Editing Veterans Benefits (section)

== Which Navy Ships Had the Most Severe Asbestos Contamination? ==

=== Aircraft Carriers with Extreme Asbestos Contamination ===

{| style="width:100%; background:#f8d7da; border:1px solid #dc3545; border-left:5px solid #dc3545; border-radius:4px; margin:1em 0;"
|-
| style="padding:15px; color:#721c24;" | '''⛔ High-Risk Vessels:''' Aircraft carriers, battleships, and submarines contained the highest asbestos concentrations. Any Navy vessel built before 1980 contained extensive asbestos. If you served on these ships, you may have significant exposure.
|}

'''USS Forrestal (CV-59) - 1955-1993:''' 4,280 crew members exposed in engine rooms, flight deck insulation, and berthing areas. The 1967 fire required extensive asbestos removal, creating additional exposure.

'''USS Enterprise (CVN-65) - 1961-2012:''' Over 5,000 crew faced exposure in nuclear reactor compartments and steam systems. Emergency Asbestos Rip-Out Teams documented extensive contamination.

'''USS Midway (CV-41) - 1945-1992:''' 4,500 crew exposed in boiler rooms, machine shops, and hangar bays. Major overhauls exposed crews to friable asbestos throughout the ship's service life.

For complete ship exposure profiles and deck plans, visit [https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/veterans/navy/ships-and-asbestos/ mesotheliomalawyercenter.org's Navy ships database].

=== Submarines: Confined Space Extreme Exposure ===

The submarine fleet mandated asbestos use in all 400 vessels from 1922-1982. Submarine crews faced '''3-5 times higher exposure levels''' due to:
* Recycled air systems spreading fibers
* Inability to ventilate while submerged
* Confined berthing near machinery spaces
* Hot-racking (shared bunks) increasing contact

=== Major Naval Shipyards and Exposure Intensity ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0; border-collapse:collapse;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left;" | Shipyard
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:center;" | Peak Employment
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:center;" | Contamination Level
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left;" | Status
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#f8d7da;" | Norfolk Naval (VA)
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8d7da; text-align:center;" | 43,000 (1943)
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8d7da; text-align:center; color:#721c24; font-weight:bold;" | EXTREME
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8d7da;" | Superfund Site
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#f8d7da;" | Pearl Harbor (HI)
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8d7da; text-align:center;" | 24,000 (1944)
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8d7da; text-align:center; color:#721c24; font-weight:bold;" | EXTREME
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8d7da;" | Active cleanup
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#fff3cd;" | Mare Island (CA)
| style="padding:12px; background:#fff3cd; text-align:center;" | 46,000 (1945)
| style="padding:12px; background:#fff3cd; text-align:center; color:#856404; font-weight:bold;" | SEVERE
| style="padding:12px; background:#fff3cd;" | Closed 1996, Superfund
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#fff3cd;" | Brooklyn Navy Yard (NY)
| style="padding:12px; background:#fff3cd; text-align:center;" | 71,000 (1944)
| style="padding:12px; background:#fff3cd; text-align:center; color:#856404; font-weight:bold;" | SEVERE
| style="padding:12px; background:#fff3cd;" | Closed 1966
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#e8f4f8;" | Puget Sound (WA)
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8; text-align:center;" | 35,000 (1945)
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;" | HIGH
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | Active facility
|}

For detailed shipyard exposure documentation, visit [https://dandell.com/mesothelioma/veteran-mesothelioma/mesothelioma-in-the-navy-what-veterans-need-to-know/ Danziger & De Llano's Navy exposure guide].

----