Ignoring the nuclear device aspect of it, I would think that these days anyone spraying any kind of sealant or paint these days in a commercial setting would have PPE to avoid breathing the stuff in.
As well as the health and safety aspect I imagine that during times of war, your personal long term health outlook pales in comparison to the short-medium term survival possibilities.
Hence, I imagine that many servicemen and women didn't see themselves as having a long life span. Maybe not consciously, but certainly subconsciously.
