Sailors and Deckhands

Sailors and deckhands in the US Navy or Merchant Marine were at an extremely high risk of asbestos exposure prior to the renovations undertaken in the early 1980s. No matter what the occupation or specialty, if a sailor served aboard a vessel during the period of asbestos use, he was invariably exposed.

Asbestos in Navy Ships

Because of the natural ability of asbestos to resist heat and fire, as well as its electrical insulating properties, it was used on all naval vessels until the 1980s. It could be found as insulation around pipes in boiler rooms and as electrical insulation from the keel to the radar mast.

Because of the high rate of ship production during the Second World War, a disproportionate amount of asbestos exposure occurred in the shipyards that were involved in wartime production. While the shipyards continued to be a source of asbestos exposure for many decades, the rate at which ships were being produced in the war (Liberty Ships were launching at a rate of one per day) meant that asbestos exposure was multiplied.

Wartime service also presented additional asbestos hazards. Asbestos insulation filled narrow spaces between decks. In the event that the ship was struck by an enemy shell or torpedo, the asbestos would be released in a cloud. Firing of deck guns could also cause a serious shockwave to propagate through the asbestos insulation, ejecting plumes of dust.

Crewmen would be required to undertake emergency repairs at sea if the ship had been damaged or hasty refurbishments when in port. This might involve the removal of asbestos insulation or the repair of pipes and ductwork enrobed in asbestos.

On-the-job Risks

It is a given that almost all occupations come with at least some risk of job-related injuries. Still, in modern society, people have come to expect that job-related dangers will be minimized, risks will be clearly explained, and companies will strive to maintain a safe workplace. When it came to asbestos exposure, however, this was not always the case, and even in recent history employees were placed in situations that places their health at risk.

The Kinds of Asbestos and How They Affect Health

There are two major types of asbestos. The most frequently utilized was chrysotile (sometimes called "white" asbestos), or the serpentine type. Usually not associated with mesothelioma or asbestos cancer, this type is a relatively pliable form of the mineral. However, if inhaled, serpentine fibers may cause irritation to the inner surfaces of the lungs. This then results in an accumulation of scar tissue, which is a leading factor in the development of asbestosis.

Amphibole asbestos is the other type and is considered more dangerous to human health. Exposure to amphibole asbestos is the primary factor in the development of pleural mesothelioma, an unusual but all too often lethal disease of the mesothelium (the tissue that lies between the lungs and the pleural cavity). Pericardial and peritoneal mesotheliomas, which damage the lining around the heart and stomach, respectively, are more unusual but also caused by exposure to amphibole asbestos.

Why It Was Used

Ironically, asbestos was utilized when erecting building and in numerous products due to its ability to save lives. Serpentine asbestos is one of the most effective insulators known when it comes to fire and high temperature and has been used for the purpose since ancient times. The amphiboles also had other traits that made them useful for industrial situations. For instance, amosite, also known as "brown" asbestos, is high in iron content, making it resistant to chemical corrosion. "Blue" asbestos, or crocidolite, is a particularly good insulator against electric current and was frequently used whenever high voltage was a concern. By combining multiple kinds of fibers, many different asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) could be formed that would protect people against combustion, extreme temperatures, electrocution and chemical burns.

Generally, new items built with asbestos or ACMs were considered innocuous if the asbestos particles were encapsulated in something solid. However, as ACMs aged, they were prone to becoming friable, or able to be reduced to powder by hand pressure alone. When they are friable, asbestos particles are easily dispersed into the atmosphere, where they can be easily inhaled or ingested and thereby cause health problems. Unfortunately, it wasn't just employees who were at risk; secondary exposure often happened when people carried asbestos particles home on their skin, in their hair, or on their clothing.

The Hidden Hazard of Asbestos

Unlike many job-related injuries, which are readily observed and known about immediately following the incident, asbestos-related illnesses can take ten, twenty, or even thirty years to appear. With such a lag time between asbestos exposure and the onset of symptoms, a worker may not associate the current health problem with work he or she did up to 40 years earlier. Especially with mesothelioma, the sooner the diagnosis, the better the chances of survival or at least of enjoying an improved quality of life. Everyone who worked as sailors and deckhands, as well as those who resided with them, should therefore tell their health care professionals about the possibility of asbestos exposure. Even though the mesothelioma survival rate is traditionally grim, early diagnosis and treatments like mesothelioma radiation can improve the prognosis for this disease.

Sources

Bowker, Michael. Fatal Deception: The Untold Story of Asbestos (New York: Touchstone, 2003)

The Sydney Morning Herald, "Navy Asbestos Puts Thousands at Risk" -
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/navy-asbestos-puts-thousands-at-risk/2009/01/06/1231004022798.html

University of Wisconsin - Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) - Laboratories and Shops
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/EHSRM/ASB/acmimages3.html

University of Wisconsin - Asbestos Disposal
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/EHSRM/HAZEXCEPTIONS/a.html