Prestigious New York Law Firm Can Help Veterans with Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a dangerous, lethal cancer that is being faced by many of our war veterans. Asbestos was ubiquitous on army bases, ships and planes, especially during World War II. I think this firm is great if you want to file a claim for mesothelioma.

This Is A Must Read

Here is an article that I found about Navy veterans and asbestos. It's sort of like an advice column because there's a reader who is sending a question, and a author who gives the reader some options for a solution.

In this column, the reader finds that their father is diagnosed with Mesothelioma. With distraught, they started doing research about the disease and what might have caused it, with asbestos as the prime suspect. With further research, they also find that veterans are unable to sue the Federal Government for the use of asbestos.

The author then goes ahead and gives the reader some other options, like suing the companies who manufactured and sold the asbestos. They also gave a little background of the topic.

It's a really great article; please give it a look.

Asbestos Was Valued in the Military

If the dangers of asbestos have been known about for so many years, then why was it ubiquitous in military products and equipment?

Efficient performance and productivity was of great importance to the Army, the Marines, the Air Force and the Navy. This was especially the case when two of the world’s most infamous wars were taking place: World War II and The Vietnam War.  In order to meet performance demands, it was necessary to have access to a special material that could withstand immense heat and be used for multiple purposes.

Asbestos was perhaps the only material available that could meet these standards. Unfortunately, versatility aside, it was highly toxic, a fact that wasn’t given much consideration.

Asbestos was used in the construction of the following:

Airplanes: Asbestos was used around the engines, fuel tanks and lighting sockets among other plane parts.

Marine Vessels: From battleships to submarines, cruisers to destroyers, asbestos was everywhere. Some veterans who are currently living with mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer and asbestosis have shared stories about how asbestos covered pipes and boilers that were in or around where they slept would easily flake, sending bits of asbestos into the air.

Military Bases: Even military personnel who weren’t serving on military ships or vessels, asbestos exposure was more or less a guarantee. The carcinogen was found in duct work, water pipes, ceiling and floor tiles, dining areas and even sleeping quarters.

Did you know that Navy personnel risked asbestos exposure?

The vessels utilized by the US Navy served a variety of important purposes during some the world’s most historic wars such as World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War. 

Some models, such as battleships and destroyers, actively participated in battle, others served as maritime hospitals tending to wounded and dying sailors.

Unfortunately, the sailors on board the ships as well as those who participated in their construction faced an enemy that could not be defeated by missiles and torpedoes: asbestos.

In the interest of efficient performance during periods of war, the Navy was hesitant to seriously address the hazards. Asbestos was valued for its corrosion and fire proof properties and was ubiquitous in virtually every area of the naval ships, from the sleeping quarters, to the engine rooms, to the mess halls.

Asbestos was also included in and around temperature sensitive areas such as engine and boiler rooms, and was used in the production of gaskets, deck covers, adhesives, felts and meters, among other gadgets and devices.  For a sailor who spent any period on board a navy ship, his exposure to asbestos was inevitable.

Learn your legal rights here.

Veterans Face Worst Adversary Yet: Asbestos

Veterans of the United States armed forces, especially those who served during World War II, faced unbelievable adversity and risked their lives on a daily basis to protect their country. Unfortunately, it would be many years after their service concluded before they would be forced to face their most lethal adversary yet: asbestos.

The dangers of asbestos exposure have been known about in the United States since the Industrial Revolution arrived on our shores from England in the 1800s. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until the 1970s that certain government organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to implement regulations regarding asbestos use.  Whether on military bases or military vessels (such as airplanes and ships) asbestos was ubiquitous and virtually inescapable.

What is perhaps most tragic of all is that many of the young servicemen (and some women) who were exposed to asbestos likely didn’t realize the health problems they would face many years later. When they inhaled asbestos, the fibers embedded themselves in their lung tissue and over a period of many years, caused the tissues to scar. Many veterans complained of difficulty breathing, which impeded their ability to partake in many activities.

Three common asbestos diseases are: mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer and asbestosis. The first is almost always fatal and all three are incurable.

If you are a veteran and you were exposed to asbestos learn more about your legal rights.

Homeless Veterans

More than 10,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are homeless or in programs aiming to keep them off the streets; since 2006, that number has doubled.

A reason why some of these veterans are homeless is the high costs of medical bills from post traumatic depression and stress, and physical injuries. While serving in Afghanistan or Iraq, soldiers could be exposed to asbestos from the houses where they were based in. Asbestos is used frequently in those areas because of the price and the properties.

Marines Exposed to Asbestos

Although it was possible for other members of the armed forces to be exposed to asbestos, those who served in the Navy and the Marines suffered some of the worst exposure. This is because the warships and other marine vessels utilized by both the Navy and the Marines were inundated from top to bottom with asbestos. 

Asbestos was valued because of its fire resistant properties. It was used in the boiler rooms, sleeping quarters, and even the mess halls, meaning that it was virtually inescapable. A significant amount of those currently suffering from mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer and asbestosis served in the armed forces. Asbestos has a latency period of 20 years or more, which means that the symptoms of the asbestos diseases aren’t immediately apparent.

Ships and military bases built before the 1980s, where asbestos was used, are currently in service. Even today Marines and Navy personnel still face risks of asbestos exposure. Fortunately, older ships are being replaced and safety precautions are being put into place in order to protect current and future generations of military men and women. 

Asbestos in Aircrafts

During World War II, asbestos was used in the construction of most army supplies, such as barracks, naval vessels, and aircrafts. Asbestos was very popular because it was cheap and effective. It was a quick way of insulating aircraft engines.

One job on the aircraft that had a high exposure to asbestos was “Hot Papa.” The Hot Papa would be dressed in a suit of asbestos; therefore he was also known as the “asbestos man.” His only job was if the plane was on fire and about to crash, he would bring the pilot to safety. 

The following are places on aircrafts that were known to contain asbestos:

·                     Brakes

·                     Cockpit heater system

·                     Heat shields for engines

·                     Torque valves

·                     Gaskets

·                     Electrical wires insulation

·                     Insulation in the cargo bays of cargo planes

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma is a deadly disease so it is important to identity it as soon as possible. The long latency period of mesothelioma makes it more difficult to cure, because by the time it is diagnosed it has already spread throughout the body. There are three types of mesothelioma: the most common form is pleural mesothelioma that makes 75% of all cases. The following are the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma:

·         pleural effusions

·         shortness of breath

·         trouble breathing

·         coughing blood

·         unexplained weight loss

·         fever

·         difficulty swallowing

·         muscle weakness

·         dry cough

·         sweating

·         chest pain

Most of the symptoms are common symptoms for most respiratory diseases, making it even harder to diagnose mesothelioma.

The follow graph shows what symptoms are most relevant to pleural mesothelioma:

US Naval Veterans, highest rate of developing mesothelioma

Out of all US veterans, naval veterans have the highest exposure rate of asbestos. They served on vessels that were constructed with asbestos in every part. Asbestos was present in the walls, floors, and around boilers. Asbestos was used heavily in the construction because of its fire resistant properties.

According to Weitz & Luxenberg, "Medical studies have shown that of workers with at least 20 years of naval shipyard experience, 86% have developed an asbestos-related disease. At least one-third of all mesothelioma cases today trace their origins to shipyard work."

The following picture shows the risks of asbestos exposure on a Naval Vessel

As you can see, no part of the ship was safe from asbestos.

US veterans alone make up 30% of mesothelioma patients.

This video shows how asbestos causes mesothelioma