings, valves, thermal materials, gaskets, cables, meters, capacitors, adhesives, and instruments.

The Navy was first made aware that asbestos was a health hazard contributing to asbestosis when the Surgeon General’s office published a report on health conditions at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.  That report stated that pipe coverings and insulation had exposed Navy workers to asbestos particles.  The Navy was aware of this fact in 1939, but continued the use of asbestos in shipyards for the next forty years.  The number of Navy men and women who did duty on board these vessels, and who may have as a direct result been breathing in asbestos particles is staggering.