| Newport News, VA is home to several asbestos | | | | locations aboard these vessels, a wide range of |
| exposure sites, which may have put workers at | | | | workers, including pipefitters, plumbers and |
| risk for mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. | | | | electricians, could have been exposed to the |
| Among the Newport News asbestos exposure | | | | harmful mineral. |
| locations are the Newport News | | | | The Newport News Shipyard built a variety of |
| Shipbuilders-Drydock, Franklin Printing Company, | | | | ships including the following: USS Boxer, USS Coral |
| Riverside Hospital and Newport News Shipyard. | | | | Sea CVA 43, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, USS |
| Employees of these facilities may have been | | | | Essex, USS Midway, USS Nimitz and the USS |
| exposed to the harmful mineral which can cause | | | | Ranger, among others. The shipyard in Newport |
| serious health problems. | | | | News also built the SS United States, one of the |
| Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was | | | | largest passenger vessels in the world. Those |
| widely used in the production of thousands of | | | | working aboard these ships may have inhaled |
| products including drywall, pipes, shingles, tiles, | | | | asbestos fibers into the lungs or ingested fibers |
| cement and even clothing. Because of its heat | | | | while eating. These fibers can remain in the body |
| resistance and insulating properties, asbestos was | | | | and later cause mesothelioma, lung cancer or |
| also used aboard many naval vessels. In fact, | | | | asbestosis. |
| asbestos use peaked during the world wars and | | | | Employees who worked aboard naval vessels built |
| the post-cold war era. | | | | by the Newport News Shipyard are not the only |
| The Newport News Shipyard, as well as other | | | | Virginia workers who could have been exposed to |
| shipyards across the country, used large quantities | | | | asbestos. Because asbestos was used in a wide |
| of asbestos in the production of naval ships. The | | | | variety of products, a number of other workers |
| mineral was used in hot water pipes, boilers, tanks | | | | could have been exposed. For instance, the |
| and ceiling tiles, putting workers aboard the ships | | | | Riverside Hospital and Franklin Printing Company |
| at risk for asbestos-related illnesses. Because the | | | | located in Newport News have also been cited as |
| Newport News Shipyard produced a countless | | | | asbestos exposure sites. |
| number of ships and used asbestos in numerous | | | | |