According to latest researches, 2,000 to 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in US each year. What is more alarming is the news that this figure appears to be on the rise.
Mesothelioma is a very serious and deadly disease bringing widespread dangers to human lives. Caused by asbestos, it can cause a patient’s death within 16-18 months of its diagnosis. Another startling fact is that only 20% of the patients are known to survive 5 years after the diagnosis of the disease.
It has been found that men are 3 to 5 times more likely to have mesothelioma in US as compared to women. Most of the men who are diagnosed with this disease are 50 to 70 years old. The reason being that the symptoms of mesothelioma appear 20-50 years after the patient has been exposed to asbestos. These people might have been exposed to asbestos in their youth but it is in later years that mesothelioma is manifested.
Reasons for High Mesothelioma Rate in United States
Naturally occurring asbestos in US
One of the main reasons for large number of mesothelioma patients in US is the vast deposits of asbestos in various states. According to US Geological Survey (USGS) California, Georgia and Montana have large deposits of naturally occurring asbestos. Huge amount of vermiculite was mined in Libby, Montana which was highly contaminated with asbestos. Studies show that people who worked in the mine were exposed to dangerously high levels of asbestos.
However, this does not mean that other states of US are safe from mesothelioma and asbestos.
Asbestos shipments and processing plants in US
It was during 1948 and 1993 that thousand of tons of asbestos contaminated vermiculite was shipped from Montana to all over the US including Oregon, Hawaii, Alabama, North Dakota, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington, Texas, Pennsylvania and other parts of the country.
All these states had processing plants where asbestos was exfoliated. When this exfoliation of vermiculite took place, large amounts of asbestos dust and particles were released and inhaled by millions of people which caused mesothelioma.
Lack of workplace safety in US caused mesothelioma
Another of the reasons for high mesothelioma cases in US is the lack of implementation of workplace safety standards and rules for workers. Asbestos was handled by the workers without any protective gear or masks which lead to asbestos inhalation. Millions of workers became victims of mesothelioma during this time. It was only in 1989 that its true dangers were realized. Thus, commercial use of asbestos was banned and workplace standards were enforced by EPA.
Use of asbestos in US naval ships
Oregon had the largest shipping industry where US naval ships were made. Also, it was during the World War II that asbestos was widely used in ships and workers of this industry were exposed to asbestos.
US naval ships also used asbestos in various applications. It was especially used in insulation, pipes and boilers from 1930’s to 1970’s. US Navy used asbestos products in ship construction, repair and overhaul. Numerous people worked in these industries and came in daily contact with asbestos. Many of the US naval veterans are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of their exposure to asbestos.
During the construction boom in US from 1960 to 1980, asbestos also was widely used in construction materials without any protective measures.
Asbestos materials could be found in various naval boats and Navy ships including:
- Aircraft Carriers
- Airships
- Amphibious Ships
- Battleships
- Coast Guard vessels
- Cruisers
- Destroyers
- Destroyer Escorts and Frigates
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- Escort Aircraft Carriers
- Frigates
- Minesweepers
- Patrol Boats
- Steam Ships
- Submarines
- Tender Boats
- Torpedo Boats
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Due to this, large number of US citizens became victims of mesothelioma, especially those working in asbestos related industries. Some of the naval ships are still said to have asbestos due to which a large number of people are still exposed to this white powder in form of debris from insulation.
US naval shipyards using asbestos
Some of the US naval shipyards where asbestos was found in large quantities are:
- Brooklyn Navy Yard (a.k.a. New York Navy Yard), Brooklyn, New York
- Charlestown Navy Yard (a.k.a. Boston Navy Yard), Boston, Massachusetts
- Mare Island Naval Shipyard (a.k.a. Mare Island Naval Station), California
- New London Shipyard (a.k.a. New London Naval Submarine Base), Groton, Connecticut
- Norfolk Naval Shipyard (a.k.a. Gosport Shipyard) Virginia
- Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Hawaii
- Philadelphia Naval Shipyard (a.k.a. Philadelphia Naval Base), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Maine
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington
- Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C
Materials which used asbestos in US
From the numerous naval records, it has been found that asbestos was used in a variety of materials related to shipyard, constructions and repairs. Some of the items which used asbestos are:
- Instruments
- Meters
- Panel
- Insulating Materials
- Packing Material
- Prefabricated-Forms
- Tubes
- Cables
- Capacitors
- Paper-Dielectric
- Mixes
- Block Insulatio
- Pipe Covering
- Deck Covering Materials
- Adhesives
- Insulation Felts
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- Thermal Materials
- Gaskets
- Refractory
- Mortar
- Aggregate Mixtures
- Rods
- Valves
- Boilers
- Bonds
- Compounds
- Bedding Compounds
- Coatings
- Packing Assemblies
- Hydraulic Assemblies
- Grinder
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Due to the numerous reasons mentioned above, it can be said that use of asbestos was carried out without any preventive measures in US. This lead to inhalation of asbestos by millions of Americans and thus caused mesothelioma. As it is after a latency period of 20-50 years that symptoms of mesothelioma appear, it is now that so many mesothelioma cases are being diagnosed in US.
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