Because of continuous or repeated contact with PFAS substances, veterans, active component service members, and their families who were stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Miami are suffering today from serious, irreversible, or incapacitating ailments. Officials with the Coast Guard said they examined groundwater for PFAS chemicals in a variety of sites, seeking for contamination from the air station's known prior usage of PFAS-laden firefighting foam. Several areas tested positive for the contaminants, according to authorities.
What toxic agents are present on Coast Guard Air Station Miami?
This site has emitted pollutants into the environment as a result of fire training areas, dumps near industrial activity, landfills, and surface spills. This is an issue not just at Coast Guard Air Station Miami, but at many military installations across this country.
In addition to a range of solvents, preservatives, and stabilizers, aqueous film-forming foam is a combination of fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon surfactants and other additives. These critical components lower the surface tension of water, enabling the foam to create an aqueous coating on the hydrocarbon fuel's surface that:
- inhibits vapors
- depletes the oxygen on the fuel surface
- stops the fuel from re-igniting by inhibiting the creation of flammable gasses
It was in the 1970s that the Department of Defense began using PFAS-based foams to extinguish fuel fires on all military locations, including the Coast Guard Air Station Miami.
How can exposure to PFAS affect the health of people who stayed at Coast Guard Air Station?
PFOS and PFOA have both been found in blood samples from the general population. According to studies conducted on exposed populations, these chemicals may have resulted in increased cholesterol levels and potentially low baby birth weight. There have been reports of effects on development, neurological function, immunological function, thyroid function, and hepatic function in experimental animals. Veterans and family members who resided with them at Coast Guard Air Station Miami should monitor their health and seek medical assistance as soon as they notice any disturbing symptoms.
If you believe that you were exposed to PFAS while on active duty at Coast Guard Air Station Miami and that exposure led to one of the following illnesses, then you are entitled to seek compensation:
In the unfortunate circumstance that you gave birth to a baby with major health issues and you lived at Coast Guard Air Station Miami during your pregnancy, you may be eligible to file a claim against the foam manufacturer, as well as from the VA if you are a veteran.
