Anyone who served in the United States Military was well
aware of the immediate dangers that came with the job of defending the country.
It was part of the job description, especially during times of heavy conflict
around the world.
But most of them never thought – or knew – about the silent,
long-term health risks they were taking by signing up.
Many veterans are only now facing those risks.
They are facing the consequences of exposure to asbestos,
which once was viewed as a budget-saver to military numbers crunchers but has
become an enemy. It is the reason for unexpected health problems, stemming from
decades ago.
Asbestos was ubiquitous in military life through much of the
20th century. Beginning before World War II, it was put into use by
all branches of service to help strengthen, insulate and protect almost
everything in a cost-effective manner. That includes weaponry, automobiles,
ships, planes and living quarters.
Until the early 1980s, the public did not understand fully
just how toxic it was, allowing decision makers to ignore the long-term health
implications to capitalize on the short-term benefits.
Because of that ignorance, asbestos has been causing a
variety of respiratory issues, including mesothelioma, a rare but
aggressive cancer that can take up to 50 years to develop after being
exposed.
Many of the veterans who served as far back as the Korean and
Vietnam eras are only now feeling the ill effects of that service related to
asbestos. And those who served more recently might not know for years if they
will be beset with future problems. Although asbestos use in the United States
has been dramatically reduced, veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
were exposed, too, during routine military activities in those countries.
Mesothelioma is diagnosed in only 3,000 Americans annually,
but an estimated one-third of those are veterans, exposed either during military
service or in occupations after they left the service.
It was most prevalent in the Navy, where ships often were
covered from bow to stern in asbestos materials. The Army, Air Force and Marines
used it extensively, too, in everything from housing to munitions.
Veterans who returned home to find jobs in manufacturing and
construction likely were exposed there too. Power plants and chemical companies
were notorious users, along with the automobile industry. The ship building
industry might have been the worst.
Mesothelioma is only a fraction of all the asbestos-related
issues that are striking veterans today. It can cause any number of problems,
including lung cancer, asbestosis and other related diseases. An estimated
10,000 Americans each year die from asbestos-related illnesses.
Like many cancers, mesothelioma is most deadly when diagnosed
during the later stages, making an
early diagnosis imperative before it has spread extensively. Pleural
mesothelioma, the most common kind, involves asbestos fibers getting lodged into
the lining surrounding the lungs. Early symptoms include persistent dry cough,
night sweats and unexplained weight loss.
There is no cure for mesothelioma, although advances in
treatments are being made. If detected in the early stages, there is
considerable hope for controlling it. Anything who believes they were exposed to
asbestos would be wise to inform your doctor during routine physical exam,
helping him identify problems early.
The U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs usually offers
health screenings that can help identify asbestos-related illnesses. Veterans
can check with their local VA medical center.
Treatment options include radiation, chemotherapy and
surgery, along with many other alternative therapies that have shown to be
effective. Veterans with mesothelioma also are usually eligible for disability
benefits.
Kelsey
Rathbun
Public
Outreach
Mesothelioma
Center at Asbestos.com
For
the latest on Mesothelioma Awareness
4 comments:
I didnt know about the asbestos thing and vet's Jim, and sure as Hell didnt know that a third (1000) vet's a year are diagnosed with mesothelioma either ... Thanx for the read Jim
Now you're talking my territory Jim and let me tell you something about it. The military is not under OSHA or any other agency, they have their own and you can guess how they do things. I've worked on all the bases here and it would shock you how they do things. They just toss it around like it was nothing. And guess who has most of their maintenance contracts? KBR that division of Haliburton.
RC I knew there was an issue but not to this depth. The Mesothelioma center contacted me and wanted to do a guest Blog to reach veterans so I did.
I can just imagine Demeur. I hear thew horror stories from Jim who is directly involved and keeps fighting it for not. Corporations and contractors run the military and do what they want and what is good for their company. It sucks! If we could just be efficient instead of buying things we don't need`and are obsolete we could save Billions.
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