The soil and groundwater of Grand Forks Air Force Base are contaminated with PFAS, according to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. These dangerous substances are known as "forever chemicals", as they do not break down in the environment or in living tissue. Even the presence of small amounts in your body can lead to the development of a serious disease over the years.
What contaminants are lurking on Grand Forks Air Force Base?
At the moment, PFAS are the only toxic agents on Grand Forks Air Force Base, but their presence is enough to cause toxic exposure among the members of the military who are stationed there. Exposure to PFAS occurs via inhalation or ingestion. The source of PFAS on military bases is AFFF, a fire suppressant used to put out petroleum and jet fuel fires. Since 1966, when it was invented by the U.S. Navy and the 3M company, it has been employed by military and civilian firefighters for Class B fires.
However, AFFF contains a high concentration of PFAS, and firefighters have the greatest risk of developing a health issue since they are in close contact with the fire suppressant on a regular basis. Alarmingly, firefighters have a cancer death rate 14% higher than the rest of the population, and frequent PFAS exposure plays a role in this harrowing statistic. Furthermore, PFAS are also present in the turnout gear of firefighters, which only worsens the extent of toxic exposure.
What health issues can PFAS exposure on military bases cause?
By far, the most serious health problem exposure to PFAS can result in is cancer, which may develop on numerous organs and tissues in the body, depending on where the largest amount of these harmful chemicals has accumulated. Nevertheless, people can receive other diagnoses as a consequence of PFAS exposure. The following are all the health issues you can come to suffer from if you were exposed to PFAS, as well as the diseases that make people who were stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base eligible for compensation:
Every member of the military who has one of these diagnoses should seek compensation for their physical and emotional distress, as not only will it provide them with a significant sum of money to afford better treatment, but it will also hold the responsible parties liable for negligence. Our lawyers will help you file a toxic exposure claim, as they have vast experience in this area of practice. Finally, if you were pregnant during the time you spent at Grand Forks Air Force Base and had a child with health problems, you should also give us a call, as you may be eligible to file a claim on behalf of your baby.
