Kane Shipbuilding
The Kane Shipbuilding Company was established in Galveston, Texas in the early 1900's. Originally it was a very small facility that did not compare to the many other shipyards in Texas, but the onset of World War II changed that dramatically.
During the Second World War German submarines known as U-Boats had a very sinister goal: to destroy as many American ships as possible. Unfortunately they were very successful in this mission, and the United States Naval Fleet was soon being depleted. A call went out to ship builders all over the country to help in the efforts by dedicating their time to building crafts that could be used in the war effort.
Kane Shipbuilding heeded the call for aid, and built many large vessels for the Navy and Coast Guard. This caused the facility to grow, and more people were brought in to help accomplish this necessary task. Tragically, all of the people who signed on to work at the yard spent much of their time around a toxic and potentially deadly material.
Shipyards require vast amounts of insulation to keep their machinery operating at an even temperature, and for many years almost all insulating materials were made out of asbestos. This key insulating ingredient is a mineral that is very abundant and easy to mine, which made it economically popular for thousands of manufacturers. Additionally, the mineral is tough and fire resistant, which made it the perfect base for the heavy duty insulation that was called for at industrial settings like Kane Shipbuilding.
The people who were employed at the Galveston based shipyard had no idea that the products they worked with were poisonous. They also did not know that they were breathing in trace amounts of asbestos dust, and it was wreaking havoc within their respiratory system. As the hazardous dust settled within the victim's lungs, it would scar and deteriorate healthy tissue. Over time this often led to breathing disorders and several different diseases. Cancer was a common result of exposure to asbestos, and the dreaded mesothelioma became well known as a likely result of spending time around goods that were made with the toxic mineral.
After many years in operation, Kane Shipbuilding was shut down. All of the people who worked there may have been negatively affected by the presence of insulation and other products that contained asbestos. Since the effects of exposure to this mineral sometimes take more than a decade to become noticeable, anyone who worked at the facility is urged to contact their healthcare provider and set up an appointment for a checkup.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
