Mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in Jacksonville

Naval Air Station Jacksonville has long served as a major aviation and maintenance center, where civilians and sailors repaired aircraft and engines. Naval Station Mayport, at the mouth of the St. Johns River, homeported destroyers, cruisers and at times aircraft carriers. Navy ships of the mid-twentieth century contained asbestos insulation in engineering spaces, and aircraft maintenance involved brakes, gaskets and heat shielding that could contain asbestos. Sailors who rotated between ships and shore duty in Jacksonville often built exposure histories across several vessels and commands, and many later took civilian jobs in the same trades.

Commercial ship repair on the St. Johns River serviced Navy and merchant vessels for decades, and utility plants such as the Northside Generating Station ran boilers and turbines insulated with asbestos-era materials. Paper mills in and around Jacksonville operated steam-heavy equipment that needed constant maintenance. Tradespeople moved between these sites, which is why Jacksonville exposure histories often combine military and civilian work. Many retirees who settled in the area also worked elsewhere earlier in life, so a local claim may involve workplaces in other states as well. Listing every job, not just the Jacksonville ones, gives the fullest picture.