As a facility dedicated to the manufacturing, assembling, and storing of ammunition, workers at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant have long been exposed to a range of hazardous substances. Although not a Superfund site, the federal government has identified 60 areas in the base that have been contaminated with various toxic chemicals. Additionally, the Department of Defense (DoD) continues to conduct clean-up initiatives at these sites.
What toxic substances were found at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant?
Multiple hazardous substances have been documented at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, but more recent attention has focused on PFAS. These synthetic chemicals can be commonly found in AFFF, a fire suppressant used in military firefighting.
Experts from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) believed that the PFAS contamination at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant primarily came from the use of AFFF. In 2020, they reported the presence of the following PFAS chemicals in the base’s groundwater sources:
- PFOS: 170,000 ppt
- PFOA: 3,300 ppt
- PFBS: 4,800 ppt
A remedial investigation is underway to resolve the PFAS contamination at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, with the DoD expected to come up with recommendations and other possible solutions by 2027.
Diseases that exposure to PFAS at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant can cause
PFOS and PFOA are some of the most common PFAS compounds found in typical AFFF formulations. Constant exposure to these substances has been linked to an increased risk of developing several diseases, including:
The International Agency for Research on Cancer has even classified PFOA as a cancer-causing agent. They also tagged PFOS as a ‘potential human carcinogen’, but note that it needs further research to establish a causal relationship.
