Rough and Ready Island Ship Repair
The Rough & Ready Island Ship Repair was originally built in Stockton, California by the United States Navy in 1945. It was created as part of the World War II effort, but soon after it was completed the war had come to an end.
When the repair facility was finished, much of it was leased out for public use. The site was utilized for the repair of both naval and commercial vessels. People who worked at this repair yard spent a great deal of time around products that were made out of asbestos, a mineral that was used to create thousands of different goods for many years. Production of this material eventually became highly regulated by government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency when it was proven to be toxic.
Asbestos is made up of tiny fibrous particles, and they can easily break off and float in the atmosphere. These particles are small enough that they are often inhaled by people without their knowledge. After the mineral is inhaled, it will remain in the respiratory system permanently, and in most cases it causes massive amounts of damage.
Employees of the Rough and Ready Island Ship Repair plant started to become ill after spending time around the asbestos laden goods. They developed respiratory disorders, diseases and most notably a type of cancer known as Mesothelioma. Tragically most of these conditions are extremely difficult to treat, and some are even deadly. It was not until the 1970's that most people became aware of the danger from asbestos exposure, and by then millions of Americans had been affected.
Due to a lack of business, the Rough and Ready Island Ship Repair yard was closed down. The US Navy was charged with cleaning up all asbestos from the site, but there have been many questions as to whether or not the job was done properly. Even though the plant is no longer active, the asbestos based products could still present a danger to people who live in the Stockton area. The area that the repair yard once took up is now a major part of the Port of Stockton.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
