While there are numerous harmful substances lurking on Fort Devens, PFAS, a group of over 9,000 dangerous chemicals, are the main contaminants. According to the most recent data, their concentration in the environment of the military facility is 19,000 ppt, which is roughly 270 times over the safe exposure limit. The source of PFAS on military bases nationwide is firefighters excessively using the fire suppressant AFFF, which sometimes contains a whopping 98% of these chemicals. However, the presence of other hazardous agents on Fort Devens worsened toxic exposure among service members who lived there during the last century.
What toxic agents are present on Fort Devens?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are dozens of toxic agents polluting the military facility besides PFAS. Coming in contact with these harmful substances only increases veterans' risk of developing serious, life-threatening diseases such as cancer. The following are only some of the toxic agents contaminating Fort Devens:
- arsenic
- carbon tetrachloride
- antimony
- cadmium
- dibenzofuran
- nickel
- barium
- chloroform
- lead
- benzene
- chromium
- toluene
- ethylbenzene
- manganese
- trichloroethylene
- xylene
Shepley's Hill Landfill encompasses 84 acres in the northeast corner of the former Main Post area of Fort Devens. The landfill operated from 1917 to 1992 as the main waste disposal site and, for some period of time, including the open burning of a waste incinerator. A Remedial Investigation was performed at Shepley's Hill Landfill between 1991 and 1993. Results confirmed the presence of various inorganic and organic contaminants in the environment around the landfill. The Environmental Protection Agency continues to assess the extent of contamination at Fort Devens and remove toxic agents.
What diseases can you develop following toxic exposure at Fort Devens?
It is important to know that while toxic exposure is responsible for countless health conditions, only certain diagnoses might qualify veterans to file a claim. This is because a strong association between toxic exposure and these diseases must exist. If you intend to file a claim as a veteran who spent time at least 1 cumulative year at Fort Devens, you must have one of the following diagnoses:
With over 30 years of experience, our attorneys are ready to help you find out whether you are entitled to financial compensation if you have one of the above diseases. The legal process will entail minimal involvement on your part, as we are well aware of how overwhelming struggling with a serious disease can be. Our resourceful legal team will gladly take care of the most complex matters of the process on your behalf.
