Boston Naval Shipyard: 50,000 Charlestown Navy Yard Workers Exposed to Asbestos Over 174 Years

The Boston Naval Shipyard — originally the Charlestown Navy Yard — employed over 50,000 workers at its World War II peak in 1943, making it one of the largest naval shipbuilding facilities in New England. Over 174 years of continuous operation from 1800 to 1974, the shipyard built more than 200 warships and serviced thousands more, with asbestos integrated into virtually every vessel. Shipyard workers, including insulators, pipefitters, boilermakers, and electricians, breathed asbestos-contaminated air daily in enclosed ship compartments where fiber concentrations far exceeded what would later be recognized as safe limits. Shipyard-related exposure now accounts for approximately 33% of all U.S. mesothelioma cases. Former workers and Navy veterans exposed at the Charlestown Navy Yard can connect with experienced mesothelioma attorneys to pursue compensation through VA benefits, asbestos trust funds, and lawsuits.

What Was the Boston Naval Shipyard and How Many Workers Were Exposed?

The Boston Naval Shipyard — established in 1800 as the Charlestown Navy Yard — was one of the original six naval shipyards authorized by the United States. Located at the confluence of the Charles and Mystic Rivers in Boston's Inner Harbor, the facility served as a cornerstone of American naval defense for 174 years before closing on July 1, 1974.^[1]

Employment at the yard surged dramatically during World War II. In 1941, the facility employed approximately 18,272 workers. By 1943, the workforce had swollen to over 50,128 workers operating three shifts per day, seven days per week. The wartime workforce was notably diverse, including significant numbers of African Americans and women filling production, clerical, and support roles.^[2]

"The Charlestown Navy Yard was one of New England's largest employers during World War II, but what those 50,000 workers didn't know was that asbestos was integrated into every ship they built and repaired. We're still seeing mesothelioma diagnoses from families whose loved ones worked at that yard decades ago."

— Larry Gates, Senior Advocate, Danziger & De Llano

After WWII, the workforce contracted as the yard shifted from new construction to modernization and repair. The Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program dominated the 1950s and 1960s, extending the service life of WWII-era destroyers through installation of new radar, sonar, missile systems, and engines. This work involved significant disturbance of existing asbestos-containing materials already installed in these vessels.

According to the Boston Naval Shipyard exposure documentation, the yard's distance from the Pacific theater limited its strategic value during the Korean and Vietnam wars, contributing to its eventual closure in 1974 as part of post-Vietnam defense drawdowns.

What Asbestos Materials Were Used at the Charlestown Navy Yard?

The U.S. Navy mandated asbestos use in hundreds of ship components from the 1920s through the 1980s, making exposure essentially unavoidable for workers at the Charlestown Navy Yard. Two primary types of asbestos fiber were used: chrysotile (white asbestos) for insulation, tape, packing, and gaskets, and amosite (brown asbestos) for thermal insulation on pipes and boilers. Both are confirmed carcinogens, with amosite considered more hazardous per unit of exposure for mesothelioma risk.^[3]

During World War II alone, an estimated 25 million tons of asbestos were handled by 4.5 million shipyard workers across the United States. Construction of each destroyer at the Charlestown yard required tons of asbestos materials per vessel, with the U.S. Navy now reporting that hundreds of components on its vessels contained asbestos.^[4]

"The Navy required asbestos in virtually every system on a warship — pipes, boilers, electrical wiring, even the floor tiles where sailors slept. Workers at the Charlestown Navy Yard had no idea they were breathing fibers that would kill them decades later."

— Larry Gates, Senior Advocate, Danziger & De Llano

Remarkably, by 1939 — before the massive WWII expansion — Navy medical officers at the Boston Naval Shipyard were already recommending safety controls for asbestos handling. Despite this early awareness, asbestos use expanded dramatically during the war years and persisted for decades due to military specifications requiring the material.

Which Shipyard Workers Faced the Greatest Asbestos Exposure Risk?

Workers in specific trades at the Boston Naval Shipyard faced severe asbestos exposure due to direct contact with contaminated materials in confined ship compartments. The shipyard exposure index documents exposure levels across dozens of occupations at naval facilities nationwide.^[5]

Insulators faced the highest exposure levels because they directly handled, cut, and fitted asbestos insulation materials. These workers mixed asbestos-containing cement, wrapped pipes by hand, and cut insulation boards to size — releasing clouds of asbestos dust in poorly ventilated ship compartments.

Pipefitters installed and repaired asbestos-wrapped pipes throughout vessels, regularly removing old insulation that crumbled and released fibers. Boilermakers worked in engine rooms surrounded by asbestos-lined equipment, repairing and replacing boiler cladding that deteriorated under high heat conditions. Electricians worked around asbestos-insulated electrical components in the same confined spaces.

Even workers who never directly handled asbestos products faced significant exposure risks. Airborne fibers circulated throughout enclosed work environments, and the lack of respiratory protection meant that supervisors, inspectors, and office workers were all potentially exposed. Workers also carried fibers home on clothing, hair, and skin, exposing family members to secondary asbestos exposure that has caused mesothelioma in spouses and children who never set foot in the shipyard.^[6]

What Major Warships Were Built at the Charlestown Navy Yard?

The Charlestown Navy Yard built over 200 warships during its 174-year history, with peak production during World War II when the facility became a major destroyer production center. The yard cut destroyer build times from roughly one year in 1941 to just 3-4 months by 1945 — a testament to the around-the-clock effort of its 50,000-strong workforce.^[7]

The yard built 14 Fletcher-class destroyers, considered the backbone of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet. These vessels — including USS Guest (DD-472), USS Bennion (DD-662), and USS Newcomb (DD-586) — participated in major campaigns at the Philippine Sea, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Each Fletcher-class destroyer required asbestos insulation throughout its steam piping, boiler rooms, engine compartments, bulkhead fire barriers, crew quarters, and hundreds of individual gaskets and seals.

The yard also produced 10 Gleaves-class destroyers, over 52 destroyer escorts (including 31 transferred to the Royal Navy under Lend-Lease), 4 Tench-class submarines, and 4 Casa Grande-class dock landing ships. The first five U.S. destroyer escorts ever built were constructed at the Boston Navy Yard and transferred directly to the Royal Navy.

"Every ship built at the Charlestown Navy Yard was packed with asbestos from keel to bridge. When workers modernized older destroyers during the FRAM program, they disturbed decades of accumulated asbestos in confined spaces below deck. The exposure was intense and unavoidable."

— Larry Gates, Senior Advocate, Danziger & De Llano

Beyond new construction, the yard served as a major repair and modernization facility. It converted German ocean liners into troop transports during World War I and serviced over 450 ships. During the FRAM program in the 1950s-1960s, the yard modernized WWII-era destroyers with new radar, sonar, missile systems, and engines — work that disturbed existing asbestos materials installed during original construction.

The USS Cassin Young (DD-793), now a museum ship at the Charlestown Navy Yard, represents the type of destroyer built and serviced at the facility. Though built in San Pedro, California, the Fletcher-class vessel was serviced at the Charlestown yard during the Korean War and demonstrates the extensive asbestos applications typical of warships from this era.

What Health Risks Do Former Boston Naval Shipyard Workers Face Today?

Shipyard-related asbestos exposure accounts for approximately 33% of all U.S. mesothelioma cases, making it the single largest occupational source of this fatal cancer. Former Boston Naval Shipyard workers face elevated risks for multiple asbestos-related diseases, with diagnoses continuing decades after the yard's 1974 closure.^[8]

A prospective cohort study of 3,893 shipyard workers found 11 pleural mesothelioma cases versus 1.5 expected — a 7-fold excess — even after asbestos exposure had ceased. A separate mortality study of Coast Guard shipyard workers documented significant excess mortality from all causes, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Research on nuclear-powered ship overhaul workers found a 5-fold excess of mesothelioma compared to the general population.^[9]

An Italian study of 3,984 male shipyard workers followed for 55 years found 575 times higher pleural cancer rates compared to expected population levels, confirming that shipyard asbestos exposure produces among the highest mesothelioma rates of any occupational setting.^[10]

The average latency period for mesothelioma in shipyard workers is approximately 33.7 years from first exposure to diagnosis. This means workers exposed during the WWII era began developing mesothelioma in the late 1970s through 1980s, while workers from the FRAM modernization program (1950s-1960s) may still be developing the disease today.

What Happened to the Shipyard After It Closed in 1974?

The Boston Naval Shipyard closed on July 1, 1974, after 174 years of continuous operation. The closure resulted from post-Vietnam defense drawdowns, the yard's geographic disadvantage for Pacific conflicts, and obsolescence of its facilities. The former shipyard has since been repurposed into several distinct uses.^[11]

The National Park Service received 30 acres for Boston National Historical Park, which includes the USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides," launched 1797) and the museum ship USS Cassin Young. Historic Dry Dock No. 1 remains in service for maintenance of these vessels. The remaining approximately 100 acres were transferred to the Boston Redevelopment Authority and developed into housing, commercial space, and institutional buildings including the MGH Institute of Health Professions, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital research laboratories.

The site is classified as a Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) and has undergone significant environmental remediation. Cleanup has cost $13.7 million to date with an additional $6.13 million expected. Four hazardous sites were identified containing PCBs, petroleum hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, and dioxins. In 2025, the EPA awarded a $4 million Brownfields Cleanup Grant for the Chain Forge Building (Building 105), which remains contaminated from its historical use forging anchor chains.^[12]

What Compensation Is Available for Boston Naval Shipyard Workers and Veterans?

Former workers and Navy veterans exposed to asbestos at the Charlestown Navy Yard have multiple avenues for compensation. These pathways are independent — workers can pursue all three simultaneously without one affecting the others.

Navy veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma receive an automatic 100% VA disability rating providing $3,938.58 per month for single veterans or $4,158.17 for married veterans in 2026. The veterans benefits guide details additional programs including Aid and Attendance ($228.94 monthly), VA healthcare covering all treatment costs, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation ($1,699.35 monthly) for surviving spouses.^[13]

Asbestos trust fund claims provide additional compensation from the 60+ bankruptcy trusts holding over $30 billion. Major manufacturers whose products were used at the Charlestown Navy Yard — including Johns Manville, Owens Corning, and Pittsburgh Corning — have established trusts. An experienced attorney can identify all applicable trusts based on specific products encountered during shipyard service.

"Shipyard workers can pursue VA benefits, trust fund claims, and lawsuits all at the same time. These are independent systems — collecting from one doesn't reduce the others. For a veteran with mesothelioma from the Charlestown Navy Yard, the combined compensation can be substantial."

— Larry Gates, Senior Advocate, Danziger & De Llano

Massachusetts follows a 3-year statute of limitations for asbestos personal injury claims from diagnosis and a 3-year wrongful death statute from date of death. The state applies the discovery rule, meaning the clock starts at diagnosis, not exposure. Notable Boston Naval Shipyard cases include McIsaac v. Air & Liquid Systems Corp. (settled after a rigger's mesothelioma death) and Hovsepian v. Crane Co. (marine machinist diagnosed after working at the yard 1958-1964).^[14]

What Should Former Boston Naval Shipyard Workers Do Now?

Workers and veterans who served at the Charlestown Navy Yard should take proactive steps to protect their health and legal rights, regardless of whether they currently experience symptoms. The long latency period for asbestos diseases means exposure from decades ago can still lead to diagnosis today.

Schedule regular medical screenings and inform your physician about shipyard asbestos exposure. Request chest X-rays or CT scans to establish a health baseline and detect early signs of asbestos-related disease. Pulmonary function tests can identify breathing changes consistent with asbestosis or early-stage mesothelioma.

Gather military and employment records documenting service at the Boston Naval Shipyard. DD-214 discharge documents, employment records, union membership documents, and photographs can all establish presence at the facility during the period of asbestos use. Colleague testimony from former coworkers has supported successful claims in multiple Charlestown Navy Yard cases.

Family members of former shipyard workers should also be aware of their exposure risk. Secondary asbestos exposure from fibers carried home on clothing has caused mesothelioma in spouses and children of shipyard workers. If a family member who worked at the Charlestown Navy Yard has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, surviving relatives may also qualify for medical monitoring and compensation.

---

References

1. [1] Naval History and Heritage Command, "The History of Boston National Historical Park's Charleston Navy Yard" (2024) — Official naval history documenting the Charlestown Navy Yard's 174-year operational timeline, workforce statistics, and wartime production capacity.
2. [2] WikiMesothelioma, "Boston Naval Shipyard" — Comprehensive exposure documentation covering workforce demographics, asbestos materials used, WWII production records, and notable litigation cases.
3. [3] International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, "Sailors and the Risk of Asbestos-Related Cancer" (2021) — Peer-reviewed study documenting asbestos exposure risks for naval personnel and shipyard workers including chrysotile and amosite fiber types.
4. [4] CDC Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, "Health Effects of Asbestos Exposure" (2024) — Federal health data on asbestos-related disease outcomes including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis incidence rates.
5. [5] WikiMesothelioma, "Shipyard Exposure Index" — Reference database of exposure levels by occupation across U.S. naval shipyards, documenting risk profiles for insulators, pipefitters, boilermakers, and other trades.
6. [6] National Cancer Institute, "Mesothelioma Cancer Information" (2025) — Federal cancer research data on mesothelioma types, risk factors, treatment options, and prognosis statistics.
7. [7] National Park Service, "Ships Built by the Charlestown Navy Yard" (2024) — Complete vessel construction records documenting 200+ warships built at the facility including Fletcher-class destroyers and destroyer escorts.
8. [8] Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, "Mortality among shipyard Coast Guard workers: a retrospective cohort study" (2007) — Peer-reviewed mortality analysis documenting excess cancer deaths among Coast Guard shipyard workers exposed to asbestos.
9. [9] European Respiratory Journal, "The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma after cessation of asbestos exposure" (1992) — Landmark study establishing 7-fold excess mesothelioma risk in shipyard workers and 33.7-year average latency period.
10. [10] Occupational Safety and Health Administration, "Occupational Asbestos Exposure" (2024) — Federal permissible exposure limits and workplace safety standards for asbestos in construction and shipyard industries.
11. [11] ProPublica / Department of Defense, "Charlestown Navy Yard — Formerly Used Defense Site" (2025) — Environmental contamination data documenting $13.7 million in cleanup costs and four identified hazardous sites at the former shipyard.
12. [12] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Brownfields 2025 Cleanup Fact Sheet — Chain Forge Building" (2025) — $4 million Brownfields Cleanup Grant documentation for Building 105 contamination at the Charlestown Navy Yard.
13. [13] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, "VA Asbestos Exposure and Veterans" (2025) — Official VA guidance on service-connected asbestos exposure claims, disability ratings, and healthcare eligibility for veterans.
14. [14] WikiMesothelioma, "Veterans Benefits" — Comprehensive guide to VA disability compensation, Aid and Attendance, DIC for surviving spouses, and healthcare benefits for veterans with mesothelioma.
15. [15] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Asbestos Regulations and Guidance" (2025) — Federal regulatory framework for asbestos management, abatement standards, and enforcement actions.