The Lasting Effects the Military Can Have on Our Troops

The Media has painted a vivid picture about the horrors of War and the emotional, mental, and physical toll it takes on our troops. Our troops have suffered fatal injuries, they have lost limbs and their lives, ever those who make it out without a scratch may suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Unfortunately the War for our soldiers doesn't always end when they are finished "serving their time."

The possibility of being killed, seriously injured, or mentally scarred is no secret to those who are looking to join one of America's Military branches. However, there was a hidden killer that unknowingly lurked in the shadows of soldiers, especially those in the Navy from the 1930s through the 1970s. That killer was Mesothelioma, an incurable cancer caused by Asbestos.

Anyone who had served in the Navy during the 1930s through the 1970s may have most likely been exposed to asbestos. To get a greater idea about how rampart asbestos was used in the Military, those who worked and lived on ships may have been exposed to asbestos 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Asbestos had been used in the boiler, engine, navigation, and fire rooms of ships, along with products containing asbestos such as boilers, insulations, valves, generators, and turbines. Generally the argument for the high use of asbestos on Navy ships was due to the heat resistance and fireproofing ability of asbestos. Asbestos was also used on U.S. Air Force military aircrafts.

The side-effects of such rampart asbestos usage has lead to former military members accounting for up to 30 percent of malignant mesothelioma cases in the United States. One very important thing to remember, those who may have been exposed in the late 1960s and early 1970s to asbestos, may still fall inside the typical 30-40 year latency period of mesothelioma and have no symptoms of the disease, but still might develop the incurable cancer.

Fortunately for those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma can seek out benefits from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, which can help assist veterans who can provide proof that they developed mesothelioma as a direct result of asbestos exposure while in the military. In the event that someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma it is important to contact a lawyer who can help assist you with any legal issues that may arise when providing proof that military asbestos exposure was the direct result of their mesothelioma.

MesotheliomaCounsel can help provide victims of mesothelioma with more information and help.

Original article

Why Military Veterans Are at Risk For Mesothelioma and Asbestosis

Most workers have heard of the complications that arise from exposure to asbestos. The fibrous compound was used in a myriad of applications up until the 1980s, and few companies warned employees about the dangers of exposure. But as is now widely known, exposure to asbestos can lead to malignant mesothelioma, also known as asbestos cancer.

Anyone who worked in construction, maintenance, or custodial fields when asbestos was in use could have been exposed. But new research has shown that military veterans are at a particularly high risk for malignant mesothelioma, particularly Navy seamen and technicians who worked with asbestos parts on ships. This article will examine that risk, the possible results, and how an experienced mesothelioma attorney can help with recovery of damages.

Exposure To Asbestos

Asbestos was originally used because it helped add strength to compounds. It was commonly found in a variety of construction supplies, including drywall, plaster, caulking and putty, joint compounds, insulation, and fireproofing materials. Whenever any of these construction materials were installed, handled, sanded, or removed, the asbestos fibers were knocked out into the air. The fine asbestos dust was easy to inhale, and often ended up remaining in the air even after the actual work had been performed. This allowed it to be inhaled by others who may not have been immediately involved with the project that kicked up the dust initially. Cleanup crews, inspection crews and others often inhaled the fibers accidentally without ever knowing that they were in danger.

On a ship, the danger of exposure to asbestos was even greater. The enclosed spaces made it more likely that fibers would be inhaled. In the open air, asbestos eventually dissipates even though it tends to remain airborne for quite some time. On a boat, there is limited ability for the fibers to blow away naturally. Instead, they circulate and expose more people to the harmful effects of the dust, greatly increasing the risk of asbestos cancer.

Extended Risk From Indirect Exposure

If you were in a situation where you may have worked with asbestos yourself, you should certainly get screened for asbestos cancer. But you may be at risk for malignant mesothelioma if you were in the vicinity of asbestos fibers and inhaled them unintentionally. You may even have the disease if a family member worked with asbestos; the fibers tend to cling to clothing, creating the possibility that they would dislodge at home, after the workday was over and outside the environment that caused the original contamination.

Exposure Leads To Malignant Mesothelioma

When workers inhaled the fibers, they rarely knew that the fibers could cause potentially deadly health hazards like malignant mesothelioma. However, most companies that manufactured construction products containing asbestos were aware of the fact that when it was inhaled, it could eventually lead to deadly asbestos cancer. The asbestos fibers agitate the mesothelium, which are mucus membranes that line almost every organ in the human body. Malignant mesothelioma is usually found in the mesothelium around the lungs, but it can also be found around the heart and even surrounding the stomach.

What makes asbestos cancer so dangerous is how easily it can spread throughout the body. It begins as small tumors within the mesothelium, but tends to quickly metastasize into other nearby tissues. Because most malignant mesothelioma is found around the lungs, the cancer tends to become lung cancer. Although the two are linked, asbestos cancer is not the same as lung cancer: malignant mesothelioma may spread and become lung cancer, but it always begins in the mesothelium and it is always caused by asbestos exposure.

Do You Need A Mesothelioma Attorney?

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, you should strongly consider hiring an experienced mesothelioma attorney. Although the use of asbestos was banned decades ago, asbestos cancer can take many years to manifest. In fact, many cases are going to court just recently. This rise in cases has led to specialized mesothelioma attorneys, who are familiar with the law and the science behind asbestos cancer.

No matter how advanced your disease, a mesothelioma attorney can be a very beneficial partner throughout the process. He or she will be able to guide you through the complex legal issues of proving fault, and he or she will be able to assist your family during the late stages of the disease. You need a mesothelioma attorney you can trust, but once you find the right one, you'll be able to rest assured that your rights are being defended as well as possible.

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