For almost a century, asbestos was an integral part of military operations and civil industries. Many of those who worked in manufacturing using asbestos and veterans in the military, today face the dire consequences of asbestos exposure.
Around 15,000 people die annually of asbestos-related diseases, including lung cancers, mesothelioma and asbestosis, all having long latency periods spanning decades from the initial exposure.
As a result of absent symptomatology immediately after asbestos use, the link between asbestos exposure and the subsequent development of these conditions remained unknown.
During this time, asbestos use constantly grew in America. It was only with sufficiently documented evidence of causal links between asbestos fiber inhalation and disease development that this material’s use decreased over time.
In the early 1900s, the U.S. military began using asbestos as a cheap material that showed significant resistance to fire and optimal insulation properties. By 1935, military and civilian use of asbestos was up to 197 million pounds yearly. When the World War II started, 783 million pounds of asbestos were used in the U.S. yearly. After reaching an all-time high during the Cold War, at 1,400 million pounds annually, asbestos use declined significantly in the 1990s, with 90 million pounds being used.
The last asbestos producer in the United States closed in 2002, while the asbestos imported counted 330,000 pounds in 2023. In 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a partial ban on all domestic and foreign asbestos products, and efforts are being made to minimize public toxic exposure to asbestos and remove this substance from the environment. Although asbestos is no longer used in the United States, considering that asbestos-related illness emerges decades after exposure, most cases seen today are traceable to the mid- and late-1900s.
Asbestos was used by the military across its branches. Among veterans, Navy personnel remain among the most at-risk groups for asbestos-related illness due to the material’s extensive use in shipbuilding and maintenance throughout much of the 20th century. Those who served on vessels constructed before the early 1980s were often exposed in confined, poorly ventilated environments belowdeck, where asbestos was widely applied for insulation and fireproofing. Sailors and maintenance crews regularly came into contact with asbestos-containing materials during routine repairs, applying asbestos paste, replacing pipe lagging, or working near damaged insulation.
In 2022, the veteran population in the U.S. was 16.2 million, many of whom served before the implementation of stringent regulations on asbestos, even after the Occupational Safety & Health Agency Act on asbestos worker safety in 1970. At this time, research on the knowledge of the Navy on asbestos risks demonstrates that, despite this knowledge, mandatory safety standards were yet to be implemented.
Veterans who served in shipyards between the 1930s and 1990s were especially vulnerable, as asbestos use was widespread. Others at elevated risk include pipe fitters, welders, boiler operators and military personnel involved in demolition or renovation projects, particularly those conducted before or during the regulatory changes of the 1970s. Even in more recent conflicts, such as operations in Iraq, service members may have been exposed when older infrastructure was damaged, releasing asbestos fibers into the air.
The legacy of this history is clearly seen today, where many of the U.S. coastal states have significantly higher rates of asbestos-related diseases, including California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania. While asbestos use has been largely phased out, its effects remain evident among veteran populations.
Due to the long latency of asbestos-related diseases, individuals exposed during military service in the mid to late 20th century continue to receive diagnoses decades later. Considering these aspects, asbestos exposure during military service remains a relevant factor in current disease patterns, with long-term implications for healthcare systems and veteran support programs.
Veterans routinely in contact with asbestos during their service are now fighting for their health. Unfortunately, many must accept that their asbestos disease will shorten their lives, as today’s treatments can’t reverse the damage done by asbestos fibers. Existing medical procedures can only slow the progression, relieve symptoms and prevent complications. Veterans should look after their health with regular check-ups, as early detection is crucial in asbestos illnesses because it maximizes treatment results and prolongs life expectancy.
Inhaled asbestos fibers injure the lungs first. To get an exact diagnosis, veterans should take chest X-rays or CT scans and pulmonary function (breathing) tests to reveal any damage caused by the asbestos particles. These tests are reliable in diagnosing benign and malignant asbestos conditions.
Former service members who know they’ve served in a contaminated environment or who suspect they’ve been exposed should know their rights and options.
Veterans diagnosed with an asbestos-linked malignant condition are eligible to file claims with asbestos trust funds and receive disability compensation and possibly free health care from the VA. Until 2022, asbestos-related diseases were not considered presumptive conditions by the VA. However, in 2022, the Senate passed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act), which expanded VA healthcare and benefits based on presumption, adding 20-plus toxic chemicals and conditions to the eligibility list, including asbestos exposure and illnesses stemming from it.
Since the passage of the PACT Act, more than 6 million veterans have been screened for toxic exposure, and more than 1.4 million veterans have been approved for benefits. We urge veterans nationwide to apply for the well-deserved compensation the VA offers.
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