Gillem Annex, formerly part of Fort Gillem in Forest Park, Georgia, served for decades as a U.S. Army logistics, maintenance, and support installation. Although much of the installation has been decommissioned and redeveloped, environmental investigations continue because of contamination linked to historical military operations.
Similar to other military bases constructed prior to the 1980s, asbestos was commonly used in the construction of Fort Gillem. Beginning in the 1960s, the installation also used AFFF extensively to suppress petroleum and jet fuel fires during training exercises, equipment testing, and emergency response operations. These historical practices contributed to contamination that has prompted investigations by the U.S. Army, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Gillem Annex had been using AFFF in its firefighting activities for decades. AFFF became the standard firefighting agent for extinguishing fuel-related fires because of its rapid formation of protective film. The older AFFF formulations had PFAS compounds like PFOS and PFOA, chemicals that are not easily biodegradable and can persist for decades.
Individuals who potentially have higher exposure risk due to their occupation include:
- military firefighters
- aircraft rescue and firefighting technicians
- fire protection engineers
- emergency response team members
- civilian firefighters
- firefighting equipment maintenance personnel
- environmental response workers
- fire suppression systems contractors
Research has linked exposure to PFAS over time to an increased risk of multiple diseases such as kidney cancer and testicular cancer. While multiple factors affect the chances of developing a particular disease, the role of PFAS exposure is being investigated. Cleanup operations are ongoing at Gillem Annex as federal and state agencies assess past contamination and ways to reduce the risk of future exposure to the environment.
Similar to other U.S. Army facilities constructed in the middle of the twentieth century, Fort Gillem was built using asbestos-containing materials. The use of asbestos as a building material was due to its natural durability, resistance to heat, and high insulating properties.
Asbestos-containing materials are present in:
- piping insulation
- boiler insulation
- duct insulation
- ceiling and floor tiles
- roofing materials
- fireproof wallboards
Asbestos fibers may get into the air if such asbestos-containing materials age, deteriorate, or undergo renovation, demolition, or maintenance work. Once inhaled, these fibers remain in the lungs for many years before disease develops.
Personnel who may have experienced greater occupational exposure include:
- construction workers
- maintenance personnel
- electricians
- plumbers
- HVAC mechanics
- boiler technicians
- vehicle maintenance personnel
- civilian contractors
- engineers
Science has proven that exposure to asbestos causes mesothelioma and lung cancer. These diseases may occur years after exposure, and it becomes challenging for people affected to trace back their symptoms to their military occupation.
Environmental health organizations have also investigated health hazards at historical Fort Gillem, apart from asbestos, such as the pollution of groundwater by volatile organic compounds. Nowadays, Gillem Annex serves as one of the examples of environmental problems that result from past activities of military bases. Cleanup, investigation, and health monitoring actions are conducted to clarify historical exposure levels and prevent future risks.