Asbestos in Sao Paulo, and Other Military Aircraft, Ships
What does the navy do with maritime vessels that have outlived their usefulness?
On February 3rd of 2023, Brazil deliberately sank its retired warship Sao Paulo in the Atlantic Ocean despite the fact that environmental advocates argued the vessel was loaded with toxins waiting to seriously pollute the sea.
The navy explained that this planned retirement of the ship took place 220 miles off the coast of Brazil at a depth of 16,000 feet. Although officials declared that the area chosen was the safest place available, environmentalists had insisted the decision was dangerous and tons of hazardous debris, including asbestos, would fill the ocean waters, harming marine life and nearby coastal communities.
Basel Action Network’s environmental warning about asbestos ship
Basel Action Network (BAN) issued a joint statement with Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd, accusing Brazil of having violated “three international environment treaties.” At the same time, the organizations weren’t able to come up with a better solution.
Brazil insisted that a controlled and purposeful sinking was preferable to an accidental sinking and that the site was deliberately chosen for the lowest environmental impact on the ecosystem. A judge ultimately agreed, allowing the country to proceed, and calling the event “tragic and regrettable,” but the lesser of two evils.
History of the Sao Paulo
The Sao Paulo was built in France in the 1950s, and the French navy commissioned it for close to 40 years, providing the ship with a respectable place in naval history. The vessel was a part of France’s Pacific nuclear tests in the ‘60s before being sent to Africa, the Middle East, and the country formerly known as Yugoslavia during the 1970s and 1990s.
Brazil purchased the aircraft carrier in 2000 for $12 million. In 2022, the government of Brazil approved the Turkish company Sok Denizcilik to take apart Sao Paulo and use the pieces for scrap metal. However, Turkish environmental advocates succeeded in having the proposal blocked. After that, the ship was returned to Brazil but was not permitted into any Brazilian port due to its high environmental risk.
U.S. Navy and Asbestos
The U.S. has had its own problematic history with ships and toxic waste – asbestos in particular. Asbestos has had a number of uses for centuries, and during the 20th century, it became a staple of industry. The once hailed “miracle mineral,” was commonly used by the construction industry when building homes, as well as in the production of clothing items such as aprons and gloves. It was (and still is) used in cement and in automotive parts. For many years, asbestos literally seemed to be everywhere because of its inexpensiveness, durability, and fire-resistant properties – military artillery was no exception.
The U.S. military integrated asbestos into the design of its ships mainly because of its fireproofing properties, and any vessel built between the 1930s and the 1980s was surely filled with the mineral. Asbestos could be found in everything from a ship’s boiler, engine and pump rooms to its cabins, mess halls, and galleys. The entire body of early to mid-20th century naval ships were fireproofed using asbestos, which, of course, exposed crewmembers.
Asbestos as a Health Risk
Eventually, the health risks of asbestos became public knowledge. People were struggling with lung disease and cancer diagnoses, and these were ultimately traced back to exposure. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until this point that the hazards of asbestos became well-known, and this couldn’t help the many military veterans and their families who already had terminal illnesses. In fact, the dangers of asbestos didn’t become public knowledge until years after it was found to be causing harm. This was because the asbestos industry worked hard to cover up the consequences of handling its profitable product.
Many navy veterans exposed to asbestos while in active duty are continuing to develop health issues as a result including asthma, COPD, emphysema, asbestosis, mesothelioma, and many other forms of cancer. Despite the fact that asbestos is now largely banned in industry, there tends to be a long latency period before symptoms begin to appear. This means that anyone exposed decades ago could still become symptomatic.
Asbestos Injury and the Law
Asbestos-related health conditions can lead to lost wages, high medical bills, and funeral expenses for family members. Because of this, and to avoid time-consuming and costly litigation, many of the biggest players in the once-booming asbestos industry have set aside trust funds for those seeking compensation.
In most cases, the statute of limitation for reporting mesothelioma is up to six years. This is true even if the injured person has had a latent case for decades. An experienced asbestos attorney, however, may appeal using the 1973 case, Borel v. Fibreboard, arguing that the statute of limitation for asbestos begins at the time of diagnosis, as was supported by the court at the time. There is still an estimated $30 billion available for asbestos injury claims.
Aircraft Carriers and Asbestos
Navy ships are not the only branch of the military that used asbestos during the early part of the 20th century; aircraft carriers were similarly subjected to high amounts of the toxin.
As one example, Japan attacked Midway Island six months following its infamous attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II. The USS Enterprise, USS Hornet, and USS Yorktown were all able to respond successfully and defeat the foreign fleet over a two-day battle. This was a critical American victory and did considerable harm to the Japanese navy.
The personnel of these carriers certainly fought a strong and pivotal battle. At the time, however, it was not known that Japanese bombs were not the only danger. The aircraft, like U.S. naval ships, were fireproofed with asbestos – and large quantities of it. That meant service personnel who were on board aircraft carriers built before 1975 were, and still are, at risk of developing mesothelioma and other serious illnesses.
Veterans who have developed asbestos-related illnesses are entitled to file a personal injury claim. When doing so, it’s vital to have an expert attorney familiar with the claims process in their corner, who is ready and willing to answer any questions they might have. Navigating the legal system can seem complicated, but an experienced asbestos attorney can ensure all paperwork is filed correctly and a case is heard.The team at AsbestosClaims.law knows the ins and outs of the legal system, and they work on a contingency basis, meaning their attorneys don’t get paid until their clients do. There is literally nothing to lose. Don’t delay, call and get the compensation you and your family deserve today.
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References:
Scientific Citation: Kara Franke & Dennis Paustenbach (2011) Government and Navy knowledge regarding health hazards of asbestos: A state of the science evaluation (1900 to 1970), Inhalation Toxicology, 23:sup3, 1-20, DOI: 10.3109/08958378.2011.643417.