Asbestos is virtually everywhere in America. It is a mineral that exists naturally in a fibrous form and is resistant to heat, water, chemicals and electricity.

Throughout the 20th century, asbestos was incorporated into thousands of construction, commercial and household products, including fire-retardant coatings,

gloves, concrete and cement, bricks, pipes, gaskets, insulation, drywall, flooring, roofing, joint compound, paints and sealants.

The Shipyard industry has one of the highest uses of asbestos-containing materials, and as such shipyard workers are among the most diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases. Those who worked in shipyards and on ships during World War II are especially at risk, as over 4 million people were employed at these yards at that time.

Shipyard workers have a variety of duties, including construction and maintenance of ships. Asbestos was very common on these ships because of its properties and could be found in almost any aspect of the ship, from the gaskets and seal compounds, to the boilers and insulation.

Because of the high amount of asbestos used on these ships, Navy veterans are also at high risk. Asbestos was used widely throughout the military, however, so all veterans are vulnerable to being diagnosed with mesothelioma.