»

AMFELS

For many years the Keppel AMFELS Shipyard in Brownsville, Texas was highly respected as one of the greatest ship building facilities in the area. This site was used to build new vessels and repair damaged ones, and it won many contracts with the United States government due to its stellar work record.

Over time many people went in and out of the employ of this Texas based ship yard, and all of them helped to build and maintain the American Naval fleet. The workers who spent time at this facility also shared a common risk, although most of them were not aware of it until many years later. Some of the products they worked with and around on a daily basis contained a poisonous material called asbestos.

Around the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, American manufacturers began to utilize copious amounts of asbestos. The mineral was discovered in large deposits all across the country, and it quickly became one of the most frequently mined natural resources. Its popularity grew because it is very inexpensive, incredibly strong and fire resistant. Despite how tough it is, asbestos is also very pliable and can be molded into most any shape, which made it an ideal ingredient for hundreds of different products.

Manufacturers were in such a rush to obtain more of this "miracle material" that they were not aware of its toxic properties for many years. Tragically, even after they were told about the dangers it held, they did not inform the public or attempt to discontinue usage of the hazardous mineral. People continued to work around asbestos based products, and breathe in miniscule bits of the material that would break free and become airborne.

Exposure to asbestos can result in tissue scarring, which makes normal breathing extremely difficult. It can also lead to several types of cancer, including the well known and potentially deadly Mesothelioma. These diseases are incurable, and have affected millions of people, such as those who were employed at the Keppel AMFELS Shipyard. The effects of asbestos exposure often take many years to become apparent, so anyone who has worked in close proximity to products that contain the hazardous mineral should let their doctor know and schedule an appointment to be checked out.

Last modified: December 09 2009.