Asbestos in Hawaii
Hawaii Asbestos
Hawaii is one state that does not contain any naturally occurring asbestos. Hawaii is surrounded by water and naturally, would be home to a very extensive and large shipyard/marine industry. Home to a military/Navy base, asbestos-related illnesses still occur in Hawaii due to the jobs available in these shipyards.
Pearl Harbor had an extensive history in Hawaii with its fleets of ships. This shipyard was more than likely home to a large amount of asbestos. Ships, boats and oil were among the items that were present at Pearl Harbor; all of which had parts that contained asbestos in the form of gaskets, insulation or protective gear. Veterans who served during the 1930s to 1970s were exposed to asbestos, particularly below ship decks where the enclosed spaces made the asbestos level more concentrated.
Shipyards:
- Pearl Harbor
Asbestos Deaths in Hawaii
There have been over 130 deaths from asbestos-related diseases. Of the overall total, a little over half were due to mesothelioma and the remaining from asbestosis. Usually the more densely populated a city in an asbestos-exposed state, the higher the number of asbestos-induced deaths.
Most of the deaths resulted from the exposure to asbestos found in insulation products due to its friable, amphibole composition. These fibers are more easily disturbed and are released into the air.
