need advice: occupational exposure to toxic chemicals, Vietnam era

[kineneb]

The story:
Hubby worked at a Naval shipyard between 1969 and 1973, working in the machine shop and on board ships and nuclear subs. He and his co-workers constantly used lots of industrial degreasers and machining oils; also such "charming" chemicals as carbon tetrachloride, epoxy solvents, etc. He was 26 when his position was eliminated.

Hubby was working with machining oils that may have contained PCBs. The oils could then have possibly contaminated with dioxin, which is the chemical that caused the illnesses to Agent Orange-exposed Vietnam vets. The degreasers probably contained trichloroethylene, a standard industrial degreaser at the time. As the Navy did not inform anyone of chemical hazards, we have no idea of actual chemical ingredients. All that is known is from the lists of pollutants, from site remediation after the shipyard closed.

Flash forward:
In 1991, he is diagnosed and treated for diabetic retinopathy, and of course, diabetes, (age 41). The docs then said he had probably had diabetes for 7-8 years (undiagnosed), which would mean sometime in his early 30s. Only one grandfather, in his old age, had diabetes; neither parent had it.

Since then, if it could go wrong, it did. He had cataract surgery in both eyes, developed "renal insufficiency" leading to kidney failure (and dialysis), cancer in one kidney, congestive heart failure, and a collapsed lung. Now he is slowly fading away, down 50 lbs from his normal weight, and hardly able to go up the 4 steps to our front door. He will turn 61 at the end of the month.

My question:
Does anyone know about toxic occupational chemical exposures, and/or if there are any legal rulings regarding toxic exposure to naval shipyard workers?

There is a lot of web info on military exposure to Agent Orange; there is almost nothing on civilian occupational exposure to other chemicals, other than asbestos.

Also: should I cross-post this to the veterans and GD fora?

[cosmik debris]

1. You would be wise to share this information with your doctor

and ask him/her about the probability that these conditions are caused by toxic chemicals.

DU is a really bad place to get medical advice.

[kineneb]

2. I am not looking for medical advice

so much as I am wondering if anyone has heard of/known someone else with a similar occupational background and medical problems. There are all sorts of support sites on the web for Agent Orange vets, but none for civilian employees.

For all I know, this constellation of illnesses might be common for other machinists at the shipyard.

The docs just say, "Oh, he has diabetes, that's why." Which still does not explain the kidney cancer very well, or why he would have developed diabetes around age 35.

[cosmik debris]

4. If you want to know how to build a ship

Ask a ship yard worker.

If you want to know what causes disease, ask a person trained in that field of knowledge.

[haele]

3. Check with a lawyer that specializes in Longshoreman's medical claims -

This is a workman's comp/longshoreman's issue. I've had much of the same happen to me, used to work shipyards from the early 80's through 2003 before I became too injured to work there anymore. There are a lot of chemicals - heavy metal exposures, PCB's, ethylene exposures, all sorts of things that screw with the lungs, the bones, and the nervous system. Heck, antisieze, a common product used for fastenings, causes liver and kidney problems. OSHA's got a whole list of things to look for when it comes to exposures.

I've had trichoroethylene poisoning myself due to an industrial accident; not only did it cause lung damage, it cause damage to bone density as well as liver function; for two years afterwards, I'd get chipped teeth and bones on a regular basis. It's nasty. And at least I can be sure that there will be no problems paying for medical issues stemming from this poisoning...

Your husband may need to find another doctor that specializes in hazmat exposures to get proper treatment. The reason I suggest a lawyer, even though a lawyer may not be able to do much for him other than to find him a proper doctor, you've got a good chance of linking many of your husband's health issues to work related damage. This will help to make sure that he's covered for treatment that may otherwise be a financial hardship.
Why have Medicare take your savings to pay for cost over-runs when Longshoreman's Worker's Compensation can - and is supposed to pay for the medical care? Especially work related issues?

Haele

[kineneb]

6. thanks, this is the kind of info I want

Without a precedent, I can't go to Hubby's docs and say: Look here- other people have the same problems. We are in a rural area, and while the docs and hospitals are very good, they have little or no experience in hazmat exposure issues. I am not sure Hubby would be able to travel to find docs in that specialty. He probably has only a few months to live before his heart gives up; his blood circulation is very poor. We would have to get the docs to order the right tests soon. I will check with some lawyer friends to see what they say on the legal parts.

Financially, it is rather late in the game. We have already gone through Chapter 7, and the State of Cal. owns the house when I die, as pay for his medical expenses. I have been busy with everyday stuff and then taking care of him; it only recently occurred to me that his problems may have come from his time at the shipyard.

A pastor friend mentioned that one of the church members had died from Agent Orange effects. She asked me, given all his health issues, whether Hubby had been in Vietnam. I didn't think more on this until recently; something in the back of my mind told me to do some web searches. I showed the list of possible exposures to Hubby, and he told me about some (ugh). They practically lived in degreaser, spraying it on almost everything.

I am not sure if workman's comp would cover things going back to 1970, especially since he was a civilian employee of the military, working at the shipyard.

[haele]

8. Where are you located? There are good Longshoreman's lawyers in

San Diego, Los Angeles, Monterey, San Fransisco Bay area, Sacramento - there also might be some hazmat-confident ones near the large military bases or where the old Aeronautics factories are or used to be.
http://www.dol.gov/esa/owcp/dlhwc/whca.htm

Here is the site to the link to the original Longshorman's act - so long as he was working after 1941, he should be eligible to some degree.

Again, good luck

Haele

[riverwalker]

5. try here

Joyce Riley is a nurse and vet and world reknown expert
on service related illnesses. All vets, not just Gulf War. Tons of info here, and you maybe email her.

http://www.gulfwarvets.com/

[kineneb]

7. I will check the site out

Unfortunately, Hubby worked for the military, not in it. So the assistance available to vets may not be available to him.