|
Forwarded, courtesy of Paul
“Parker” Kasper
Enterprise, Alabama
parkertwo@roadrunner.com
Lung Disease and Military Service
20070720
Veterans who have lung disorders may be eligible for service related disability
compensation. Many military personnel were exposed to chemical
respiratory hazards, environmental problems, safety concerns and industrial
hygiene issues.
As you might imagine these subjects are not ones the Department of the
Defense are excited to discuss. However, the Navy Department has been
gracious
enough to provide multiple support documents that will help veterans obtain
benefits for medical disorders related to the above issues.
I
am willing to share these
documents with you as they apply to selected medical conditions and exposures.
Lung disorders may include cancers, tumors, chronic cough, chronic nasal drip,
immunity problems, chronic obstructive lung disease, chronic lung infections,
asthma,
lungs filling with fluid and bronchitis. There are more disorders but this is a
good start to get you thinking about lung problems either you or a fellow
veteran
may have.
Ships Hazardous Material List,
Naval Supply Systems Command
5450 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg, PA
Customer Service 1-866-817-3130
Official Navy web site
http://www.nll.navsup.navy.mil/shml/shmlmain.cfm
Navy Safety Center, Occupational and Safety Health
Directorate
375A Street, Norfolk, VA 23511
Public Affairs Officer 757-444-3520
email
safe-PAO@Navy.mil
http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/osh/default.htm
Navy Safety Center OSH Library
OPNAVINST 5100.23 requires each Navy activity "maintain a suitable safety and
health reference library appropriate to the size and functions of the activity."
The
following instructions and regulations form the foundation of any Navy safety
and health reference library. Note: Links provided may open large .pdf files
that
do not reside on the Naval Safety Center web site.
http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/osh/shore/ReferenceLibrary.htm
Navy Safety Center Afloat OSH Division
The NAVOSH Program Manual for Forces Afloat may be downloaded either as one
whole file, or you may choose to download chapters separately. All files have
Change 1 incorporated.
http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/osh/afloat/default.htm
United States Department of Labor, Ship & Boat
Building & Repair
www.osha.gov This web site provides current federal standards for safety and
environmental regulations for personnel involved in ship/boat building and
repair
such as the activities that crew of the USS Satyr experienced during their tour
on board.
http://www.osha.gov/dep/industry_profiles/p_profile-373.html
United States Department of Defense Freedom of
Information Act Program Links
This website allows crew members of the USS Satyr to access documents from the
Federal Government
http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/foi/#efoia
United States Department of Defense Environmental
Exposure End Notes
prepared 27 July 2000. These end notes provide crew members of the USS Satyr the
opportunity to review hazardous materials notes related to painting
operations in today's military that were not available to us during our tour.
http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/carc_paint_ii/carc_paint_ii_en.htm
United States Centers for Disease Control, (NIOSH)
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Databases and Information
Sources
This website allows USS Satyr crew to review a wide variety of information
related to the chemical compounds they used or were exposed to during their
tour.
This
website also shows the type of respirators, filters and personal protective
clothing and equipment required today to perform duties and occupations we were
involved in during our tour.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/database.html
United States Centers for Disease Control, Chemical
Industry listing for Chemicals Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health
Concentrations
This websites lets the USS Satyr crew be aware of potential health risks
associated with chemical compounds they may have been exposed to during their
tour.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/intridl4.html
United States Centers for Disease Control, Pocket
Guide to Chemical Hazards
The NPG is intended as a source of general industrial hygiene information on
several hundred chemicals/classes for workers, employers, and
occupational health professionals. The NPG does not contain an analysis of all
pertinent data, rather it presents key information and data in abbreviated or
tabular
form for chemicals or
substance groupings (e.g. cyanides, fluorides, manganese compounds) that are
found in the work environment. The information found in the NPG should help
users
recognize and control
occupational chemical hazards.
The latest printed edition of the NIOSH Pocket Guide is dated February 2004
(green cover, NIOSH Publication No. 97-140, third printing
with
minor changes) and contains information on 677 chemicals or substance groupings.
The Pocket Guide includes the following:
Chemical Names, synonyms, trade names, conversion factors, CAS, RTECS, and DOT
Numbers NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limits
(NIOSH
RELs) Occupational Safety and Health Administration Permissible Exposure Limits
(OSHA PELs) NIOSH Immediate Dangerous to Life and Health values (NIOSH IDLHs)
A
physical description of the agent with chemical and physical properties
Measurement methods Personal Protection and Sanitation Recommendations
Respirator Recommendations
Information
on Health Hazards including route, symptoms, first aid and target organ
information.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npg.html
United States Centers for Disease Control, Workplace
Safety and Health Topics
This website allows crew members to find their occupational skills and read
information related to that type of work that may help them with filing a
disability claim with the Veterans Administration.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html
United States Department of Transportation, Chemical
Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS)
This manual allows crew members to view chemical compounds they used during
their tour and be rerouted via Adobe Acrobat Reader to
more
information about health effects associated with that chemical.
http://www.chrismanual.com/
Society of Naval Architects and Marine engineers
website
The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers is an internationally
recognized nonprofit, technical, professional society of individual members
serving
the maritime and offshore industries and their suppliers. SNAME is dedicated to
advancing the art, science and practice of naval architecture,
shipbuilding and marine engineering, encouraging the exchange and recording of
information, sponsoring applied research, offering career guidance and
supporting education, and enhancing the professional status and integrity of its
membership.
The Society's scope includes all aspects of research, production, maintenance
and operation of ships, submersibles, yachts, boats, offshore and ocean
bottom
structures, hydrofoils and surface effect ships. It administers and supports an
extensive Technical and Research (T&R) Program involving over
1,000
individuals as voluntary members and permanent staff in cooperation with
government and regulatory agencies, scientific and research
laboratories,
academic institutions, and the marine industry. Founded in 1893, the Society
comprises over 10,000 individuals throughout the
United
States, Canada and abroad. Membership is open to all qualified applicants in or
associated with the maritime, offshore, and small craft industries.
http://www.sname.org/new_sname_about.htm
International Maritime Association website
This website provides the crew with information about chemicals and current
regulations covering their transport.
http://www.imo.org/Environment/mainframe.asp?topic_id=236
Environmental Protection Agency
This web site provides crew with additional information about hazardous
materials used during our tours.
http://www.epa.gov/
EPA Super Fund site:
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/action/ppr/index.htm
Virtual Navy Hospital.
Has some info on chemical use.
http://www.vnh.org/
Toxicity of Military Smokes and Obscurants, Volume 1
SUBCOMMITTEE ON MILITARY SMOKES AND OBSCURANTS, COMMITTEE ON TOXICOLOGY BOARD ON
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND TOXICOLOGY, COMMISSION ON LIFE SCIENCES NATIONAL
RESEARCH COUNCIL
For
those of you who worked around smoke and obscurants in Vietnam this is an
excellent source of information about these products and the effects on your
lungs.
http://books.nap.edu/html/toxi/
Military Environmental Awareness, Apendix E
This Army document gives "former Navy Squids" a today-picture of all
environmental, safety regulations that were not there to protect us in
Vietnam from respiratory hazards. Great document for reference.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/3-09-70/appe.htm
Dangers of Diesel Fuel, Department of
Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, December 1999
Good information to submit with your respiratory claim to VA if your were
exposed to diesel fuel in Vietnam.
http://www.masspirg.org/reports/dangers_of_diesel/Dangers_of_Diesel.pdf
Advanced Composite Materials, Navy Environmental
Health Ctr, Norfolk, VA,
September 1991
Excellent source of material for VA submission related to carbon, graphite,
aromatic polymides, fibrous glass, metal fibers, ceramics, specialty fibers in
Vietnam
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:XmaceIfU7RAJ:www.nosc.mil/usn/nepmu5/
assets/images/Advanced_Composite_Materials_.pdf+United+States+Navy+ship+
ventilation+hazards+1960s+problems+dust+chemicals&hl=en
Exposure to Petroleum Products - Presidential
Advisory Committee on Veterans' Illnesses Final Report
http://www.gwvi.ncr.gov/ch4.html
Presidential Advisory Committee on References
Veterans' Illnesses (343)
This is excellent source of additional materials for VA Claims including cancers
sustained by Vietnam veterans.
http://www.gwvi.ncr.gov/refs.html
Air Pollution from diesel trucks and vehicles
(applicable to your tour in Vietnam) This information summarizes the effects of
diesel fuel you ingested
on
gunboats and ships on active duty.
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/article.cfm?contentid=1160
DRI Silica Medicine Seminar, 10-11 June 2004, Westin
Buckhead, Atlanta, GA Bruce Mishop, Stephen Jackson, Norfolk, VA
This document gives you medical information related to your ingestion of silica
in Vietnam
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:Et0TOhiL7rQJ:www.willcoxandsavage.com/filesdir/b61777f8f4BishopDRIoutline.pdf+United+States+Navy+ship+ventilation+hazards+1960s+problems+dust+chemicals&hl=en
Tri-Service Pollution Prevention, Navy Facilities
Engineering Service Ctr, Port Hueneme, CA January 1996
This document provide excellent background information on painting, depainting,
electroplating, ozone depleting gases, bilge and oils, acids,
solvents, hazmat and lubricants and petroleum products you may have been around
in Vietnam.
http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/employees/solidwaste/pdfs/tri-services.pdf
|