History of Long Beach Naval Shipyard and Asbestos

Asbestos in Long Beach Naval Shipyard

Asbestos was used in nearly every part of the Long Beach Naval Shipyard in California, putting workers at risk of inhaling dangerous fibers. Asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma cancer and asbestosis. Founded in 1891, the shipyard’s asbestos use began after WWII and continued until the 1980s. 

Workers regularly handled asbestos materials while making repairs and doing maintenance. Daily tasks like sandblasting, pipefitting and boiler work, as well as working with insulation or spray-on asbestos applications throughout ships, could release asbestos fibers into the air. 

The shipyard first opened as Terminal Island Naval Shipyard and later became the U.S. Naval Dry Docks, Roosevelt Base. It served as a major repair center for Navy surface ships until it closed in 1997. While the shipyard’s heavy reliance on asbestos was decades ago, conditions like mesothelioma and lung cancer can develop anywhere from 20 to 60 years after exposure. 

Why Was Asbestos Used at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard?

The Long Beach Naval Shipyard widely used asbestos for its strong fireproofing and insulating properties. It could withstand high temperatures, making it essential for boiler and engine rooms. Its strength and resistance to corrosion made it a good fit for ship construction and repairs. As a result, shipbuilders at yards like Long Beach have higher rates of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. 

Workers used the mineral to insulate pipes, boilers, engine rooms, bulkheads and walls, helping prevent fires and control heat. It also appeared in gaskets and other sealing materials. During dry dock repairs, disturbing old asbestos insulation often released dangerous fibers into the air. 

Despite the military becoming aware of asbestos dangers as early as the 1930s, its use in shipyards like Long Beach ramped up in the 1940s. And its heavy use continued for much of the 20th century. 

Asbestos Exposure at Long Beach Naval Shipyard

Workers at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard faced serious health risks from asbestos exposure. As early as 1979, a study looked at 6,640 employees, about 88% of the staff, and found many had health problems linked to asbestos. Despite this, asbestos use continued into the early 1980s.

This exposure affected men and women and production and nonproduction staff. Though production workers had higher rates. Even people who didn’t work directly with asbestos could be at risk just being at the shipyard.

Asbestos Exposure Study of Long Beach Naval Shipyard Workers 

• Of the 6,640 workers studied, a total of 1,061 workers had abnormalities on their chest X-rays linked to asbestos exposure.
• Pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease from scarring, was diagnosed in 140 employees.
• Among workers 65 and older, 38% had developed abnormalities. 
• Production workers and those with longer service had a higher risk.

More recent research confirms the dangers of shipbuilding globally. A 2024 study in Annals of Hygiene: Preventive and Community Medicine looked at 1,284 formerly asbestos-exposed workers in Palermo, Sicily. Of these exposed workers, 92% of those with asbestos-related diseases had worked in shipbuilding and repair. 

A 2021 review in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health also showed sailors from some countries had more than double the risk of mesothelioma compared to the general public. This highlighted the long-term impact of asbestos at naval yards.

Cleaning Up Long Beach Naval Complex

The Navy released a report detailing cleanup efforts at the Long Beach Naval Complex in January 2010. That report included the former Naval Station Long Beach and Long Beach Naval Shipyard. The cleanup addressed asbestos and other contaminants left behind from years of shipbuilding and repair.

Contaminants found at the site included waste from chemical storage, ship manufacturing, degreasing, paint removal, dry cleaning, electrical and weapons shop work, fueling and other industrial activities. The Navy followed its Records of Decision for Installation Restoration Sites with cleanup plans the California Environmental Protection Agency approved.

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