Mesothelioma Lawyers Blog

An unfortunate number of veterans were exposed to asbestos during their time in the military, either through their time aboard ships, in military housing, serving overseas or working in shipyards. Many of these veterans are now at risk of mesothelioma in Boston and elsewhere in the country after bravely lending a hand to defend our country.

Veterans who have received the unfortunate diagnosis of cancer are urged to contact a Boston mesothelioma attorney immediately. Time is precious and fighting for the financial well-being of your family and loved ones is critical with this diagnosis.

Mesothelioma affects the outer lining of the lungs or the entire abdominal cavity. Diagnosis of the cancer typically doesn’t occur for roughly 30 to 40 years after the initial exposure period. It is not uncommon for those living with mesothelioma to fail to connect the contraction of the condition with their time spent in the military. In the United States, the diagnosis can almost always be credited to the exposure to asbestos.

The military aren’t the only one susceptible to this exposure. Many other occupations face possible exposure to asbestos, including those that work in shipyards, drywall workers, automobile mechanics, power plant workers, oil refinery employees, utility workers, those working in mines and railroad employees.

Although a number of workers are exposed to asbestos every year, veterans face some of the most serious risks — especially those who have served in the U.S. Navy. It is estimated that roughly 3,000 citizens will be diagnosed with mesothelioma in the United State each year. Victims are usually diagnosed around their early 70’s and more than 30 percent of those diagnosed are U.S. Armed Forces Veterans. There are approximately 25 million living veterans, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and hundreds of thousands of them, if not millions, have been exposed to asbestos during their time in the military.

Asbestos was not regulated until the 1970s and in some cases not until the 1980s. Every ship used in the Navy used asbestos as a building material because of its fire proof and heat resistant qualities. It was commonly used in engine rooms and below deck areas and put sailors who regularly worked in these areas at an increased risk.

While the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs understands that mesothelioma can be a service-related medical condition, they continue to deny disability claims for a number of reasons.
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We discussed the basics of mesothelioma and asbestos exposure on our first mesothelioma blog. This particularly deadly form of cancer has been linked in nearly every case to exposure to asbestos.

The building material, asbestos, has been used since the late 1800s. Thousands of shipyard, construction and mill employees worked with asbestos during World War II. Asbestos was used in thousands of products across the country and has never been officially banned. Products that include asbestos are clutches, drywall materials, gaskets, packing, automotive brakes, ceilings and floor tiles. The associated liability means it is used in fewer products today but Canada remains a leading exporter, particularly to South America and other developing countries.

A mesothelioma injury attorney in Massachusetts should be contacted immediately if you or a loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Asbestos exposure is common to those who work building ships or who worked in New England mills in through the 1960s and 1970s. Roughly 100,000 people in the United States have died, or will die, from asbestos exposure related to ship building.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration declares that even permissible exposure to asbestos under United States regulations is not enough protection to prevent asbestos-related cancers, including mesothelioma. The organization and other safety advocates believe even the lowest levels of asbestos exposure can be enough to cause the cancer.

While exposure to asbestos can cause the cancer is as little as 1 to 3 months, the incubation period for the cancer is typically 15 to 40 years. The cancer reaches its peak between 30 and 40 years. Because of this, many workers who were exposed to asbestos at a younger age may not be diagnosed until well after they’ve retired from the workforce. This delay results in victims who are unable to connect the potentially deadly disease to asbestos exposure.

Oftentimes, companies were aware, or should have been aware, of the asbestos presence at their work site. Risks of asbestos exposure have been known since the early 1900s, and yet it continued to be used in numerous products, including shingles, cement, brake linings insulation, floor products, roofing materials and textiles.

Unfortunately, a worker that is exposed to asbestos will oftentimes bring the cancer risk home to their families as the material remains on their clothing, skin and hair. Those who live with an asbestos exposure victim are at an increased risk for developing mesothelioma. As many buildings were made with materials containing asbestos, occupants and visitors to these structures also face an increased risk of exposure when these materials are disturbed.
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