Pennsylvania Shipyard
The Pennsylvania Shipyard is located in the town of Beaumont, Texas. It is only one of a number of shipyards which were responsible for exposing its workers to materials that were hazardous to them. One of the many materials to which the workers were exposed was a substance known by the name of asbestos. This terrible toxic substance was used in some of the materials that the workers used to build the ships. The asbestos material was generally used as insulation and to fireproof walls and ceilings on ships.
When these fibers are inhaled, they can generally become lodged into the lungs’ very linings. This can cause mesothelioma, which is a bad form of cancer. The lungs are not the only organs that can be affected by these nasty little fibers. The asbestos fibers can also get lodged into the linings that exist in a person’s abdomen and heart.
There are a number of other diseases that can be caused by exposure to asbestos. Some of these diseases include asbestosis and other forms of cancer. There are many treatments available for people who are suffering from mesothelioma. No cure exists for this terrible disease, however. Doctors can treat many patients with what are called palliative measures. This is in an attempt to provide some relief for them from their mesothelioma symptoms.
One of the sad parts of the mesothelioma disease is the unfortunate fact that the treatment of diseases that are related to asbestos is incredibly expensive. The Pennsylvania Shipyard built many great vessels. It is sad that so many of the fantastic workers have gotten sick due to hazardous materials that were used there.