Chemical Toxins
What Were You Exposed To During Your Enlistment?
Submitted By:
Edward Seafeldt, Major, US Army Chemical Corps, Retired;
RM3 USS Satyr
2/69-2/70 USN
"Dear MRF crew members, and ships crew of Mobile
Riverine Force Vietnam,
I do this research all day long and here are my sources of information on
hazardous materials found in the Mobile Riverine Force
that relate to medical problems crews are experiencing from their service. You
should realize that our exposure was not just limited to dioxin.
Making a dioxin claim to the VA without addressing all the other chemical
hazards you faced is a serious, ill advised mistake in my book. That's like
putting all your eggs in one basket.
If the VA determines you don't have one of the major or minor conditions linked
to dioxin, they will shoot your scrawny butt (figuratively speaking) right out
of the water. Essentially you shoot yourself in the foot through no fault of
your own. For most of you Mobile Riverine Force
guys your major respiratory problem was diesel fuel and fumes. You practically
bathed in the stuff. Most of you have not seen the letter dated 4 April 1990:
letter between the US Department of Labor and Diesel Manufacturers which opens a
"whoop ass" scenario from Mobile Riverine
Force members for potential disability claims. Reference: www.osha.gov
( if you cant find it I will help you)
Navy ships in the MRF have a whole nuther sub-set of hazardous materials issues
separate from crew members of boats to fall back upon.
Anyone interested or having respiratory problems call me for more detailed info
that will set your hair on fire and burn off your bazookas.
For all you fellow scurvy swabbies I served with, I will go back and consolidate
my diesel fuel medical journal articles so ye can have something to submit to VA
for your respiratory claims."
Edward Seafeldt, Major, US Army
Chemical Corps, Retired; RM3 USS Satyr
2/69-2/70 USN - edwardseafeldt@hotmail.com
/////////////// Major Breaking News Flash \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Received email today from MM2 Bennett on board USS Satyr in 68-69 that ship had
no filters on ventilation system on board ship during years he was on board.
This means ventilation system pumping raw unfiltered hazmat directly to ships
crew thru vents from a "mobile floating shipyard" . Other similar aged
WWII era ships that were sent to Vietnam and were part of Mobile
Riverine Force probably had similar problems. Albert Moore can
you or one of your fellow staff send an email to Mobile
Riverine Force members to ask them if anyone can provide a
detailed explanation of other ships ventilation systems and their filtration
systems? Thanks to MM@Bennett for
his outstanding observations and reporting! He is a hero in my book. His
responses today will help a lot of us explain our major medical problems origin.
You can not run a mobile shipyard (ARL repair ship) and not have a viable
filtration system on a ships ventilation.
/////////////// Breaking News Flash Ends
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Lung Disease and Military Service
Navy and Army Vietnam Veterans who have
lung disorders may be eligible for service related disability compensation.
Many MRFA military personnel were exposed to chemical respiratory hazards,
environmental problems, safety concerns and industrial hygiene issues.
For the past year I have been corresponding with Senior Navy Department
personnel to obtain information about safety problems, industrial hygiene and
environmental concerns. 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.
If you have one of more lung disorders that you think originated from you
service in the MRFA I would enjoy discussing this with you to see if we can find
a possible link between your condition and your military service. 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 MRFA veteran may have.
RM3 Ed Seafeldt, USS Satyr - 69-70 edwardseafeldt@hotmail.com
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
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