By Beatrice
If you served in the Navy, you probably never imagined that your time aboard a ship or in a shipyard could lead to serious health problems decades later. Unfortunately, thousands of Navy veterans have been diagnosed with epithelioid mesothelioma, a form of cancer directly linked to asbestos exposure.
Since asbestos was used so extensively in naval vessels, certain job roles carried an especially high risk. If you held one of the roles below, your chances of asbestos exposure, and long-term health consequences, may have been far greater than you realized.
As a boilerman or fireman, your work often involved maintaining and repairing high-pressure steam systems insulated with asbestos. These areas were typically confined and poorly ventilated, making it easy for asbestos fibers to linger in the air. Every time you worked on a boiler or touched insulation, you risked inhaling dangerous particles, putting you at serious risk for diseases like epithelioid mesothelioma later in life.
Machinist’s mates were constantly exposed to asbestos when maintaining engines, turbines, and auxiliary systems. The gaskets, valves, and insulation used in these areas commonly contained asbestos. If you held this position, your hands-on work in engine rooms likely brought you into frequent contact with materials that released asbestos fibers when disturbed.
Pipefitters and plumbers in the Navy worked extensively with asbestos-insulated pipes. If you held this job, chances are you frequently stripped or replaced insulation in tight, enclosed areas. Steam lines and hot water systems were wrapped in asbestos to prevent heat loss.
Every time you removed or disturbed this insulation, you likely released hazardous fibers into the air. This role is one of the most well-documented when it comes to exposure to asbestos in the Navy. That repeated exposure can remain in your body for decades before manifesting as serious conditions like epithelioid mesothelioma.
If you worked in a Navy shipyard building or repairing vessels, your role almost certainly exposed you to asbestos. Older Navy ships were constructed with asbestos in nearly every component, flooring, bulkheads, pipes, and insulation.
During repairs, the cutting, grinding, and removal of these materials released microscopic fibers into the air. It’s no wonder so many veterans who worked in shipyards have later been diagnosed with epithelioid mesothelioma.
As an electrician’s mate, you might not have expected to encounter toxic substances, but your work areas likely contained asbestos as well. Electrical panels, wire insulation, and arc chutes often included asbestos components. In many cases, these materials weren’t labeled, so you may not have even known the risks you were facing.
Engineers and hull technicians were often assigned to maintain ship integrity and perform structural repairs, jobs that required cutting, welding, or grinding near asbestos-insulated components. These activities released large amounts of asbestos dust, which could easily be inhaled or settle on your clothing and gear.
If you served in one of these Navy roles, you were likely exposed to high levels of asbestos without even knowing it. Epithelioid mesothelioma takes years, sometimes decades, to develop. By the time symptoms appear, the disease is often advanced. That’s why it’s crucial to understand your risk and act quickly if you experience breathing issues, chest pain, or fatigue.