Military Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos Exposure in the Army

For Army service members, the risk of asbestos exposure was highest during World War II and the 1980s. As the Army expanded during this time, so did their use of asbestos. It was commonly used in barracks, vehicles, ships, and World War II-era aircraft. While cleanup of asbestos has occurred since its hazards became known, those who were exposed could still develop asbestos-related illnesses all these years later. 

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Asbestos Exposure in the Air Force

Asbestos was mostly used in Air Force aircraft, with aircraft mechanics having the highest risk of exposure. It was extensively used in plane parts that were at higher risk of overheating or causing fires. These ranged from brakes to electrical wiring, and heat shields for engines to the cockpit heating systems. Much of the insulation in these aircraft also contained asbestos. The hope in using asbestos insulation was that the aircraft wouldn't catch fire easily in certain scenarios. 

Asbestos Exposure in the Marine Corps

Due to the Marine Corps presence on ships, aircraft, and armored vehicles, they had a higher likelihood of exposure to asbestos than Air Force or Army veterans. Depending on their MOS, they were likely exposed to all of the asbestos products that the Army, Air Force, and Navy veterans were. They could have developed asbestos-related diseases from asbestos exposure in shipyards, on ships, in aircraft, and in military vehicles.

Asbestos Exposure in the Navy

Navy veterans have the highest risk of asbestos exposure out of all the military branches. All of their vessels were loaded with asbestos products during construction prior to the 1970s. The vessels that were already in use remained in use for many years after production halted, meaning many Navy veterans could have been exposed to asbestos even after the 1970s. Due to the confined spaces and amount of asbestos used on Navy ships, Navy sailors were constantly breathing in asbestos fibers. This has caused many of these sailors to develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases since then.

Asbestos was located in everything from engine rooms to storage rooms. Most sailors slept in rooms with exposed pipes covered in asbestos. All it took to disturb that asbestos would be to bump the pipes and then that could release the asbestos fibers and put the sailor at risk of developing an asbestos-related illness. 

Any construction, repair, renovation, or demolition on ships could have exposed navy sailors to asbestos. Everything from deck tiles to insulation, pumps, and motors potentially contained asbestos. This meant that any sort of disturbance of these could have released asbestos fibers into the air and exposed the sailors. The highest level of risk lay with those sailors who directly worked on constructing, repairing, renovating, or demolishing ships during the 1930s through the 1980s.

Learn more about Asbestos Exposure in Navy Veterans

The Air Force is likely the first branch of the military that comes to mind when you think of aircraft, but all branches of the military actually used and still use aircraft! Depending on their MOS, anyone in the Air Force, Army, Navy, or the Marines could use or work on military aircraft. There are also civilians that have contact with military aircraft, particularly during the manufacturing and building of these aircraft.

Unfortunately, because of the heavy use of asbestos in military aircraft built from the 1930s to 1970s, both civilians and military veterans that manufactured, operated, and worked on aircraft were possibly exposed to asbestos. Any aircraft built during that time is suspected to contain asbestos products. 

Many military aircraft have been used in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent decades. Aircraft mechanics (also called aircraft maintenance technicians) that have worked on these aircraft have the highest level of risk for developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.

While the United States military can't be sued for asbestos exposure, manufacturing companies that made the asbestos products can be. We keep a database of companies that have exposed workers to asbestos and have held many accountable for their negligence.

If you were exposed to asbestos as a result of working on any aircraft, you could potentially include these companies as part of your asbestos lawsuit. One of our lawyers can help you determine if that's the case.

Work with a Serling & Abramson Attorney

Just as much of the military housing was built with asbestos-contaminated products, so were many of the military base buildings. Military bases constructed during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, in particular, are wrought with asbestos. Asbestos's fire resistance, non-corrosive nature, and other properties were highly desirable for these buildings. This asbestos use wasn't limited to one branch of the military. It was used widely by all branches in base construction. Asbestos could be found in most of the materials used in base construction.

The health risks that these products posed remained relatively low as long as the asbestos wasn't disturbed. Military members are exposed to asbestos fibers when they cut, drill, sand, saw, or repair asbestos products in any way. There is a greater danger with these fibers being dispersed with old asbestos products, as they become friable. This makes it easier for the asbestos fibers to enter the air and be inhaled by military members. To this day, military members are still at risk of asbestos exposure on military bases. Unfortunately, asbestos fibers are invisible to the eye, and asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma can take 10-50 years to develop after exposure. That means that a military member or veteran may not realize they had been exposed until years later. If you suspect that you may have been exposed, it's important to see a doctor right away so that you can be monitored for signs of developing asbestos-related illnesses. 

Today, decades after the military has realized that asbestos is harmful, it has discontinued using it in new builds. Veterans Affairs (VA) has been tasked with providing military members who have been diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses relating to their service with the healthcare and compensation they need. Veterans currently suffering from asbestos-related illnesses are encouraged to reach out to the VA to receive medical treatment. Current military members that are concerned they may develop an asbestos-related disease are encouraged to reach out to the VA to arrange for medical testing and monitoring services. The earlier these diseases can be identified, the better the prognosis usually is.

Due to current laws, the United States military cannot be sued for asbestos cases. However, the asbestos product manufacturing companies that sold them asbestos products can be held responsible for their negligence. Some of these companies are still in business and can be sued directly. Others may have set up Asbestos Trust Funds to cover compensation for victims. Our lawyers at Serling & Abramson can help you identify the best route for you to receive compensation for your asbestos exposure and resulting diagnosis. We have been compiling a database of information on these companies for decades in order to best serve our clients.

Serling & Abramson are the first and finest in asbestos litigation in Michigan. Michael Serling was the first attorney in Michigan to file a wrongful death action on behalf of the family of a mesothelioma victim, in 1975. The young widow of an asbestos insulator contacted Mr. Serling concerning her husband who had died at age 52. She was left with two young children and was trying to raise them on a $4 per hour job. The extremely gratifying feeling of success in prosecuting the case and securing a sizable settlement for the widow and her children inspired Mr. Serling to continue this work.

In 1989, Eric Abramson joined the firm as an asbestos product exposure investigator. During that time, Mr. Abramson gained incredible experience in asbestos product identification in Michigan, the greater United States, and overseas. Mr. Abramson was inspired to get his law degree after helping so many asbestos victims, and in the year 2000, he received his Juris Doctor and was sworn into the Michigan bar.

Since then, Serling & Abramson has continued its work in asbestos litigation, fighting for victims and their families. Our firm has represented numerous Mesothelioma cases that were found to have been exposed to asbestos while serving in the Military. Our firm is committed to seeing that justice is served on behalf of our clients. Fill out our free case evaluation form if you think we could help you with your case.

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