carcinogens

The Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base site covers 125,000 acres in San Diego County, California. The base provides housing, training, logistical and administrative support for the Fleet Marine Force units. Past disposal practices have contaminated the groundwater and soil. In an initial investigation, the Marine Corps found nine areas of contamination. Waste generation operations at this site include maintenance and repair of vehicles (trucks, tanks, and aircraft); landfill operations; waste disposal areas, such as scrap yards; and fire fighting drill areas. The base contains wetlands, streams, and rivers which feed into the Pacific Ocean. This land is the only remaining undeveloped area between Los Angeles and San Diego.

The primary mission of the 4,198-acre Luke Air Force Base (LAFB) site was to provide advanced flight training to fighter pilots. Discharges and waste disposal practices at LAFB resulted in soil and possible groundwater contamination. Thirty-two areas of the base were subject to further investigation. Soil was contaminated with waste oils and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) resulting from the diverse processes that have taken place at the site. Groundwater was potentially contaminated with waste oils and VOCs. Potential human health hazards include accidental ingestion or direct contact with contaminated materials.

I was an Air Force Firefighter for just short of eleven years, separating only after a physical injury left me unable to do my job. I served from Jan 1993 – Nov 2003. I was stationed at Fairchild AFB, WA, Clear AS, AK, Shaw AFB, SC, and Ellsworth AFB, SD. I deployed 4 times during my time on active duty. We used AFFF for everything. When an aircraft hangar would have a foam dump, we’d play around in that stuff because it was so deep we didn’t have much choice.

I was a US Air Force firefighter in the 80’s. We used AFFF (Aqueous film forming foam) in sizable quantities continuously. We practically bathed in it and I threw away more than a couple uniforms because of foam. As a right of passage, we also poured it over fellow airmen leaving; either discharged or to another base.

In 1953, like a fool, I joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Then I was sent to Camp Lejeune to train (this was near the end of fighting in Korea). While training, I was chosen to train as a Scout Sniper. While training, I drank the water. I learned in 1987 that it was loaded with death, including cleaning fluids as well as other poisons.

Enter the “Magic Window”. It is defined by Veteran’s Affairs as the year after leaving service for your country. You have to have records of a condition worsening after you left.

My dad worked at the Rocky mountain arsenal when he was 18 years old. I believe they were neutralizing sarin gas and mustard gas. They didn’t wear much in the way of hazardous materials protective gear way back then.

I’m curious about potential exposures at a Maryland Army base in the 1950s, Is this too long ago to look into? Is it pointless? My father wound up with prostate cancer, but many decades later. He ultimately died of a brain tumor at age 80.

My grandfather was stationed at Ft. Devens in the 1960s. His family consisted of…

In the ongoing litigation saga surrounding Camp Lejeune toxic water contamination, the back and forth continues over whether victims of bad water at Lejeune have the right to seek legal recourse in the courts.  As we have already discussed in previous reports, the same President that signed the 2012 Camp Lejeune law into effect has instructed his US DOJ attorneys representing the United States to fight Lejeune victims. They are fighting to uphold the NC statute of repose, which sets a 10-year limit on tort claims.