Air Force and Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos Exposure in the Air Force
By the mid 20th century, asbestos was one of the most widely used building materials in the United States. It is a superior insulation material, inexpensive to process, and easy to work with. Military bases and vessels used materials made with asbestos extensively.
Over the past two decades, there has been a growing acknowledgement in the medical world of the health risks posed by exposure to airborne asbestos. According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, hundreds of thousands—and possibly millions—of living veterans were exposed to asbestos during their military service. An Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry analysis listed military personnel as one of the top job categories for asbestos exposure.
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How Were Airmen Exposed?
Until the early 1970s, there was no government regulation over the use of asbestos. That means that any air base built from the 1930s to the 1970s was filled with equipment and construction materials containing the toxic substance. From the mess halls where pilots ate to their sleeping quarters, airmen were at significant risk of exposure.
Although anyone on the base faced exposure, some Air Force jobs were at particularly high risk, including:
- Construction workers
- Aircraft mechanics
- Demolition crews
- Electricians
- Motor vehicle service technicians
- Base firefighters
- Maintenance crews
Asbestos was found nearly everywhere on an Air Force base, in hundreds of products:
- Vehicle brake pads
- Sealants
- Concrete foundations
- Fire-resistant clothes
- Acoustic tiles
- Pipe insulation for both buildings and piping
- Machinery used to build and fix planes
- Aircraft engines
- Roof tar
Secondhand Asbestos Exposure in the Air Force
Despite current asbestos safety procedures, many current and former airmen were exposed for years before the extent of asbestos health hazards were widely known by the military. Consequently, the number of airmen who will develop an asbestos-related disease remains unknown.
There is also growing concern for the families of these dedicated airmen. Just as secondhand smoke has been shown to carry health risks, environmentalists have pointed out the dangers of secondhand asbestos exposure for military families. Air Force members who were exposed to asbestos on base could have brought the fibers home on their clothes or equipment. Family members also could have exposed to the toxic material in older Air Force housing.
What Are the Specific Dangers of Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is made up of tiny, threadlike fibers. The problem with asbestos isn’t with its installation; the danger comes when materials containing asbestos begin to erode with age or are damaged during repair or demolition. Asbestos fibers break into microscopic particles when damaged and when inhaled, can lodge in the lining of the lungs where they elude the body’s natural defenses. The more asbestos dust produced, the greater the danger. That is why sawing, drilling, sanding, or smashing apart materials containing asbestos creates that much greater a health risk.
The most common disease associated with asbestos exposure is asbestosis, where the fibers scar the lung’s tissue and cause decreased lung capacity. Lung cancer is the second most common asbestos-related disease. The least common but most deadly illness linked with asbestos exposure is mesothelioma, an incurable cancer that attacks the lung, heart or abdominal cavity lining. Doctors now know it can take as little as ten or as many as 40 years to development asbestos-related disease.
Compensation for Air Force Veterans Who Were Exposed to Asbestos
Evidence shows that despite its known dangers, companies and manufacturers chose to continue using asbestos in their products rather than incur the cost of switching materials. Since asbestos was used widely in military installations, their negligence put countless Air Force personnel in danger as they worked on bases.
Air Force veterans who came into contact with asbestos during their service have the legal right to sue the manufacturers that produced and sold the asbestos used in military applications. If you are a veteran who was exposed to asbestos as a result of these companies’ disregard for safety, you may want to see them held accountable for their careless actions. A qualified mesothelioma attorney can help you begin your mesothelioma lawsuit, and get the financial compensation you and your family need—and deserve.