Exposure to Asbestos in the Military
A hidden enemy
Throughout the last century, U.S. military personnel served our country with bravery and honor, knowingly putting themselves in harm’s way to protect and defend our nation. Many gave their lives in war. But there was an unrecognized enemy in their midst, a silent killer lurking on their ships.
Asbestos use was rampant in the military services, particularly on navy ships and in shipbuilding facilities. Tens of millions were exposed and many thousands subsequently suffered asbestos-related diseases. In fact, former members of the armed services and those who worked building their ships and other facilities account for up to 30 percent of cases of malignant mesothelioma, the most deadly of asbestos-related diseases.
Asbestos in the U.S. Navy
Anyone who served in the Navy from the 1930s through the 1970s was almost certainly exposed to asbestos. In the Navy, the use of asbestos on ships was due to its fireproofing and heat resistance. Asbestos was used throughout ships where Navy personnel worked and lived, so exposure was 24 hours a day, seven days a week in:
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Close quarters on ships also provided many opportunities to bump into exposed asbestos and release the fibers into the air, where asbestos dust would accumulate and linger. Products containing asbestos were used on ships and in shipyards during this period, including:
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Asbestos is still contained in some Navy ships that survive from the Vietnam War era. Even newer ships use asbestos when inadequate or no substitutes are available.
Widespread asbestos use in the military services
The other branches of the military services were not spared from these risks, either. Asbestos was present in the military aircraft of the U.S. Air Force, where it was used in airplane engines, brakes, and other equipment. Members of all branches of the service and their families were exposed to asbestos in military facilities and base housing. Even today, many military bases still contain asbestos building materials.