The USS George Washington, which was built in 1986 by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Newport News, is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier belonging to the Nimitz class. It was sponsored by Barbara Bush and its motto is “Spirit of Freedom”. Everyone who served abroad the USS George Washington may have been exposed to asbestos, a naturally occurring carcinogenic mineral that was used in over 300 different products existing on the ship, particularly in insulation. Asbestos exposure can result in serious diseases such as lung cancer or mesothelioma within 20 to 50 years of exposure, which is why people who were present on this ship must undergo periodical medical examination. While we are not sure whether asbestos was lurking aboard the USS George Washington, there is a considerable possibility that it was, since asbestos regulations came into effect only in the 1980s. At the moment, the USS George Washington is undergoing refueling and complex overhaul at Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding.
760-621-6147
