Marine Panels
Anyone who is old enough to know a thing or two about asbestos is certainly aware that the toxic mineral was widely used in building materials. What they may not know, however, is that asbestos also enjoyed widespread use aboard ships of all varieties, from pleasure boats to those that fought for America in World War II and during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. As a matter of fact, shipbuilders are the tradesmen who suffer from the highest rate of mesothelioma worldwide.
Asbestos was found in nearly every compartment of a ship, from the control rooms to the sleeping quarters. Marine panels, which are panels used to build walls, ceilings, bulkheads, furniture, and interior accommodations within a boat or ship, often contained asbestos. These panels needed to be durable, fireproof, and waterproof, so asbestos seemed like a logical material to include in the manufacture of marine panels, especially because it was inexpensive to use.
Unfortunately, while these asbestos-containing marine panels helped protect sailors from some dangers, the presence of asbestos was creating an additional problem. Anytime these marine panels were cut or damaged, which was quite often on a busy and active ship, they may have released toxic asbestos particles. In turn, anyone who worked or lived in that part of the ship could have inhaled the dangerous dust.
The use of asbestos in marine panels has affected the life of many ship builders, Navy veterans, and recreational boaters. Once asbestos particles are released, they are quite easy to inhale. Once inhaled, these long, sharp fibers lodge in the lining of the lungs and can cause fatal malignant mesothelioma or a host of other related diseases including asbestosis and pleural plaques.
Shipbuilders of old, both civilian and military, were unaware of the dangers of asbestos so they did little or nothing to protect themselves from inhaling particles while working aboard a ship. Often, shipbuilders ripped out asbestos-containing marine panels or insulation with their bare hands and hardly ever wore a mask. They also brought dangerous asbestos dust home on their clothes, where it sometimes affected their spouses and children. Some of those individuals developed so-called second-hand mesothelioma decades later.
Even though the use of asbestos in marine panels was halted by 1980, anyone who owns or works on an older boat may be subject to asbestos exposure if the panels are damaged, so precautions should always be taken, including the wearing of protective masks or respirators if you’re uncertain as to the presence of the toxic mineral.
If you worked aboard a ship or if you sailed on or owned a boat that included asbestos-containing marine panels, you may have inhaled toxic asbestos fibers. If you’ve already been diagnosed with mesothelioma due to this exposure, you’ll want to learn more about your legal rights. For more details, take a moment to order our free mesothelioma information packet today.
