The USS Philadelphia (CL-41) was a Brooklyn-class light cruiser laid down on May 28, 1935, and launched on November 17, the following year. It was commissioned on September 23, 1937, under Capt. Jules James’ command with the hull number CL-41 and served in the U.S. Navy for 10 years until it was decommissioned on February 3, 1947. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 868 people on board and had its main missions in Maine, Philadelphia, Salerno, Malta, Altavilla, and Le Havre. After decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on January 9, 1951, and sold to Brazil in 1951 where it was renamed Barroso. For the services brought to the country during World War II, the USS Philadelphia received 5 battle stars. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made up of long, thin fibers. Loose or crumbling asbestos-containing materials can release fibers into the air. Even mess halls and sleeping quarters contained dangerous levels of asbestos in paint and insulation, putting Navy personnel at risk wherever they were. When asbestos fibers enter the lungs they scratch the surface of tissue in the respiratory system, leading to scarring that blocks the absorption of oxygen, causing irreversible damage to the lungs.
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