Toxic Exposure Still Impacts Veterans’ Health

Military service members spend years in hazardous environments, some of them developing severe illnesses decades after their service. All five military branches utilized various contaminated products to some degree, putting service members’ health at significant risk, especially those who fought in the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Routine exposure to dangerous toxins is at the root of the growing number of toxic exposure cases among our veterans today.

One of the toxic materials causing life-altering diseases is asbestos. The fibrous mineral was prevalent in the U.S. armed forces during the last century, as the WWII war effort demanded accessible materials for producing military equipment in large amounts. Asbestos insulated most military assets and is still a health risk and an ongoing worry for all veterans who might have asbestos fibers in their lungs, including those in Florida’s veteran community and Bradenton City’s veteran community.

Considerable amounts of asbestos in military bases

Out of all the military, the Navy exploited asbestos the most, and Navy veterans serving onboard naval vessels built before the 1980s were at an outstandingly high risk of asbestos exposure. However, this doesn’t exclude other military bases from being a potential source of asbestos contamination. Toxic materials represent health and environmental risks on military sites, and exposure to these hazardous substances is a severe issue requiring more attention, investigation, and, in most cases, immediate action after discovery. 

Florida hosts 21 military bases from every branch of the U.S. armed forces, including Naval Air Station Pensacola, the primary training facility for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aviators. With over 200 military installations built or expanded between 1941 and 1945, Florida’s WWII military past speaks volumes about those times. The state’s wartime history wouldn’t be complete without NAS Pensacola, the cradle of U.S. naval aviation, where thousands of aviators and pilots trained to fight for the country. Another historical facility is in the Florida National Guard in Bradenton, which traces its heritage back to 1565 and comprises the Florida Army National Guard and the Florida Air National Guard. 

Asbestos exposure behind veterans’ declining health

Asbestos breaks into microscopic particles if disturbed, forming dust that lingers in the air for hours. It’s the white dust many veterans remember. The sharp-edged, lightweight microscopic mineral threads are easy to inhale or ingest and cause permanent damage to the tissue of major organs once they’re inside the body, generating grave health conditions. 

The decades-long latency period is one of the most terrible aspects of asbestos-related illnesses. While veterans may not have experienced health issues during their service, some of them have to deal with the effects of asbestos exposure when they are diagnosed with illnesses linked to it, like mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or other severe respiratory conditions. 

The continuous struggle after asbestos exposure

Even though many years have passed since the U.S. armed forces used asbestos, personnel who were in contact with it during their service now have to fight for their health. Many must accept that their asbestos disease will shorten their lives, as no existing treatment can reverse the damage done by asbestos. Today’s medical procedures can only slow the progression, relieve symptoms, and prevent complications..

Since Florida ranks 2nd in the U.S. for deaths linked to asbestos exposure, veterans should schedule periodic check-ups to monitor their health. Timely detection is crucial in asbestos-related diseases because it considerably improves treatment results and prolongs life expectancy. That is why former service members should proactively protect their health through periodic regular check-ups, and learn about their legal rights.

Attending regular health check-ups and, while there, being forthcoming with doctors about military service and potential asbestos exposure are essential steps. Inhaled asbestos fibers damage the lungs first, so veterans should undergo chest X-rays or CT scans and pulmonary function (breathing) tests. These noninvasive tests reveal any injury caused by the asbestos fibers and are reliable in diagnosing benign and malignant asbestos conditions.

Veterans who know they’ve served in an asbestos-contaminated environment or those who suspect they’ve been exposed during the military years should know their rights and options. Compensation programs and legal avenues are available through asbestos trust funds and Veterans Affairs to help those harmed by asbestos exposure, and veterans need to be informed about these resources.

PACT Act helps veterans and their families 

In 2022, the 117th U.S. Congress enacted the The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, known as the PACT Act.The new law aimed to improve health care and compensations for veterans exposed to toxic substances. The Act extends eligibility for V.A. health care for retired military members exposed to harmful substances during active duty and provides veterans with the care and benefits they deserve.

Thanks to this new law, approximately 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans will be eligible for extended V.A. benefits. Since the passage of the PACT Act, over 4 million veterans have been screened for toxic exposure, and nearly 350,000 US citizens have been approved for expanded benefits. In Florida, approximately 72,000 veterans have filed PACT Act claims, and over 27,000 received expanded benefits. Florida veterans can consult more information by accessing https://floridavets.org/.

About the author:

Cristina Johnson is a Navy veteran advocate for Asbestos Ships Organization, a nonprofit whose primary mission is to raise awareness and educate veterans about the dangers of asbestos exposure on Navy ships and assist them in navigating the VA claims process. For more information, please visit our page.