Vessels built during 1930-1970 contained asbestos, a very poisonous substance, in their components like turbines, the valves, the pumps, and even the engine and boiler rooms. One of those ships is the USS San Jacinto (CVL-30), an Independence-class Light Aircraft Carrier with hull number CVL-30. The ship was commissioned in 1943, carried almost 1,500 men on board, and measured 622,5 feet. Its missions were held in the Pacific Theater, receiving five battle stars. President George H.W. Bush served on this ship during World War II. It was in active service for 4 years, from 1943 and until 1947. Known as the "miracle mineral" because of its wide range of useful properties, asbestos is highly toxic, causing a range of lung diseases that are slow to develop but in many cases deadly. Inhaled asbestos fibers can cause scar tissue to form in your lungs. This scar tissue can make it difficult to breathe and shortness of breath can be one of the first symptoms exhibited by the veterans exposed to asbestos for a long period of time. For those who don’t smoke, wheezing can also be a cause for concern and may indicate that you have been exposed to asbestos.
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