Use of Asbestos on Military Bases
The use of asbestos on military bases was rampant. Every American military base built from the 1930s to the early 1980s used products with asbestos-containing materials.
Army, Air Force, and Marine bases were no exception to asbestos exposure. It could be found everywhere from hangars to homes on their military bases.
Asbestos was an ingredient in:
- Acoustical tiles
- Cement powder additives
- Fireproofing material
- Floor tiles
- Gaskets
- Glue
- Insulation
- Paint
- Pipes
- Roofing shingles
- Sealant
- Wallboard
Learn how different branches used asbestos on military bases below.
Asbestos on U.S. Air Force Bases
Americans working at or visiting U.S. Air Force bases were unaware that asbestos could be found throughout them.
Did You Know?Air Force buildings, aircraft, and vehicles all contained asbestos.
Asbestos is a great insulator, and it is fire-resistant, strong, cheap to purchase, and non-corrosive. When the mineral is added to other products, it passes along these properties.
These factors led the Air Force to rely on asbestos for decades.
Asbestos could be found in Air Force:
- Boilers
- Brakes
- Cement
- Cockpit heating systems
- Drywall
- Electrical wiring
- Engine heat shields
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Pipes
- Tiles
- Valves
Asbestos-containing products were even used in the personal protective equipment worn by Air Force firefighters and welders.
Asbestos on U.S. Army Bases
Anyone working or living on an Army base before the 1980s may have been exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos was used in nearly all areas that Army veterans and their families lived, worked, ate, and slept.
Asbestos could be found in Army:
- Boilers
- Brakes
- Cement
- Construction materials
- Electrical wiring
- Engine heat shields
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Pipes
- Valves
Asbestos-containing materials were used to build and repair Army bases, vehicles, and equipment.
The U.S. Army added asbestos to products to provide insulation and protection from fire and extreme heat.
Veterans should learn more about their treatment options — and how to pay for expenses — after being diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness
Asbestos on U.S. Coast Guard Bases
Asbestos was found in a wide range of materials aboard Coast Guard vessels to protect these ships from fires.
All areas surrounding the engine, boiler room, and other high-heat areas on the lower deck of Coast Guard vessels were insulated with asbestos.
Asbestos could be found in Coast Guard:
- Adhesives
- Construction materials
- Pipes
- Rope
- Sealers
- Thermal insulation
Americans working on Coast Guard bases and vessels throughout the country before the 1980s may have been exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos on U.S. Marine Corps Bases
Members of the U.S. Marine Corps who served between the 1930s and early 1980s may have been exposed to asbestos in buildings, facilities, vehicles, and equipment on bases.
Asbestos was added to various types of construction materials to construct and repair buildings and facilities on Marine Corps bases.
Asbestos could be found in Marine:
- Brakes
- Bedding
- Boiler insulation
- Electrical wiring insulation
- Engine heat shields
- Floor tiles
- Gaskets
- Pipes
- Roofing materials
- Valves
Marines were commonly exposed to asbestos within sleeping quarters as asbestos could be found in bedding and in pipe insulation above beds.
Asbestos could also be found in Marine Corps vehicles — in brakes, gaskets, and engine parts.
Asbestos on U.S. Navy Bases
Navy veterans who served before the 1980s may have been exposed to asbestos on Navy bases while sleeping or eating in buildings, working in facilities, or operating vehicles.
Asbestos could be found in Navy:
- Insulation
- Drywall
- Tiles
- Cement
- Pipes
- Boilers
- Gaskets
- Brakes
- Engine heat shields
- Electrical wiring insulation
The U.S. Navy also used a significant amount of asbestos in shipbuilding facilities and on ships.
This amount was primarily due to asbestos seeming the perfect material for fireproofing and insulation for boats and ships.
As a result, Navy veterans had the highest rate of asbestos exposure out of any military branch.