Photographer’s Mates and Asbestos Exposure

As the country prepared for WWII during the last century, asbestos became the go-to material for every U.S. military branch. The fibrous mineral was ideal for military property because of its fireproof, lightweight, inexpensive, and corrosion-proof qualities.

The Navy considered this toxic material so important that it mandated asbestos in shipbuilding. As a result, the fibrous mineral was extensively used in ships built from the late 1930s on. With the use of asbestos spreading in the industry, medical evidence emerged, underlining that the same properties that made the use of asbestos so profitable for shipbuilding also made it extremely dangerous to health. Companies that produced and sold products containing asbestos were aware of the material's toxicity but chose to hide information to maximize profits. This decision led to thousands of Navy veterans being exposed to hazardous asbestos fibers, including photographer's mates (PH).

Asbestos is a health risk when its microscopic fibers become airborne due to wear and tear. Contrary to other particulate matter, asbestos dust can float in the air for hours, increasing the chances of inhaling or ingesting the toxic particles for everyone onboard. Once in the body, the tiny sharp-edged threads get caught and then embedded in the lining of the lungs, injuring it as the lungs try to clear them. The process causes irreversible and permanent scarring that may progress over time into cell modifications and the development of asbestos-related cancers such as:

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

Veterans diagnosed with the cancers listed above become eligible for claims and qualify for compensation if they have proof of asbestos exposure and medical papers stating one of these malignant diseases.

Exposed to Asbestos While Deployed on a Navy Ship

With more than 300 asbestos-containing products on naval vessels, avoiding exposure to the hazardous material was impossible for everyone onboard. Maintenance and repairs routinely disturbed asbestos, generating the white dust many veterans remember.

Naval vessels were known for poor ventilation and tight and cramped spaces below the deck, making things worse. Those working long hours in the belly of the ship faced a higher risk of exposure, but asbestos contaminated virtually every part from bow to stern.

Before smartphones made everyone a potential cameraman and correspondent, photographers' mates (PH) were the ones who documented activities by taking pictures. In WWII, much of the visual imagery of military activity came from commercial news services and specialized armed forces members. The Navy relied on enlisted men in the PH rating with responsibilities such as:

• photographing events for publication
• providing intelligence
• making news footage
• manage radio and television material
• taking pictures for accident or incident investigations
• making news footage
• repairing and maintaining cameras and equipment

PHs were members of the Combat Camera Group, cameramen who accompanied troops and served onboard ships and airplanes. The Navy Bureau of Naval Personnel established the PH rating in 1948 for personnel who perform general naval photography afloat and ashore. It was integrated later into the mass communication specialist (MC) rating.

An Exact Diagnosis Can Prolong a Veteran's Life

Because asbestos wasn't considered dangerous, protective equipment wasn't given to those who handled the material during regular maintenance, repair, or removal work. Cutting, sawing, drilling, or ripping out insulation released significant amounts of asbestos dust into the air, increasing the chances of inhaling or ingesting toxic asbestos particles. It is why naval personnel may develop asbestos diseases many years after service and should seek professional help and tell the doctor about the military service when experiencing:

• shortness of breath
• pain in the chest or shoulder
• persistent dry cough
• general weakness
• night sweats
• fatigue
• unintentional weight loss
• respiratory system complications

The biological mechanisms of diseases linked to asbestos exposure are complex and involve interactions between genetics and other possible exposures. This is why many doctors misread the symptoms and draw inaccurate diagnoses like asthma or COPD. Being open about past asbestos exposure is vital to avoid misdiagnosis and begin the treatment that stops the disease from progressing. Periodic lung checkups help detect asbestos conditions in time, along with chest X-rays and pulmonary function tests that reveal asbestos fibers in the lungs and are a diagnostic tool for benign asbestos illnesses like:

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

Although these diseases don't qualify veterans to receive compensation, they should be observed, as non-cancerous asbestos illnesses tend to turn into cancer. Ask for a second or third opinion from a pulmonary specialist outside the VA to ensure thorough evaluation and an exact diagnosis - it could disclose cancer that qualifies veterans to file claims and receive monetary compensation and help establish the best course of treatment.

Assisting Navy Veterans to Receive the Compensation They Qualify For

If you're a Navy veteran who served from the 1930s to the early 1980s, we strongly advise you to pay attention to any changes in your health and seek medical attention without delay, no matter how insignificant your symptoms may seem. The VA awards health monitoring and treatment options for veterans who were exposed to asbestos during their military years.

To access the benefits, veterans must first prove that their exposure occurred while under active duty and have the records of any medical treatments received for asbestos-related cancer. Should you decide to take the necessary legal steps, we can assist you in contacting experienced toxic exposure attorneys who are ready to take on your case.