Veterans have dedicated years of their lives to service, often in environments where toxic exposure was inevitable. Shipyards, military bases, training facilities, and others extensively used asbestos as insulation and components in various equipment. As a result, service members now face a heightened risk of developing asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma, a rare but lethal cancer that is incredibly difficult to diagnose.
It only shows that the risks linked to military service are not always on the battlefield; they are sometimes disguised as routine occupations in contaminated environments over an extensive period. Shipyards and service on the Navy ships built before the 1980s were poster children of such habitats. They abounded in asbestos, the seemingly “innocent” mineral, once a staple in the military and various industries. It put naval personnel more at risk of exposure to its toxic fibers and developing service-related diseases later on.
Sadly, military bases weren’t an exception from asbestos exposure either. Manufacturers picked up on producing asbestos-containing materials for the Armed Forces, and, accordingly, this mineral has become a staple in numerous building products. Such widespread use has resulted in serious health hazards and, worse, the deaths of thousands of affected New Mexicans. Based on national data, the Environmental Working Group estimated that between 1999 and 2017, in New Mexico, there were 1,447 asbestos-related deaths, among them Grant County’s 55 cases. Even if the numbers are minor compared to other states, they indicate the incidence.
Veterans are disproportionately affected by asbestos exposure compared to the civilian population. The issue concerns New Mexico’s veteran population, Grant County’s and Silver City’s veteran community. Though there isn’t a Marine or Navy base in New Mexico, the state hosts Air Force and Army bases. Among them is Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, one of New Mexico’s largest employers, with an estimated workforce of over 23,000 people
Asbestos impacts veterans’ health over a long period
Once inhaled or ingested, the microscopic asbestos fibers lodge in the lining of organs and irritate the tissue until inflammation becomes chronic. It takes decades until the first symptoms of diseases appear, and by the time they are diagnosed, DNA damages have long done their destruction, and tumors eventually turn into cancer. Misdiagnosis only worsens the dire situation, and patients often run out of time.
It is the typical itinerary of many asbestos cancers and the sad reality of many service members who unknowingly stayed in sites rife with this harmful material. Moreover, they were unaware of the catastrophic consequences looming decades later: veterans now represent 30% of the 3,000 Americans diagnosed with mesothelioma each year.
Early detection is critical in the fight against asbestos diseases. If conditions linked to asbestos are discovered in time, patients can still receive impactful treatment, improving their life expectancy and quality of life. However, asbestos conditions are challenging to diagnose. Mesothelioma pathologists recommend regularly performing various clinical, radiographic, and ancillary tests like X-rays, CT scans, PET scans, and biopsies to identify asbestos in the veteran’s body.
VA compensation for asbestos-caused disability
The VA encourages veterans to attend health check-ups and apply for disability benefits if they have medically confirmed asbestos cancer. The disability compensation process with the VA has been more straightforward since 2022, with the passage of the PACT Act, which added asbestos-caused illnesses to the list of presumptive conditions. Veterans can also file claims with asbestos trust funds. Having a disability, especially at an older age, is an enormous burden, not only mentally and physically, but financially, too. We urge veterans to talk to their VA representatives and claim what is rightfully theirs. More information is available at https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/.
About the author:
Cristina Johnson is a Navy veteran advocate for Asbestos Ships Organization, a nonprofit whose primary mission is to raise awareness and educate veterans about the dangers of asbestos exposure on Navy ships and assist them in navigating the VA claims process. For more information, please visit our page.
