An Asbestos Exposure Registry Could Combat Mesothelioma Misdiagnosis in Veterans

Between 1999 and 2013, nearly 3,000 Americans lost their lives every year to the deadly mesothelioma, according to estimates from the research and advocacy nonprofit Environmental Working Group. Reports show that around 30 percent of those diagnosed with the aggressive and fatal cancer caused by asbestos exposure are veterans. Veterans are shockingly and disproportionately exposed to carcinogenic mineral fibers because many served long years in environments contaminated by asbestos. 

Veterans continue to be diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses today because the toxic mineral fibers linger in the body for as long as 50 years before the disease shows any symptoms. Besides mesothelioma, asbestos is solely responsible for scarring of the lung tissue — a disease called asbestosis — and largely contributes to lung cancer. While the exact death toll is unknown, the Environmental Working Group calculates that 12,000 to 15,000 Americans die every year because of asbestos exposure. 

Unfortunately, asbestos health conditions are often only detected when they are at an advanced stage, and nothing can be done for the patients. The early diagnosis of such aggressive conditions is the only option for most veterans fighting asbestos-caused cancers. A national veterans' asbestos exposure database could be a solution. 

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense could jointly set up such a registry, enlisting military members and veterans with known and supposed asbestos exposure. Based on such a database, doctors could refer all those at risk of having asbestos lingering in their bodies to regular medical check-ups.      

The military's irresponsible use of asbestos

The U.S. Navy, Army and Air Force heavily relied on naturally occurring, cost-effective, and efficient asbestos mineral fibers for decades — mainly between the 1920s and the late 1970s, and especially during wartime. The Navy’s shipyards and Air Force facilities widely applied asbestos-containing material for insulation and the production and maintenance of ships, planes, tanks, bombs and other equipment.  Millions of veterans suffered the devastating consequences of the military's irresponsible use of asbestos for decades nationwide. In certain states, however, asbestos claims more lives than in others.  

California had the most asbestos-related deaths (27,080) and mesothelioma deaths (5,100) in the country between 1999 and 2017, according to EWG Action Fund, the Environmental Working Group’s sister organization. The statistics are not surprising, considering that California has one of the largest veteran populations in the nation and a significant presence of Navy installations. Among the many important naval bases established in California, the now-closed Mare Island Naval Shipyard was one of the busiest naval shipyards in the world during World War II. It constructed over 500 naval vessels and overhauled thousands more while in operation. 

In Pennsylvania, 17,717 asbestos-related deaths occurred from 1999 to 2017, out of which 3,257 were mesothelioma-related, according to EWG Action Fund. Pennsylvania also has a large veteran population, as both the Navy and the Air Force established important facilities in the state — like the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, the first U.S. Navy shipyard. In 2022, a staggering 30 percent of Pennsylvania veterans had a disability. Many U.S. veterans live with life-threatening illnesses due to toxic exposure during their service years, and asbestos is among the contaminants recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs.  

Mesothelioma and diagnosis pitfalls

Mesothelioma is caused by inhaled asbestos particles attacking the tissues around the lungs, abdomen, heart or reproductive organs. The disease poses a significant challenge to the medical community, which has relatively few specialists dedicated to this cancer. Mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed because its initial symptoms resemble more common lung diseases. About 14 to 50 percent of mesothelioma diagnoses are incorrect, according to a 2019 study. 

Pathologists specializing in mesothelioma recommend performing and carefully analyzing various clinical, radiographic and ancillary tests to identify asbestos in the body. Tests like  X-rays, CT scans, PET scans and biopsies can detect mesothelioma in time for impactful treatment, improving patients’ life expectancy and quality. But if mesothelioma is first detected at a later stage, it progresses rapidly, leaving almost no options for treatment. 

Veterans whose health is affected by asbestos deserve the chance for a better quality of life and to receive disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, to receive proper health care and benefits, veterans must know earlier if asbestos-linked conditions threaten their health. A national asbestos exposure registry could facilitate this. 

Despite earlier recommendations, no such registry exists in the U.S. As long as veterans are one of the most affected populations, developing a database is necessary. Regardless of the death toll from asbestos and the medical evidence showing its carcinogenic nature, asbestos is not yet banned in our country. Our policymakers can surely do more to prevent the harm it causes.