As a former United States Navy facility, Treasure Island Naval Station is located in San Francisco Bay and was in use from 1942 to 1997. It was built on a man-made island on the shoals of Yerba Buena Island between 1936 and 1939.
Over time, Treasure Island and a portion of the neighborhood of Yerba Buena Island became the main West Coast naval training center through which personnel were processed for service in the Pacific Ocean. After the end of World War II, the facility continued to operate as a naval training and administrative center.
However, tremendous contamination with asbestos and other dangerous substances was found in the area by the Environment Protection Agency. Everyone who was present or worked at Treasure Island Naval Station should pay close attention to their health, as asbestos exposure can cause terrible diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma 20 to 50 years following the inhalation of carcinogenic fibers.
"I was exposed to asbestos when I was in the service at Treasure Island, California, I was recently diagnosed with emphysema, and I have over 20 nodules in my lungs from 2 to 7 millimeters, I have all medical records", says Todd M.
Emphysema is a chronic obstructive lung condition in which the alveoli at the end of the smallest air passages of the lungs are destroyed as a result of damaging exposure to irritating gases, vapors, and particulate matter or exposure to asbestos and other toxic workplace dust. When asbestos fibers enter the alveoli, can cause cancer and prevent the exchange of oxygen between the lungs and red blood cells. There is increasing evidence that emphysema may also cause scarring and repair processes that can lead to lung cancer. We strongly recommend undergoing periodical medical examinations to find out whether asbestos has affected your lungs in any way.
In addition to asbestos, the following substances have been discovered on the site:
- heavy metals
- PCBs
- caesium-137
- radioactive waste
The levels of cesium-137, a radioactive isotope of cesium, have recently been found to be 3 times higher than they were in 2013. The health effects of radiation exposure include but are not limited to:
- loss of white blood cells
- headaches
- nausea and vomiting
- damage to nerve cells
- temporary hair loss
- rapid heartbeat
- loss of appetite
- malaise
Nevertheless, asbestos is regarded as the most dangerous material present at Treasure Island Naval Station at the moment. While the Disabled American Veterans Charity is striving to clean it up, the toxic mineral remains a health hazard for the people who live nearby. "The overall cleanup is going very well. The project was supposed to take one year, but we're going into year three. They have to go deeper, and they keep finding a little more, a little more. But the Navy is hoping to finish soil cleanup in six to eight months," says Nathan Brennan, a member of the Treasure Island RAB.
If you developed asbestos-related cancer following asbestos exposure at Treasure Island Naval Station, we highly encourage you to take legal action and file a claim with the VA to receive the financial compensation you deserve. The money will help you with the cost of healthcare, as well as with affording the medication and treatment you need. Should you decide to take legal action, we can contact you with experienced lawyers ready to help.