6. Asbestos in the Navy: A High-Risk Occupation
One of the more astonishing revelations about asbestos exposure comes from the high rates found among Navy veterans. The reason for this lies in the material’s flame-resistant properties, making it an ideal insulator for ships. From the 1930s until the 1970s, asbestos was a go-to material for shipbuilding, which meant that countless Navy personnel were unwittingly exposed to this hazardous substance.
Due to its heat-resistant nature, asbestos was used in almost every part of a ship—from engine rooms to mess halls. The small, confined spaces exacerbated the inhalation risks, making Navy ships a perfect storm for asbestos exposure. The more alarming fact is that many of these ships remained in operation long after we knew about the dangers of asbestos, putting even more people at risk.
While many consider war the most significant threat to a soldier’s life, for Navy veterans, the enemy was often aboard in the form of asbestos. Exposure wasn’t limited to the ship’s crew; even those responsible for shipbuilding and maintenance were not spared. The dangerous fibers lurked in boilers, gaskets, and over 300 other ship components, creating a widespread risk of exposure. (6)
