Located in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, the shipyard was one of the numerous that exposed workers to asbestos between 1920 and 1980. Because asbestos has many convenient properties, such as extreme heat resistance, and because it was inexpensive to acquire, it was the go-to material for the vast majority of shipyards. Regrettably, both shipyard workers and members of the military would come to pay a great price for using asbestos, and this was mostly the fault of companies who endorsed the employment of asbestos while striving to cover up the terrible health effects of exposure. Asbestos exposure occurs by inhaling and ingesting airborne fibers. Within 20 to 50 years, the person who has asbestos in their lungs may develop lung cancer or mesothelioma, among other diseases.
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