An asbestos-clad sailor makes a dash for flaming navy fighter-bomber on flight deck of the carrier Essex somewhere in Korean waters on Nov. 11, 1952. The plane, just back from a raid over North Korea, caught fire when gasoline vapors where ignited by the hot exhaust. The pilot was unhurt and fast work by firefighters saved the plane. (AP Photo)ASSOCIATED PRESS To the Editor:
Asbestos use was widespread in the U.S. military during the 20th century, reaching its peak as the World War II war effort demanded accessible materials for producing military equipment. It made exposure to this toxic material an ongoing worry for all veterans, including those among Syracuse’s veteran population. Out of all military branches, the Navy exploited asbestos the most, putting naval personnel at an astoundingly high risk of asbestos exposure. Even so, this doesn’t exclude other military bases from being a potential source of asbestos contamination. It raises health concerns for veterans of New York’s military bases, as asbestos exposure could be the cause of veterans’ slowly deteriorating health.
Airborne asbestos fibers can float in the air for hours due to their structure and size. These asbestos dust particles are easily inhaled or ingested and cause permanent damage to major organs, leading to devastating diseases. Even if veterans may have had no health issues during their service, they could experience the effects of asbestos exposure decades later when diagnosed with asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer or other severe respiratory asbestos disease. Many must live with the fact that their asbestos diseases will shorten their lives.
Timely detection is critical with asbestos-related diseases because it significantly improves treatment results and prolongs life expectancy. That is why veterans should proactively protect their health through regular health check-ups, learn their legal rights to access compensation programs and promote awareness of asbestos exposure in their communities.
Cristina Johnson
Asbestos Ships Organization
San Marcos, California
The writer 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 […]
Veterans exposed to asbestos should get regular health check-ups, learn their rights (Your Letters)
