While our discussions focused on all veterans with cancer, resulting from exposure to chemicals while serving; I thought it would help to review the conditions that veterans faced at sea during the 60s and 70s to put their delayed injuries in context.
The Canadian warships in the 60s and 70s were all designed in the 50s. The keel was laid for my first ship for example, HMCS Assiniboine, in 1953. The design of these ships did not take into consideration the safety of the sailors when it came to exposure to potential carcinogens or other hazards in the environment. There were no precautions taken to limit exposure.
A. Asbestos
Asbestos was everywhere on ships built in the 60s and 70s. It was largely found in lagging on pipes running throughout the ships. The pipes were not hidden and the asbestos was not encapsulated. In many cases sailors slept within inches from pipes above their heads. In this case objects were often shoved in the lagging for convenience. During rough seas and when the mortars or guns are fired the resulting shockwaves rattle the asbestos covered pipes causing dust to fall which likely contains asbestos particles.
B. Radiation:
The Fire Control radar was focused X-Band Radar at 6-8 GHz – the same frequency as a microwave oven. Fire Control (071) sailors on Trade Level 2 training were forced to stand in from of the radar dish to examine how the feed horn changed with the different modes.
In regard to radar, there were chronic cooling fan problems on radar transmitter cabinets which required frequent replacement. I recall finding the panels on the long range (SPS-12) radar cabinet being left off. This action saturated the space with L-Band radiation (1-2 GHz).
Radio Techs were often exposed to high intensity radiation (8-10 MHz) when servicing the Broadband Amplifiers where were known for extensive leakage. This was magnified many times when the panels were removed for maintenance
C. Known Carcinogenic Chemicals
1. Trichloroethylene (TCE): used extensively to clean
grease from gears by sailors in the Weapons Underwater, Weapons Surface,
Stokers (312) and Fire Control (071).
Trichloroethylene was found in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune.
2. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): found in most transformers aboard ships. When transformers ruptured and spilled their PCB laden oil it was cleaned up with deck cloth or paper towel with no protection or safety precautions that are in place today.
3. Carbon Tetrachloride (CCL4): Used to clean sound powered headsets and electrical connections by several trades; Sonar Techs (281), Fire Control (071) and Electricians (332). When cleaning electrical connections it was often splashed on with a paint brush in compartments with limited ventilation.