Shipbuilders' High Risk of Asbestos Exposure

Since the 1940s, millions of workers in the United States have been exposed to asbestos dust, increasing their risk of developing cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. Shipyard workers are one of the most affected occupational groups by asbestos exposure. Estimates put the number of shipyard workers during World War II at around 4.5 million people, when shipbuilding was at its peak and asbestos was still being widely used. Given that health complications can arise years—even decades—after asbestos exposure, millions of shipbuilders continue to be at risk of asbestos-related illness and death. When a shipbuilder develops cancer, like mesothelioma, following asbestos exposure at work, a qualified asbestos lawyer can help fight for compensation on his or her behalf.

According to an article published by the Ulster Medical Society, during World War II, asbestos use averaged 783 million pounds. By the Cold War, its use had exceeded 1,400 million pounds, decreasing only after regulations limiting its use were introduced in the 1970s. By 1990, asbestos use in the U.S. was down to 90 million pounds. The shipbuilding industry utilized asbestos widely before federal regulations limited its use. Its fire retardant nature made it ideal for insulating boilers, steam pipes, and hot water pipes, making it useful in engine rooms and superstructures. Millions of shipyard workers were routinely exposed to asbestos on the job prior to the 1980s, and since the 1980s, after asbestos use started to decline, they have continued to be at risk of asbestos exposure when maintaining and repairing older ships. Shipyard workers whose asbestos exposure has caused health complications can work with an experienced mesothelioma attorney to protect their rights.

The risk of developing asbestos-related cancer extends beyond just the shipbuilders themselves, however. Their spouses and children also have an elevated risk for certain cancers and other respiratory illnesses due to indirect asbestos exposure. A 1985 study in the American Journal of Public Health found that 11.3 percent of 274 wives of shipyard workers in Los Angeles County, whose husbands worked in the field 20 years or more, showed radiologic signs of pulmonary asbestos disease. Asbestosis was also found in 7.6 percent of 79 sons and 2.1 percent of 140 daughters of those workers. Families of shipbuilders can encounter second-hand asbestos exposure just by coming into contact with clothing that contains asbestos dust. Those experiencing health problems, such as mesothelioma, because of a spouse's or parent's direct exposure to asbestos in a shipyard may be entitled to compensation. They can learn about their legal rights from a dedicated mesothelioma lawyer.

If you or a loved one's health has been adversely affected by asbestos exposure associated with working in a shipyard, contact an experienced asbestos attorney to take the first step toward standing up for your legal rights.