Gas Turbine System Technicians and Asbestos Exposure

In the 1930s, the Navy mandated using asbestos products on its ships, laying grounds for the contamination of virtually all naval vessels built before the 1980s. Following the requirement, shipbuilding consumed large quantities of asbestos, fully exploring its unique qualities like water, heat, and chemical resistance. Moreover, the toxic mineral was abundant in the markets and had a more accessible price range, making it ideal for insulating ships from bow to stern.

As the use of asbestos took hold in most industry branches, medical research revealed the grim reality of more and more shipyard workers developing severe conditions due to asbestos exposure. However, with the military industry gearing up for WW2, producing equipment was on an unprecedented upswing, and manufacturers hid evidence of asbestos toxicity to make a profit. It put Navy personnel at a high risk of inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers without being aware of the danger their service onboard represented, including gas turbine system technicians (GS).

Beyond the life-altering conditions stemming from it, one of the most horrific aspects of asbestos exposure is the decades-long latency period of these diseases. The microscopic asbestos particles are easy to inhale and damage the lungs over time through a long process that begins with them embedding into the lining and irritating it, causing chronic inflammation, permanent scarring, and eventually cell mutations leading to malignant conditions such as:

• pharyngeal cancer
• colorectal cancer
• mesothelioma
• laryngeal cancer
• esophageal cancer
• urogenital cancer
• bronchial cancer
• lung cancer
• gastrointestinal cancer

Former service members diagnosed with these cancers may qualify to file claims and receive compensation if their medical records show any of the cancers mentioned above and they have proof of asbestos exposure.

Exposed to Asbestos While on a Navy Ship

Although all personnel risked asbestos exposure while fulfilling duty on naval vessels like aircraft carriers, destroyers, submarines, and more, those working in below-deck areas were at an even greater risk. Tight and poorly ventilated places were common in the belly of the ship, making asbestos dust an even more significant hazard for those working below.

Gas turbine system technicians (GS) spent more than half their career on sea duty assignments, working in engine rooms or shops - noisy and hot environments aboard many ships. The GS?rating was established in 1978 when U.S. Navy ships were equipped with gas-turbine propulsion and encompasses two separate ratings:

• electrical (GSE)
• mechanical(GSM)

GSs were responsible for operating, maintaining, and repairing the ship's gas-turbine propulsion systems and rebuilding, balancing, and testing critical engine components. They also performed organizational and intermediate maintenance on:

• gas turbine engines
• main propulsion machinery
• assigned auxiliary equipment
• propulsion control systems
• assigned electrical and electronic circuitry
• alarm and warning circuitry

GSEs operated electric plants and main- and propulsion control equipment, located circuit failures, and replaced parts. Their duties included:

• measuring current, voltage, and resistance
• test for shorts, grounds, and continuity

GSMs worked with blueprints, schematics, and charts to maintain and repair gas turbine engines and auxiliary equipment. Their duties included performing preventive maintenance on:

• fuel and air system
• seawater service system
• waste drain system
• oil purification system
• manually operated valves

Prolonging Life Expectancy by Seeking Immediate Medical Attention

Illnesses stemming from asbestos exposure can take up to 50 years to develop - it's this long latency period that makes them highly hazardous, and it's usually when the first symptoms appear. It's also the reason why they're diagnosed only in advanced stages, considerably reducing veterans' chances of receiving specialized help and timely care. Moreover, it is why former naval personnel should schedule and undergo periodic medical examinations and chest X-rays or CT scans along with a series of pulmonary function tests as soon as they experience:

• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• chest tightness
• wheezing
• dizziness
• fatigue
• unintentional weight loss
• persistent dry cough
• pain with inspiration
• respiratory system complications

Asbestos-related diseases are complex and, therefore, easy to misdiagnose. Most doctors will likely misinterpret the signs, as it takes specialization and experience to correctly asses asbestos cases. Pulmonary specialists qualified to treat lung diseases caused by prolonged asbestos exposure can ensure veteran's accurate evaluation and a correct diagnosis. Veterans can take extra caution by requesting a second or a third doctor's opinion outside the VA because asbestos illnesses often have symptoms that resemble common health conditions. Speaking to your doctor about military years and possible asbestos exposure during service is another essential aspect that helps the diagnostic process and could reveal non-cancerous diseases such as:

• pulmonary fibrosis
• asbestosis
• recurrent pneumonia
• emphysema
• rounded atelectasis
• chronic bronchitis
• pleural effusion
• pleural plaques
• pleural thickening
• COPD
• lung nodules and spots
• asthma

Although these conditions don't qualify veterans for compensation, they should be checked regularly, as they can potentially develop into cancer. Only routine check-ups and comprehensive evaluations can discover them in incipient phases, and a cancer diagnosis will make former service members eligible for claims.

Supporting Navy Veterans in Receiving the Rightful Compensation

Before the 1980s, more than 300 products containing asbestos were used in building ships for the Navy, potentially harming the health of naval personnel. Veterans in service between World War II and the late 1970s should schedule a doctor's appointment as soon as possible when experiencing any of the symptoms listed above.

Former service members of the Navy, U.S. Army Transport Service, Merchant Marine, or Coast Guard diagnosed with asbestos cancers may be eligible for disability compensation if they have proof of asbestos exposure. We can assist you in connecting experienced asbestos attorneys who are ready to handle your case.