The Long-Awaited Ban on Asbestos – From a Veteran’s Perspective

Retired LCDR Carl Jewett is a VA-accredited claims agent and Mesothelioma Guide’s veterans advocate. With the EPA’s final ruling on asbestos, Carl shares his thoughts on the long-awaited ban on the cancer-causing substance. 

After nearly 24 years in the Navy’s silent service, I traded my watch on nuclear submarines for a different kind of mission: helping veterans receive the VA benefits they deserve. As a retired naval officer, and now a VA-accredited claims agent, I spend my days fighting for those who protected our country, especially those exposed to hazards like asbestos during their service.

When I was on active duty between 1985 and 2008, I was aware that some parts and materials in our ships, submarines and installations were still made of asbestos – legacy asbestos as it was called. What I was shocked to learn once I retired and started working with veterans diagnosed with asbestos diseases, was that asbestos use was still not banned in the US.

 

Finally Banning Asbestos 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  attempted to ban asbestos in 1989, but the courts overturned it in 1991. However, it did result in the ban of some uses of asbestos. This “ban” was a loose term as manufacturers were still allowed to use asbestos to generate certain products that contained asbestos prior to this “ban.” In other words, the loose ban still permitted the use of asbestos in various industries, products and materials.

Fast-forward 30 years to March 2024. In a landmark move reflecting a growing commitment to public health and safety, the EPA has finally succeeded in banning asbestos entirely – as opposed to the loose ban in 1991. The complete ban prohibits the import, sale, and use of chrysotile asbestos in the United States. 

Chrysotile asbestos was the last commercially used form of asbestos in the United States, specifically in the chlor-alkali industry. Since 2019, there have been over 742 tons of chrysotile asbestos imported to the United States.

 

The Lasting Impact of Asbestos 

Although this ban marks the end of a toxic era and the beginning of a safer future, it’s important to remember the long shadow cast by asbestos use in the past. Asbestos is a cancer-causing substance and the lack of initial testing and regulations is alarming. 

Hundreds of corporations manufactured asbestos products and materials for decades, and many of them knew that the substance was not entirely safe. There is evidence dating back to the early 1900s that certain companies were aware of the potential dangers of asbestos but chose to ignore this and continue the production of their hazardous products without warning consumers. 

The lack of regulations on asbestos and asbestos manufacturing companies has been extremely detrimental to public health. There are many occupations – especially in the military – that were once very high-risk jobs for asbestos exposure, which then led to secondary exposure for other military personnel in those work areas, as well as for family members. 

The lack of regulations allowed companies like Johnson & Johnson to manufacture certain products with asbestos-contaminated products, such as talc, which led to consumers – women, men, children and babies – being exposed to asbestos and developing serious illnesses. 

The lack of regulations affected not only the general public and consumers but also had a lasting impact on military servicemen and women. The military was a primary consumer of asbestos during the 20th century. World War II was the driving force behind the need for asbestos, as war efforts were ramping up, military production needed to keep up with the fast pace. 

Asbestos was arguably overused by the military as it was used in nearly every possible application. Members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard were all at risk of asbestos exposure and developing asbestos-related diseases. The substance was used to construct ships, aircraft, vehicles, barracks, family housing units and more. Any disturbance to the asbestos-containing parts or materials could cause asbestos fibers to contaminate the air. 

 

Health Consequences of Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure – whether for military veterans or civilians – could have been completely avoided had proper regulations been in place long before now. Asbestos corporations – and in some ways the EPA – are to blame for all instances of asbestos exposure and asbestos-related diseases, such as asbestosis, lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, mesothelioma and more. 

One major concern with the consequences of asbestos exposure is the long latency period for mesothelioma, which means the amount of time between initial exposure to asbestos and when significant symptoms begin to appear. The latency period for mesothelioma can last for decades, meaning anyone who was in a position of falling victim to asbestos exposure likely will not experience mesothelioma symptoms until well into the future. Often, this results in late-stage diagnosis, which is a primary contributing factor to the poor prognosis of mesothelioma.

Asbestos exposure is very unfortunate no matter who it happens to. But, as a veteran who bravely served his country, it’s upsetting that the EPA and the asbestos corporations could not protect me and my fellow servicemen and women from harmful substances like asbestos – as we protected them and their freedom. I do not fault the government or the military for any causes of asbestos exposure as they were left in the dark just like the rest of the public, but it is a shame that certain big-wig corporations valued profits over a future public health crisis. 

As a VA- accredited claims agent, my work ensures veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve for service-connected illnesses. While the hope is that future generations won’t face similar battles, the veterans who carry the scars of past exposures will need continued support for years to come. In the meantime, this ban signifies a crucial step towards a future where public health is prioritized and protected from such insidious dangers.