Asbestos on Aircraft Carriers

Aircraft carriers, which are critical for transporting and deploying aircrafts by sea during wartime, were once made with asbestos. Built in the early- to mid-twentieth century, the carriers favored asbestos for its heat-resistant properties. The carriers served in World War II, as well as the Korean War, Vietnam War and Cold War, though some date back as early as 1922 and as late as 2015. Since fires had the potential to occur frequently on these ships, they were typically insulated with asbestos, and some passengers even wore asbestos suits to extract pilots when a fire or crash occurred on the deck.

Because of the wide use of asbestos, veterans who served on these ships were at a high risk of exposure, and as a result, account for about 30% of mesothelioma diagnoses today. Threats of exposure continue from these ships for shipyard workers today, as these World War II ships continue to be retired or repaired for historical purposes.