About the Author
Cristina Johnson is a Navy veteran advocate for Asbestos Ships Organization, a nonprofit whose primary mission is to raise awareness and educate veterans about the dangers of asbestos exposure on Navy ships and assist them in navigating the VA claims process.
Over the last century, as the World War II war effort required large quantities of affordable materials to produce military equipment, the United States military overly used asbestos. The mineral was abundant in the markets, and manufacturers wanted to take advantage of its versatility and low price, ignoring the health risks associated with mixing asbestos in products. The Navy exploited asbestos the most. The Two-Ocean Navy Act expanded the U.S. Naval Forces by more than 70% in preparation for the states’ entry into the Second World War, and shipbuilding picked up the pace by applying asbestos insulation wherever possible. It put naval personnel at an outstandingly high risk of asbestos exposure and developing severe asbestos diseases decades after service.
Asbestos was praised for its insulating and fire-resistant properties, and nobody considered it a health threat when various high-impact activities disturbed the fibrous mineral and generated asbestos dust. That’s why developing asbestos diseases concerns all former service members who might have the toxic fibers in their lungs, including Hawaii’s veteran population and Honolulu’s veteran community .
Given that the military resorted to asbestos mainly for insulation in their aircraft, vehicles and barracks, it increased the risk of asbestos exposure for personnel serving in military camps throughout the U.S.
Additionally to working with several hazardous materials, asbestos products may also have been a risk to Hawaii veterans’ deteriorating health , as diseases linked to their toxic exposure are on the rise today.
Hawaii has 11 military bases , at least one from every branch of the armed forces, most of which played an essential role in World War II. NS Pearl Harbor Navy Base is the poster child of Hawaii’s wartime past. It houses the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and is one of the world’s largest naval bases. Prolonged Exposure
Once airborne, asbestos particles can remain suspended in the air […]
Asbestos Exposure May Still Affect The Health Of Hawaii Veterans
