Asbestos Mesothelioma and the Merchant Marines

Minneapolis, MNMaribeth lost her husband in 2006, less than 2 months after he had been given a clean bill of health--he had cancer throughout his body. But 55-year-old Lance had been exposed to asbestos throughout his time as a merchant marine, and possibly while living in the Iron Range in Minnesota. Was his cancer asbestos mesothelioma?

"Lance used to be lawyer but he quit that to become a merchant marine," Maribeth said. "He worked as a tanker man on the barges on the Mississippi sanding, fitting and repairing pipes and boilers on the ships. He went out for 40 days at a time. I am sure he would have been exposed to asbestos when he was doing that work. This was before all the warnings about asbestos-related health problems came out."

Many men who worked in the merchant marines would have been exposed to asbestos. The highly carcinogenic mineral was a main component in pipes, cabling, engine room equipment and floor and ceiling panels. Asbestos was also used for insulation and fireproofing. Crew members would have been exposed during normal shipping operations. For example, when asbestos was applied as a spray coating to pipes or other pieces of ship equipment that became very hot, it would become what is called 'friable'–or crumpled. It would then start to flake off and get into the air as fine dust particles and fibers, making its way throughout the ship. Those most at risk for exposure to asbestos on merchant ships–and navy ships–would be pipe fitters, engineers, machinists and electricians.

Lance worked on the ships for 2 years before moving back to dry land, where he met Maribeth and got married. Then, about a year later, Lance began to have medical problems. "They were primarily respiratory," Maribeth said. "He was hospitalized several times over the years, with what they called walking pneumonia."

From the Frying Pan to the Fire - Asbestos Mesothelioma and the Minnesota Iron Range

After a few years, Lance, Maribeth and their 4 children moved to the Iron Range in Minnesota. The 'iron range' is so called because it is a region rich in iron ore. However, much of the good quality ore had been mined, so a substance called taconite was turned to as a new source of iron. Taconite has been linked to asbestos mesothelioma in minors who worked on the Iron Range. Recently, the Minnesota Department of Health launched a study to determine whether taconite fibres and dust can cause or exacerbate mesothelioma and asbestosis.

This new study follows on from a study done in 2003 that looked at the causes of mesothelioma among dead taconite miners. The results showed that the most probable cause of mesothelioma in 14 of 17 cases was asbestos contact. According to some sources, asbestos mesothelioma occurs at twice the expected rate on the Iron Range. Maribeth is not surprised by this statistic, and believes that the towns around the mines, such as the one they lived in, also carry the risk of asbestos exposure. "The school sent asbestos warnings home with the kids," she said.

From All Clear to Terminally Ill in 5 weeks

On April 11, 2006 both Lance and Maribeth went for full physicals and were both given the all clear. "Soon afterward, Lance got a letter saying everything looks great," Maribeth said. "One month and 4 days later he was diagnosed with cancer in 6 out of 7 vital organs, and was dead 4 months and a day after that. My husband died on September 16, 2006, we were married for 22 years, and have 4 children – with no father."

Maribeth believes it very likely that Lance was lethally exposed to asbestos during his time as a merchant marine. "The initial asbestos exposure was then exacerbated by the levels of contaminants that one lives, eats, breathes and toils in on the Iron Range of Minnesota," she said.