For most of the last century, the Marines, Navy, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard have massively asbestos-laden products, resulting in many service members’ exposure to the toxic substance while defending our nation.

The growing number of toxic exposure cases among our veterans today underscores the health risks they unknowingly took on alongside the challenges of service. 

On top of the challenges of transitioning into civilian life after years of duty, many veterans must deal with developing asbestos-related diseases that may be linked to their military service.

Asbestos was once appreciated for its insulating and fire-resistant properties, and nobody considered it a threat when its microscopic fibers were released into the air and inhaled. 

Asbestos exposure remains an ongoing concern for all veterans, including those among Metro Detroit’s veteran population. 

Given that the military used asbestos mainly for insulation in vehicles, tools, barracks, aircraft, ships, and shipyards, personnel serving in military installations throughout Michigan in the last century were at a significantly high risk of exposure to asbestos.

Even though the Navy exploited asbestos the most, and Navy personnel serving onboard naval vessels faced an outstandingly high risk of asbestos exposure, this doesn’t prevent other military bases from being a potential source of asbestos contamination. 

Michigan is home to the Detroit Arsenal, hosting TACOM headquarters, the state’s only active-duty U.S. military installation. Decommissioned military sites such as Wurtsmith Air Force Base and KI Sawyer Air Force Base are known for their high levels of toxic contamination. 

Veterans’ slowly deteriorating health due to asbestos exposure

During the years of duty, veterans on military bases worked and lived near asbestos materials, unaware of the danger they represented. Thanks to the structure and size of its fibers, asbestos can float in the air for hours. It makes asbestos dust one of the most toxic substances, as its microscopic particles are easily inhaled or ingested. Once inside the body, these tiny threads cause permanent damage to major organs and lead to devastating diseases.

One of the most terrible aspects of asbestos-related diseases is the decades-long latency period between exposure and the first symptoms. 

Even if veterans may not have had health issues during their service, they’ll discover the effects of asbestos exposure only over time when they are diagnosed with conditions related to it, like asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma or other severe respiratory illnesses.

The continuous struggle  for health and well-being

Even though many years have passed since the armed services widely used asbestos, veterans who came in contact with it during their military service now have to fight for their health. 

Many must come to terms with the reality that their service to the country held a huge personal sacrifice and that their asbestos diseases will shorten their life and steal precious time from their families. 

With Michigan ranking 12th in the U.S. for deaths related to asbestos exposure, veterans should consider making an appointment with the doctor as soon as possible. 

Knowing that early detection considerably improves treatment results and may add years to life, they should proactively protect their health through:

Periodic health check-ups: Scheduling regular medical examinations and openly discussing military service and possible asbestos exposure is crucial. The inhaled asbestos fibers affect the lungs first, so veterans should request chest X-rays or CT scans and pulmonary function tests (also known as the breathing test). These specific tests show any damage caused by the asbestos fibers and are a reliable diagnostic procedure for benign and malignant asbestos-related illnesses.

Legal rights: Veterans who know they’ve worked in an asbestos-contaminated environment during their duty, or those who suspect they’ve been exposed to it, should know their rights and options. Legal avenues and compensation programs are available to assist vets harmed by asbestos exposure.

As a veteran, you have the legal right to seek compensation from asbestos trust funds and apply for VA disability benefits. Asbestos trust funds are a significant source of income for individuals injured by occupational exposure, including former military personnel. These funds were set up by liable companies that entered bankruptcy protection and have approximately $37 billion currently available for future claimants. Veterans injured by asbestos exposure during duty can file a claim for compensation with both asbestos trust funds and Veterans Affairs. 

Raise awareness: Protecting others is one of the valuable lessons of service in the military; veterans can play a massive role in spreading awareness and educating by sharing their knowledge and experiences about asbestos exposure risks with their communities and fellow servicemen and women. By being open, they can help ensure that others who protected our nation are informed.

Besides expressing our gratitude to veterans, we also have a responsibility to help protect their health and well-being. Awareness of asbestos exposure is a central part of this responsibility. By shedding light on this still lurking danger, we can make sure that those who served receive the care and support they rightly deserve.