Each day the men and women that serve our country not only put their lives on the line in battle, but they are also fighting asbestos-related illnesses as a result of their time at war. Asbestos exposure in war times has been an ongoing problem in the United States for decades, and both current soldiers and veterans are now dealing with the aftermath of being exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos is a cancer causing substance that in previous years was used in construction, at shipyards, and in various other manufacturing fields. Exposure through inhalation has been linked to life-threatening illnesses like lung cancer and mesothelioma. Exposure Through the Years Asbestos exposure in veterans of war has gained significant attention since the shipbuilding efforts took place during World War II.
According to reports, about 3,000 cases of mesothelioma were reported each year in the U.S. A majority of these cases reportedly involved men and women who had been exposed while in the military. During the war, many were employed at shipyards and worked extensively in military construction, which is to blame for their exposure to asbestos and other harmful chemicals. However, risk for exposure didn’t come to an end with WWII. Instead, exposure continued, and some fear still continues, as many of these veterans got jobs at shipyards and construction sites after deployment seeing as these are the fields in which they had experience.
Reports also claim that those who are deployed overseas are at special risk of exposure since other countries, such as Iraq and Iran, still widely use asbestos as one of their main building materials. China and Russia are also two of the world’s top asbestos consumers.