Asbestos Exposure and The Seabees

Since World War II when they were first established as the Construction Battalions of the U.S. Navy, the Seabees have assumed responsibility for the building of military bases and buildings, and the construction of roadways, airstrips, bridges and power plants. In excess of 325,000 men, many of whom were recruited from civilian construction trades, served with the Seabees in World War II. These men, as well as those who later served in the Korean War and Viet Nam eras, are now being diagnosed with pleural disease, asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma as a result of their past exposure to asbestos products.

For decades, literally tons of asbestos was used in products approved by the Navy for use in the shipbuilding industry, and in the construction of military shore facilities. It is estimated that approximately 300 asbestos-containing products were used by shipyards in the building of our nation's warships, and nearly 3,000 products may have been used in on-shore construction. While most uses of asbestos have been banned today, many of these products can still be found in virtually all surface ships and submarines built prior to the mid-1970s, and in nearly all older shore facilities.

Following is a comprehensive list of products, some by brand name and some by generic item, in which asbestos may have been a component. The years in which these products contained asbestos varies according to the product.