Though mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases continue claiming lives in communities across the country, many experts believe that the true scale of the crisis is largely unknown. Our fragmented medical system, private trust fund databases, and government repositories have created what researchers call a “shadow registry” that still diminishes our understanding of the long-term consequences that decades of asbestos exposure caused.
Aging Buildings and Military Installations Create Continuing Mesothelioma Risk
Though asbestos has created a mesothelioma risk for centuries, America’s most damaging exposure began with the postwar construction boom, when asbestos was commonly included in all types of insulation, fireproofing systems, building components, and commercial and industrial equipment. Though the 1980s introduced federal regulations that significantly reduced asbestos use, structures built before these restrictions were imposed still contained the toxic minerals. As roofing materials, ceiling and floor tiles, and other contaminated components have aged, deteriorated, or been disturbed during renovations and demolitions, millions of microscopic mesothelioma-causing fibers have been released into the air for those nearby to unknowingly inhale or ingest.
This risk of mesothelioma extends beyond civilian infrastructure to military installations. For example, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth is just 50 miles from Waxahachie, Texas, and historically relied on asbestos in the construction and maintenance of barracks, vehicles, and equipment. Veterans account for roughly 30% of the 3,000 mesothelioma diagnoses reported annually, and the area’s deep military ties make this particularly alarming for the nearly 2,000 veterans who call the city home. Many have been exposed to asbestos, and the same is true of family members of workers and veterans exposed to asbestos fibers unintentionally carried from worksites into homes. Ellis County alone has recorded more than 70 asbestos-related fatalities between 1999 and 2017, and the statewide total for Texas is more than 15,300 deaths over the same period.
Mesothelioma Advocates Call for National Occupational and Veterans Exposure Registries
Mesothelioma data exists across more than 60 asbestos trust funds nationwide, each of which holds extensive documentation of victims’ exposure histories and health outcomes, but these records are primarily held for legal purposes and have not been made available for public health analysis. Similarly, federal institutions, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and Defense Health Agency, maintain logs of military personnel with asbestos exposure histories, but the ability to analyze the information has been limited
The mesothelioma advocacy community has repeatedly petitioned the federal government to establish a national mesothelioma registry for veterans and active service members, and another asbestos exposure registry for industrial workers and their families. Similar tracking systems exist for burn pit and Agent Orange-related conditions and have helped to consolidate datasets, standardize reporting practices, and strengthen health monitoring for affected populations. Mesothelioma advocates say that registries would convert scattered exposure records into a structured public health resource that would both strengthen institutional accountability and ensure that the full human cost of America’s asbestos crisis is better understood.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here to help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
