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Asbestos Use in the Navy

Unfortunately, there were many ways of inhaling asbestos fibers aboard ships and in shipyards because of the heavy use of asbestos materials. These conditions account greatly for why U.S. Navy veterans are diagnosed with mesothelioma in disproportionally high numbers each year.

If you are a Navy veteran and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it’s not your fault or the Navy’s fault. The manufacturers of asbestos products failed to provide adequate warnings of the health hazards, although they knew – or should have known – of these dangers since as far back as the 1920s.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, you have a legal right to claim financial compensation from the asbestos manufacturers that harmed your health. This compensation could help pay your medical bills and provide financial security for your family.

Visit our FAQ page today to talk about your questions.

Navy Resources

Asbestos on Navy Ships

Asbestos was used on many kinds of equipment on Navy ships. If you worked in a ship’s engine room or boiler room, you would have been exposed to asbestos materials.

Asbestos was used as lagging on pumps, valves, boilers and turbines in engine and boiler rooms. Valves and pumps utilized asbestos gaskets and packing.

What Ships Did You Serve On?

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Anyone who worked in the following Navy trades was at high risk of asbestos exposure:

  • Boatswain’s mate
  • Boilerman, boiler tender, boilermaker, and water tender
  • Damage controlman
  • Electrician and electrician’s mate
  • Engineman
  • Fireman
  • Gunner’s mate
  • Hull maintenance technician
  • Instrumentman
  • Machinist’s mate
  • Pipefitter
  • Shipfitter
  • Sonarman and sonar technician
  • Soundman
  • Steamfitter
  • Utilitiesman

Whenever asbestos-containing equipment is worked on, it can release microscopic asbestos fibers into the air. These airborne fibers are inhaled and ingested by those in the area – particularly in the poorly ventilated compartments of a ship. Once inhaled, asbestos fibers lodge in the lungs, causing inflammation that can lead to cancer after several decades. Navy veterans may notice symptoms of mesothelioma 15 to 60 years after being exposed.

Asbestos Exposure at Shipyards

As a result, shipyard workers and Navy veterans are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma, a cancer only caused by asbestos, as well as other asbestos-related diseases.

Workers were exposed to asbestos in different areas of the ships and shipyards when installing, inspecting, maintaining, repairing, and replacing boilers, pumps, valves, heaters, turbines, and other equipment.

Select Your Shipyard

Navy shipyards are where ships are built and repaired.
Navy Shipyards

Millions of civilian workers and service personnel employed at naval shipyards and commercial shipyards during World War II and the decades after were exposed to asbestos.

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As a result, shipyard workers and Navy veterans are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma, a cancer only caused by asbestos, as well as other asbestos-related diseases.

Workers were exposed to asbestos in different areas of the ships and shipyards when installing, inspecting, maintaining, repairing, and replacing boilers, pumps, valves, heaters, turbines, and other equipment.

Types of Mesothelioma Affecting Navy Veterans

  • Pleural Mesothelioma

    Pleural Mesothelioma

    Navy veterans most commonly are diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

    This cancer originates in the thin layer of tissue lining the chest cavity known as the pleura, and develops when the microscopic asbestos fibers are inhaled become lodged in the pleura. Asbestos fibers lodge in the chest cavity, causing inflammation and scarring of lung tissue that over time may cause mutations in cells that lead to cancer.

  • Peritoneal Mesothelioma

    Peritoneal Mesothelioma

    Navy veterans and shipyard workers also may develop peritoneal mesothelioma.

    This form of mesothelioma starts in the tissue lining the abdominal cavity. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is much less common than pleural mesothelioma.

  • Pericardial Mesothelioma

    Pericardial Mesothelioma

    A very rare form of mesothelioma is pericardial mesothelioma, which begins in the tissue surrounding the heart known as the pericardium.

  • Testicular Mesothelioma

    Testicular Mesothelioma

    Mesothelioma has also rarely been known to appear in the tunica vaginalis, the lining of the testicles. Wherever the disease originates, mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer.

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