An analysis from the Bulletin of Hygiene examining illnesses among dock workers at the naval base at Willheimshaven during the 1930s, including those who became ill as a result of asbestos exposure.

Navy veterans, merchant marines, dock workers, and other sailors are among those at the highest risk of diseases caused by exposure to asbestos. In addition to handling asbestos products that are being shipped by boat, many vessels also contain machine or engine parts, insulation, or other heat-protecting components that can lead to asbestos diseases, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, throat cancer, stomach cancer, or pleural diseases.