Veterans Own 30% of Mesothelioma Cases

(February 01, 2011) Studies said that thirty percent of all Americans who are diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer are veterans with a survival period of less than two years.

Dependant on the report, U.S. veterans who fought in an era before the government regulated the use of asbestos were exposed to dangerous levels in all of the domestic bases that were used for training prior to overseas assignment.

Asbestos, a naturally occurring substance, became increasingly popular during the 19th and 20th centuries among the manufacturers and builders because of its sound absorption, average tensile strength, and its resistance to heat, electrical and chemical damages. However, researchers said that asbestos exposure becomes a health concern when high concentrations of asbestos fibers are inhaled over a long period of time. People exposed to this carcinogen on a daily basis often times developed significant health troubles.

Meanwhile, all of the military facilities at that time were built when asbestos products were the standard for insulation, which includes flooring, ceiling and roofing materials. For instance, the United States Navy used asbestos insulation in every ship that was commissioned from about 1930 through the Vietnam War era. Archives showed that sailors on those ships were exposed to asbestos in the engine room and among the miles of pipes that were wrapped with asbestos aboard the larger ships.

So far, asbestos exposure among the U.S. veterans has proved fatal as most of them were diagnosed with diseases directly attributed to asbestos. The Veteran Affairs (VA), the United States? second largest department with a total budget of about $87.6 billion in 2009, is cautious about granting disability to any veteran who suffers from mesothelioma, but with asbestos diseases there is also the option of filing liability claims against the asbestos companies. Mesothelioma lawyers are calling for all veterans who were diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other asbestos related diseases to file their claims for compensation from these asbestos companies.