Mesothelioma and Navy Veterans
Navy Veterans with Mesothelioma can Turn to Weitz & Luxenberg Lawyers with Confidence
Mesothelioma threatens the lives of many Navy veterans. Navy veterans are brave individuals who placed their lives at risk while fighting for their country. Most did not know however, that their lives were in jeopardy not merely because of enemy forces but also because of mesothelioma causing asbestos, a mineral that was used on ships.
Navy Veterans were Likely Exposed to Mesothelioma Causing Asbestos in Many Areas of Ships
It has been reported that the U.S. Navy used asbestos containing products on board ships from the 1930s to the mid-1970s. According to one estimate, over 300 asbestos containing materials were used for construction and repair work onboard Navy ships. Examples of asbestos containing products include adhesives, gaskets, valves, and cables. Asbestos was used widely because it is durable, flexible and heat resistant. Areas of a ship where a Navy veteran may have been exposed to mesothelioma causing asbestos are engine rooms, boiler rooms, fire rooms, sleeping quarters, mess halls and navigation rooms. Many Navy veterans recall having to clean their bunks because they were covered in asbestos dust that fell from asbestos covered pipes.
It has been reported that the Navy continued using asbestos containing products even though it knew that the mineral caused diseases. As far back as 1939, the Navy's Surgeon General knew that asbestos exposure could lead to asbestosis in Navy personnel. A report issued by the Surgeon General stated that pipe covers and insulators exposed Navy personnel to asbestos dust.
Many Navy Veterans Worked in Closed Areas, Raising Mesothelioma Risk
Asbestos fibers are not visible to the human eye and can remain in the air for long periods. This increases the risk of inhalation. Navy veterans were probably at an even higher risk of inhaling asbestos fibers because many worked in closed areas on board ships. Such closed working conditions meant that asbestos fibers could not escape, thereby raising the risk of fiber inhalation even higher.
Even Household Members of Navy Veterans are at Risk of Mesothelioma
Asbestos fibers can cling to clothing. Navy veterans may have unknowingly exposed their household members to asbestos by bringing their work clothes home. Washing or handling asbestos contaminated clothes is a known means of exposure. This type of exposure is known as secondary exposure.
Jobs held by Navy Veterans that Involve the Risk of Mesothelioma
A Navy veteran suffering from mesothelioma disease who held one of the following jobs was probably exposed to asbestos at that job. It is important to keep in mind however, that these are not the only jobs in the Navy that involve a risk of developing mesothelioma.
Aviation Boatswain's Mate
Metalsmith
Fire Control Technician
Radioman
Equipment Technician
Electronics Technician
Boilermaker
Builder
Construction Driver
Fireman
Fire Controlman
Gas Turbine System Technician
Hull Maintenance Technician
Communications Electrician
Instrumentman
Molder
Missile Technician
Painter
Sonarman
Soundman
Sonar technician
Steelworker
Utilitiesman
Water Tender
Mesothelioma Risk Stays with a Navy Veteran Long After Time of Service
The risk of mesothelioma to a Navy veteran does not decrease simply because of the passing of time. Mesothelioma has a long latency period, i.e. mesothelioma symptoms typically take decades to appear. Mesothelioma symptoms that may appear depend on the type of mesothelioma a Navy veteran has. Pleural mesothelioma (or lung mesothelioma) is the most common type of mesothelioma and affects the lining of the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include coughing, chest pain and difficulty breathing. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdominal cavity and symptoms include abdominal swelling and problems with digestion.
Weitz & Luxenberg Lawyers Fight for Navy Veterans with Mesothelioma
Navy veterans suffering from mesothelioma cancer were faced with an enemy they were not prepared to fight against or even told about. That enemy was asbestos. Many companies in the asbestos industry knew about the dangers of asbestos but concealed them in the interest of financial profit. Inexpensive equipment that could have prevented asbestos exposure and the development of an aggressive cancer like malignant mesothelioma were not provided to Navy veterans for the sake of financial profit.
Weitz & Luxenberg lawyers are here for Navy veterans with mesothelioma because they are the victims of cruel injustice. The lawyers of Weitz & Luxenberg have been specializing in mesothelioma cases since 1986 and have won millions of dollars in those cases. Many Navy veterans and their families have benefited from the work of Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma lawyers. Successful mesothelioma cases have enabled mesothelioma patients to pay for the high cost of cancer care and to provide support for dependents.
If you are a Navy veteran suffering from mesothelioma cancer, complete the form on this page for a free case review from the leading mesothelioma attorneys of Weitz & Luxenberg
Mesothelioma death | Weitz & Luxenberg asbestos-injury law firm