Veterans deserve a national asbestos registry
Death caused by mesothelioma is still a real problem affecting New Yorkers. Those with a history of working in asbestos-contaminated environments, such as military veterans and construction workers, are exponentially at risk. The monitoring of exposure with an asbestos registry in veterans and others could vastly improve the situation, but no such database exists yet.
Mesothelioma is a very aggressive cancer that develops mainly in the membrane around the lungs, but also in the abdomen, heart, and reproductive organs. Asbestos, a strong and heat-resistant mineral fiber, almost exclusively causes the disease. For decades, asbestos was widely used for its fire-resistant and insulating properties by the construction and automotive
Millions of Americans have been exposed to asbestos, but the most affected individuals by this carcinogenic material, besides those working with construction materials, are military veterans. Because asbestos can linger in the body for a long time after exposure — up to 50 years — many are struggling with asbestos-caused cancer today.
New York veterans are at risk from the hazardous asbestos
New York ranks among the top states when it comes to mesothelioma diagnoses and deaths, partly because of its large construction industry and the historic presence of the Navy on its territory.
In the Bronx, for instance, the estimated number of asbestos-related deaths was 356.
The Pelham Bay Naval Training Station in the Bronx and the shipbuilding activities at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard both contributed to asbestos contamination among former Navy personnel based in New York. While none of the facilities are operational anymore, they both played a pivotal role during WWII, when the use of asbestos by the U.S. Armed Forces reached its peak.
Besides the historic asbestos use by the Navy in New York, the collapse of the World Trade Center — with its devastating health consequences for public health — adds to the list of events leading to asbestos exposure of New York veterans and the general population.
Establishing an asbestos registry could be a life-saving act
Mesothelioma presents an intriguing challenge to the medical community. The cancer has a 20- to 50-year-long latency period after asbestos exposure, and it is often only diagnosed at an advanced stage, making it difficult to contain its rapid progression with traditional chemotherapy. Medical scientists have been searching for years for the proper treatment that can slow down the spread of mesothelioma and alleviate pain without a real breakthrough.
The VA urges veterans to get tested for asbestos-related diseases, especially mesothelioma. Medical experts recommend performing specialized tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, PET scans and biopsies, to detect asbestos in the body. With the help of a national database enlisting military members with known and suspected asbestos exposure during their service years, doctors could refer potential mesothelioma patients to the appropriate health screenings.
Setting up the database would be the responsibility of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. Unfortunately, timely discovery is the only option for veterans affected by asbestos-linked conditions for a long and better-quality life. Having a national asbestos-exposure registry to rely on for medical referrals would significantly improve the diagnostic outcomes in New York and nationwide.
Those who served in asbestos-contaminated environments and are diagnosed with a health condition caused by exposure are eligible to receive disability compensation and possibly free health care from the VA. We need our policymakers to step up and fight for our veterans’ lives and future.
Jonathan Sharp
CFO of Environmental Litigation Group, P.C.
