Editing Military Exposure Overview (section)

== How Does Risk Vary by Military Branch? ==

A landmark 65-year follow-up study of 114,000 atomic veterans who participated in nuclear weapons testing between 1945 and 1962 provides the most reliable comparative data on mesothelioma risk by branch.<ref>[https://mesothelioma.net/mesothelioma-and-veterans/ Mesothelioma and Veterans: VA Benefits and Healthcare], Mesothelioma.net</ref> The study calculated Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMR) that reveal significant differences in risk based on service branch.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Branch
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | SMR (Mesothelioma)
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Risk Level
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:10px;" | Primary Exposure Sources
|-
| style="padding:10px; font-weight:bold;" | U.S. Navy
| style="padding:10px;" | 2.15 (High-risk ratings: 6.47)
| style="padding:10px; background:#f8d7da;" | '''Highest'''
| style="padding:10px;" | Ships, shipyards, engine rooms, boiler rooms
|-
| style="padding:10px; font-weight:bold;" | U.S. Coast Guard
| style="padding:10px;" | 5.07 (shipyard workers)
| style="padding:10px; background:#f8d7da;" | '''Very High'''
| style="padding:10px;" | Cutters, shipyards, Curtis Bay facility
|-
| style="padding:10px; font-weight:bold;" | U.S. Air Force
| style="padding:10px;" | 0.85
| style="padding:10px; background:#fff3cd;" | Moderate
| style="padding:10px;" | Aircraft maintenance, base facilities, ICBM sites
|-
| style="padding:10px; font-weight:bold;" | U.S. Marines
| style="padding:10px;" | 0.75
| style="padding:10px; background:#fff3cd;" | Moderate
| style="padding:10px;" | Navy ships, vehicles, aircraft, base facilities
|-
| style="padding:10px; font-weight:bold;" | U.S. Army
| style="padding:10px;" | 0.45
| style="padding:10px; background:#d4edda;" | Lower Overall
| style="padding:10px;" | Vehicles, base facilities, construction
|}

These SMR values demonstrate that [https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/blog/navy-mesothelioma-claims-guide/ Navy personnel faced dramatically elevated risk] due to continuous shipboard exposure in poorly ventilated spaces. However, individual risk within any branch depended heavily on specific occupation and duty assignment.