From April 1 through April 7 every year, Global Asbestos Awareness Week helps people understand the dangers of asbestos and support those with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Many U.S. veterans are at risk of mesothelioma due to service-related asbestos exposure, as all military branches used this material for decades.
During this year’s Global Asbestos Awareness Week, learn how you can assist veterans and raise awareness about mesothelioma.
What Is Global Asbestos Awareness Week?
Global Asbestos Awareness Week is an annual event started by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) to educate people about the risks of asbestos and advocate for a full ban.
Asbestos was used to make thousands of products before the early 1980s due to its strength, durability, and low cost. However, exposure put millions of civilians and service members at risk of cancers like mesothelioma.
Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2025 will focus on:
- Banning all uses of asbestos across the country
- Preventing people from being exposed to asbestos
- Working to tighten asbestos laws and regulations
- Strengthening partnerships in public safety
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center fully supports the efforts of Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2025. Veterans continue to needlessly suffer from this cancer each year, and we encourage everyone to get involved.
Request a Free Veterans Packet to learn about ways we support veterans with mesothelioma, and find out how to get involved with Global Asbestos Awareness Week below.
U.S. Veterans and Risks of Asbestos Exposure
Global Asbestos Awareness Week is a very important time, especially if you or a loved one served in the U.S. military decades ago. Many older veterans develop mesothelioma due to service-related asbestos exposure.
Roughly 1 in 3 mesothelioma patients are veterans. Many more veterans may also develop asbestos lung cancer, asbestosis, and other life-threatening asbestos-related illnesses every year.
The U.S. military relied on asbestos-based products between the 1930s and early 1980s to construct buildings, vehicles, and ships.
Companies that made and sold asbestos products hid the health risks from service members for decades to keep their profits high. As a result, millions of veterans are now at risk of this cancer.
“Asbestos didn’t kill anybody on the spot, that’s for sure. It took years later. That’s when it started catching up with us. The powers that be knew.”
— Walter Twidwell, U.S. Navy veteran with mesothelioma
4 Ways to Participate in Global Asbestos Awareness Week
There are plenty of ways you can get involved during Global Asbestos Awareness Week. Explore some options below.
1. Educate Your Community on the Dangers of Asbestos
To help protect your community, you can share information about how and where asbestos exposure happens. You can also explain that there is no safe level of exposure.
Ultimately, the only way to prevent asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma is to avoid exposure completely.
The ADAO and other advocacy groups have educational resources that you can share on social media and within your community.
2. Share Your Story About Mesothelioma
If you or someone you love is battling mesothelioma, sharing your story can be an incredibly powerful way to raise awareness this upcoming week.
You can tell your story to help others understand the risks of asbestos and provide hope. These stories can also allow others facing similar battles to feel less alone. If you post on social media, be sure to use the ADAO’s official tag for the week: #2025GAAW.
Sharing on social media or talking with those in your community are great ways to show your support and get involved this week.
3. Tell Congress to Pass a Complete Asbestos Ban
During Global Asbestos Awareness Week, you can help the ADAO work toward a complete ban on asbestos by encouraging congressional representatives to pass the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act.
This act was spearheaded by Linda Reinstein, ADAO co-founder and president, who lost her husband to mesothelioma.
While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned chrysotile asbestos, the most common type of this mineral, in 2024, more work needs to be done to protect people from exposure.
If passed, the ARBAN Act would go further than the EPA’s chrysotile asbestos regulation by halting all imports and uses of all six fibers of asbestos immediately.
4. Explore Mesothelioma Compensation & Benefits
While it’s important to support others and raise awareness during Global Asbestos Awareness Week, you can also take steps to help yourself or a veteran you love after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Veterans can notably pursue benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as well as compensation to help cover other cancer expenses.
Key mesothelioma compensation options include:
- VA benefits: Mesothelioma VA benefits include monthly payouts often worth $4,044.91 or more and free or low-cost medical care from top cancer doctors.
- Mesothelioma lawsuits: These are filed against the manufacturers of asbestos-based products that hid the health risks. Mesothelioma lawsuit settlements award $1 million or more on average, with no impact on your VA benefits.
- Asbestos trust funds: Trusts contain over $30 billion today. By filing a trust fund claim, you can pursue compensation without going to court.
Get a Free Case Review to find out if you’re eligible for different compensation options.
Get Help During Global Asbestos Awareness Week
By participating in Global Asbestos Awareness Week this year, you can alert others about the dangers of asbestos. You may even find ways to help yourself or someone you love by filing for VA benefits or pursuing legal compensation.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center is here to support those with mesothelioma during Global Asbestos Awareness Week and beyond.
Our team may be able to help you and your family:
- File for or increase your VA benefits
- Get medical care for mesothelioma
- Pursue financial compensation
Get a Free Veterans Packet or call (877) 450-8973 now to get started.
