Fort Hood has been a fixture in central Texas for nearly a century, purchased by the Army in 1942 as a tank destroyer training and firing center before growing into one of the largest active duty posts in the world. Decades of rapid wartime construction, followed by ongoing renovation and demolition to modernize the base, exposed many who worked and lived there to asbestos, and the Army has also identified PFAS contamination linked to the historic use of firefighting foam at the installation.
The Army has officially identified Fort Hood as an installation where AFFF was historically used in firefighting operations. AFFF was commonly used during firefighter training exercises, fuel fire suppression, emergency response drills, equipment testing, fire suppression system testing, and fire protection operations involving petroleum-based fires. Older AFFF formulations contained PFAS chemicals such as PFOS and PFOA, which were valued for their effectiveness in suppressing petroleum-based fires and made AFFF a standard tool for fire protection operations at installations like Fort Hood for decades.
Firefighters and emergency responders who handled or worked around this foam regularly had direct, repeated contact with it as part of their job duties, through skin contact, inhalation of fumes during use, and handling of equipment and gear saturated with the foam.
Personnel who may have faced exposure at Fort Hood include:
- military firefighters
- civilian firefighters
- fire protection specialists
- emergency response teams
- firefighting instructors and trainees
- fire department crew chiefs and captains
- hazardous materials personnel working alongside fire crews
Scientific studies have linked certain PFAS chemicals found in AFFF to an increased risk of kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, elevated cholesterol, liver effects, and immune system changes. Firefighters, given the frequency and directness of their contact with AFFF, are considered among those with the highest occupational exposure risk to these compounds.
When the military prepared for World War II, the War Department ordered asbestos used throughout Fort Hood's construction for its heat resistance and fireproofing properties. From the 1930s through the 1980s, asbestos was incorporated into base roads, pipes, heating system insulation, vehicle brake linings, and every aspect of barracks, mess halls, hospitals, recreation centers, schools, and administrative buildings. Materials at Fort Hood containing asbestos included:
- adhesives, caulk, epoxies, and sealants
- ceiling tiles and vinyl floor tiles
- cement foundations, drywall, and wallboard
- electrical wiring and HVAC systems
- fireproofing materials and insulation
- gaskets, pipes, plumbing, and valves
- paint, roofing, siding, and soundproofing
- automobile and truck brakes
Those who took part in the construction, maintenance, and demolition of these buildings, along with those who lived in them, were and continue to be diagnosed with asbestos-related disease caused by inhaling airborne fibers released when the material was disturbed. Workers most at risk of exposure at Fort Hood included:
- sheet metal workers
- welders
- electricians
- contractors
- auto mechanics
- construction workers
- roofers
- carpenters
- boiler workers
- pipefitters
- machinists
The risk of exposure also extended to family members, since asbestos fibers could cling to hair, skin, or clothing and travel home with service members and civilian workers.
Veterans who developed lung cancer or mesothelioma from asbestos exposure at Fort Hood may qualify for compensation. Since non-cancerous conditions such as asbestosis, pulmonary fibrosis, pleural plaques, pleural effusion, or diffuse pleural thickening are often misdiagnosed, a second opinion is worth pursuing if you've received one of these diagnoses instead.