Heat-resistant asbestos minerals were a preferred component of many materials used by many US industries until the 1980s when information about their carcinogenic effects started to surface. Today, 33% of all mesothelioma cases in the United States are military vets. This statistic underlines the fact that many of these patients didn’t even know that contact with asbestos was the reason for their sickness. Because it takes between 20 to 50 years after exposure for the first signs of asbestos-caused illnesses to show, more and more people have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases in the past 40 years.

Even though it is toxic, asbestos has many valuable properties that US industries use extensively, including the military. The Armed Forces applied asbestos-containing materials in considerably large quantities, exposing its service members to the hazards of this toxic material. Asbestos was present in the country’s infrastructure, including military installations such as forts, barracks, airbases, ships, and shipyards, because of its fire-resistant and insulating properties. Nationwide statistics count over 100 Air Force bases that used asbestos-containing products. In Nevada,  Hawthorne Army Depot and Nellis Airforce Base are among the potentially contaminated military installations.

Out of all Armed Forces branches, the Navy was one of the largest consumers of asbestos. Pollution with this hazardous material was prevalent on naval vessels built before the 1980s, especially on ships built for WWII. In 1979, a Navy report admitted that virtually all their ships had asbestos. As a result, Navy veterans from WW2, Korean, and Vietnam wars were at a higher risk of developing asbestos diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer than those from other branches of the military.

Vets are still affected by asbestos exposure

Although asbestos use is reduced and regulated, it still represents health and environmental risks on military sites due to its extensive usage in the past. When asbestos is disturbed, veterans are exposed to airborne mineral fibers, forming dust by inhaling or ingesting it. Mesothelioma and asbestosis are exclusively caused by the microscopic mineral particles attacking the lungs in the first place. While asbestosis is a type of pulmonary fibrosis, the scarring of lung tissues, mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the membrane around the lungs, abdomen, heart, or reproductive organs. 

Veterans’ exposure risk depends on their work location because asbestos levels vary between specific service stations. For instance, in the ship’s boiler room, insulation coating the engines may contain up to 15% asbestos. Pipes and gaskets with asbestos insulation contain around 5% to 50% asbestos. Handling asbestos-containing materials poses the risk of generating asbestos dust that can linger in the air for hours, increasing the risk of exposure for everyone around.

As of 2022, 205,615 veterans live in Nevada, and many of them served in places with increased levels of asbestos. These numbers are reflected in the 465 mesothelioma cases and 383 deaths registered from 1999 to 2020 in the state. Investigation into this matter revealed that military service is one of the reasons veterans are at high risk of getting this deadly cancer.  Only recently, in 2024, the Biden Administration finally enforced a ban on asbestos. However, military ships containing asbestos are still in use, continually exposing military personnel to this silent killer. Though new military facilities today are safer, military personnel working in old buildings and ships are still at risk of being exposed to this toxic mineral. 

Help and benefits for veterans injured by asbestos

Veterans routinely in contact with asbestos while serving are now fighting for their health. Unfortunately, many must accept that their asbestos disease will shorten their lives, as today’s treatments can’t reverse the damage done by asbestos fibers. Existing medical procedures can only slow the progression, relieve symptoms, and prevent complications. With Nevada ranking 34th nationwide for deaths related to asbestos exposure, veterans should look after their health with regular check-ups. Early detection is crucial in asbestos illnesses because it maximizes treatment results and prolongs life expectancy.  Inhaled asbestos fibers injure the lungs first; to help receive an exact diagnosis, veterans should take chest X-rays or CT scans and pulmonary function (breathing) tests to reveal any damage caused by the asbestos particles. These tests are also reliable in diagnosing benign and malignant asbestos conditions.

Former service members who know they’ve served in a contaminated environment or who suspect they’ve been exposed should know their rights and options. Veterans diagnosed with an asbestos-linked malignant condition are eligible to file claims with asbestos trust funds and receive disability compensation and possibly free health care from the VA. Until 2022, asbestos-related diseases were not considered presumptive conditions by the VA. However, in 2022, the Senate passed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act), which expanded VA health care and benefits based on presumption, adding 20+ more toxic chemicals and conditions to the eligibility list, including asbestos exposure and  illnesses stemming from it.

Since the passage of the PACT Act, over 6 million veterans have been screened for toxic exposure, and more than 1.4 million veterans have been approved for benefits. We urge veterans in Nevada and nationwide to apply for the well-deserved compensation the VA offers. More information is available at https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/.

 

 

 

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