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Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer most associated with exposure to asbestos fibers. While the use of asbestos has previously been typical in every branch of the military, especially from the early 1940s through the 1960s, it was most commonly used in the Navy, especially in the construction of seagoing vessels. The physical properties of asbestos made it ideal for a wide variety of applications. It is heat and chemical resistant, has incredible tensile strength, is an excellent soundproofing material and has unparalleled insulating qualities. Its capabilities were so dynamic that it was dubbed the 'miracle material' and was employed in literally hundreds of products and processes.
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Unfortunately, those who worked with or otherwise came in contact with asbestos-laden materials were not made aware of its dangers or given the necessary equipment to protect themselves from its harmful effects. For military personnel serving from the 40s through the 70s, this is basically anyone who spent any time in or around a Navy ship, which includes the many Navy personnel stationed on a vessel as well as those being transported on one. It also includes those involved in ship construction and those serving as longshoremen, loading and unloading ships' cargoes. Even those personnel who were not directly in contact with materials aboard ships still ran a risk of asbestos exposure as the material was used in just about every building constructed by the military, including both offices and living quarters.
It is now known that those who served in the military during the years in question suffer an elevated rate of asbestos-related illnesses including mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer and other related diseases. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that there are currently as many as 25 million military veterans living, millions of whom most likely received some level of asbestos exposure during their service. For those working in or around Navy ships the risk is even higher, since asbestos use was so prolific on these vessels.
To think that the dangers involved in this widespread use of asbestos by the Navy is unrealistic. In his 1939 annual report, the Surgeon General of the US Navy talked about the hazards of asbestos use taking place at the New York Navy Yard but his concerns were virtually ignored. There existed at that time definite evidence connecting the use of asbestos with long-term health effects but because of the perceived value of using this carcinogenic material in ship construction, the warnings went unheeded. Asbestos was inexpensive, strong, flexible, heat resistant and held excellent insulating capabilities and was the perfect resource for making warships strong and impervious at a time when designing the most potent weapons was critical to the war effort. In their effort to produce the most powerful armada of warships in history, the US Navy made the decision to basically sacrifice the long-term health of their service members.
Mesothelioma, which is almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos, is a life threatening and, as yet, incurable form of cancer. It has two attributes that make it difficult to diagnose and treat in a timely manner:
Research and advancements in treatments to deal with the four types of known mesothelioma are ongoing, as more and more cases have recently come to light following the unusually long incubation period experienced by most sufferers. For those who served in the military, especially the Navy, between 1940 and 1970, it is critical that any display of known mesothelioma symptoms be taken seriously and that a referral be made to a qualified doctor specializing in this unique field of medicine. The best defense is early detection.
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