Mesothelioma Navy Navy Ship Asbestos History 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the approximate latency period between Navy asbestos exposure and the development of mesothelioma symptoms?
- 1–5 years
- 10–20 years
- 20–50 years (Correct answer)
- Over 60 years
Correct answer: 20–50 years
Mesothelioma typically develops 20–50 years after initial asbestos exposure, which is why many Navy veterans are diagnosed decades after their service.
Question 2: Which component of Navy ship HVAC and ventilation systems frequently contained asbestos?
- Fan blades and propellers
- Duct insulation and fire dampers (Correct answer)
- Electrical motors and controllers
- Navigation and monitoring instruments
Correct answer: Duct insulation and fire dampers
Asbestos was used in duct insulation and fire dampers within Navy ship ventilation systems to prevent fire spread through air passages.
Question 3: The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington is historically significant in asbestos litigation because:
- It was the first shipyard to voluntarily ban asbestos in 1960
- It employed thousands of workers who developed asbestos-related diseases after building and repairing nuclear submarines and carriers (Correct answer)
- Its workers were given protective equipment decades before other shipyards
- It exclusively built non-asbestos vessels after WWII
Correct answer: It employed thousands of workers who developed asbestos-related diseases after building and repairing nuclear submarines and carriers
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard employed large workforces on nuclear submarines and carriers that contained extensive asbestos, resulting in widespread occupational disease.
Question 4: Secondary asbestos exposure affected Navy veterans' families because:
- Family members were required to work at shipyards
- Veterans carried asbestos fibers home on their clothing, exposing household members (Correct answer)
- Navy housing was built with asbestos materials exclusively
- Family members received the same asbestos-related benefits as veterans
Correct answer: Veterans carried asbestos fibers home on their clothing, exposing household members
Asbestos fibers embedded in work clothing were brought home, exposing spouses and children who handled or laundered the contaminated garments.
Question 5: Which legal doctrine has been central to Navy veteran asbestos lawsuits against manufacturers?
- The 'government contractor defense' arguing manufacturers followed Navy specifications (Correct answer)
- The 'assumption of risk' doctrine barring all veteran claims
- Maritime law preventing any asbestos claims from Navy personnel
- The 'statute of limitations' which has eliminated most veteran claims
Correct answer: The 'government contractor defense' arguing manufacturers followed Navy specifications
Manufacturers have used the government contractor defense, arguing they built products to Navy specifications, though courts have ruled variably on this defense.
Question 6: Navy ships built during the Korean War era (early 1950s) are particularly significant in mesothelioma cases because:
- They were the first ships to use asbestos alternatives
- Peak asbestos use coincided with Korean War-era construction, meaning veterans are now in the highest-risk disease window (Correct answer)
- These ships were decommissioned before crew exposure could occur
- Asbestos regulations eliminated exposure risks by the Korean War
Correct answer: Peak asbestos use coincided with Korean War-era construction, meaning veterans are now in the highest-risk disease window
Korean War-era ships were built with peak asbestos concentrations, and the 20–50 year latency means veterans from this period face current diagnosis risk.
Question 7: Which asbestos product company is most frequently named in Navy veteran mesothelioma lawsuits related to shipboard insulation?
- Johns-Manville Corporation (Correct answer)
- Owens Corning
- Armstrong World Industries
- Georgia-Pacific
Correct answer: Johns-Manville Corporation
Johns-Manville was the dominant supplier of asbestos insulation products to the U.S. Navy and is central to thousands of mesothelioma lawsuits.
Mesothelioma Navy Navy Ship Asbestos History 5
What is the approximate latency period between Navy asbestos exposure and the development of mesothelioma symptoms?