From the 1930’s to the 1970’s, the U.S. Navy used a large quantity of products containing asbestos in their ships. Virtually every ship constructed prior to 1970 was riddled with asbestos. No matter where you went on a ship, you were almost guaranteed to be exposed to the toxic chemical.
Asbestos could be found in boiler and engine rooms, sleeping areas, dining halls, navigation rooms, gaskets, valves, cables, and cements. This widespread use of asbestos placed naval officers at serious risk of developing mesothelioma and the many other dangerous diseases associated with asbestos.
The U.S. government has been aware of this unnecessary danger posed to their naval officers for decades. In 1939, the Navy’s Surgeon General submitted a report citing the hazardous health conditions present on most naval ships, as well as the unusually large number of naval officers who have developed asbestosis. Inexplicably, the U.S. Government ignored the Surgeon General’s findings and continued using asbestos in large quantities on their ships for another 30-40 years.
Due to their long-term exposure to asbestos in the middle part of the 20th century, many retired Navy officers are suffering from asbestos-related injuries today. If you are a Navy veteran who has developed mesothelioma, asbestosis, or any other condition due to your exposure to asbestos while in the Navy, you have rights. It is important to consult an experienced asbestos attorney so that you can receive the compensation you deserve.
If you live in Maryland, Pennsylvania, or Delaware and have mesothelioma, please contact the Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos today to schedule a consultation.
