Pericardial Mesothelioma, Type o Mesothelioma

Many Navy veterans who were responsible for building and maintaining warships are reported to be at particularly high risk for developing mesothelioma or other asbestos cancer diseases. This is because many different types of products containing asbestos were used on the ships and the ventilation systems were very poor.

Consequently these Navy personnel were frequently exposed to highly concentrated levels of asbestos dust in fire and engine rooms, boiler rooms, navigation rooms, mess halls and sleeping quarters. In fact, because signs of malignant mesothelioma may not show up for 30 to 40 years after being exposed to asbestos, it is only recently that a rise in the number of mesothelioma cases among Navy veterans and shipyard workers is being reported.

Navy veterans who worked below deck on naval warships or submarines are those most likely to develop mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. They worked (and sometimes lived) in extremely tight quarters with dangerously high levels of asbestos dust lingering in the air. Poor ventilation systems prevented adequate air exchange and resulted in highly concentrated levels of asbestos to remain in the air for Navy personnel to breathe in. Unfortunately, because Navy veterans and shipyard workers carried the asbestos dust and fibers home on their clothes it is not uncommon for loved ones, particularly those responsible for handling the laundry, to also find that they have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Where Was Asbestos Found Aboard Navy Ships?

Asbestos could be found in nearly any area of a naval ship, as it served myriad uses within these vessels. However, most often, asbestos was used in an insulation capacity. Some of the areas asbestos was found include boiler/steam valves, piping, and related fixtures. Those who worked closest to asbestos within vessels were often those who conducted repairs of this type of fixtures. Oftentimes, the repairs of these materials necessitated disturbing older products by chipping and grinding- which would release asbestos fibers into the surrounding air. Because of this, it is not unusual for those who have worked extensively aboard naval ships or in naval shipyards to develop asbestos-related health complications like pleural mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other respiratory conditions as a result of exposure to asbestos.