The Boston Naval Shipyard & Asbestos Exposure
Located in Massachusetts, the Charlestown Navy Yard was among the first shipbuilding sites in the United States
. It operated from 1801 to 1974, and has been known as the Boston Naval Shipyard since 1945. Like many other shipyards across the country, the Boston Naval Shipyard used asbestos.
The Secretary of the Navy opened the Boston Naval Shipyard to construct ships for the nation's defense and to repair vessels that had been damaged. The USS Independence was the first ship constructed at the Boston Naval Shipyard, and many other Navy vessels followed. Tank landing ships, destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines, barrack ships and motor tugs were among the ships built at the Boston Naval Shipyard. The Boston Naval Shipyard was also commonly used to repair and store ships.
The Boston Naval Shipyard was active during several wars, including the Spanish American War and both World Wars. During World War II, the Boston Naval Shipyard employed 50,000 workers, a record high for the shipyard. This was mostly in response to attacks from German submarines that damaged and sank countless naval vessels.
The Massachusetts shipyard employed several types of workers including electricians, shipbuilders, machinists, plumbers, sail makers, blacksmiths and carpenters. Unfortunately, many of these workers may have been exposed to the toxic mineral asbestos. Asbestos refers to a group of six naturally occurring minerals that were widely used for their insulating properties and resistance to heat. Because of this, asbestos was used in many industries, including shipbuilding, from the late 1800s until the mineral's ban in the late 1900s. When asbestos-containing products are damaged or disturbed, tiny fibers are released into the air and can be inhaled into the lungs. Eventually, these asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.
The Boston Naval Shipyard used asbestos extensively during shipbuilding, particularly after it started using steel and metal for hulls and various other ship parts. The U.S Navy reports that nearly 300 asbestos-containing products were used regularly in the shipbuilding process. Although the dangers of the mineral were noted as early as the 1920s, those working with asbestos were unaware of its health effects until the mid to late 1900s. As a result, Navy veterans, naval contractors and shipbuilders, among others, may have been exposed to asbestos fibers in dangerous amounts. The Navy banned asbestos use in 1973, but many workers had already been exposed to the harmful mineral.
The Boston Naval Shipyard was closed down in 1974 as part of a government cost-saving plan. Because the adverse health effects of asbestos exposure became public in the 1970s, any asbestos products at the shipyard had to be cleaned up and removed properly. Several acres of the Boston Naval Shipyard are now part of the Boston National Historical Park.
by: Tara Nagel
Bipolar Patients Have Treatments The Various axillary hyperhidrosis treatment Male Patient Sues Doctor Responsible For The Delayed Diagnosis Of His Cancer Until It Metastasized Feline Cancer-Squamous Cell Cancer Is Lethal When Unnoticed Some Treatments For Stretch Marks Zetaclear Nail Fungus Treatment Works Under Your Nails General Information On Tmj Disorders And Their Treatments Treatment Of Dual Problems Simultaneously The Truth About Asbestos-containing Materials In Your Building Trouble Free Wart Treatment With These Easy Steps A Guide To Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center Water Softeners - The Best Treatment For Hard Water Dog Allergy Treatment Methods