McChord Field covers 4,600 acres, and the Environmental Protection Agency found that since 1940, nearly 500,000 gallons of hazardous substances have been used and disposed of on the military base. The Department of Defense Installation Restoration Program was launched at McChord Field in 1981, with the purpose of identifying the areas and the contents of past disposal sites and of eliminating the hazards in a responsible manner.
What dangerous contaminants are present on McChord Field?
In 1996, the Environmental Protection Agency finished the process of removing hazardous agents from McChord Field and took the military base off the Superfund sites list. Nevertheless, the issue of toxic exposure remains, as the military base is now contaminated with PFAS. According to the Environmental Working Group, McChord Field has extremely high levels of PFAS in the environment. The source of these harmful chemicals is the employment of AFFF, a fire suppressant, by military firefighters to extinguish jet fuel and petroleum fires, which are common on U.S. Air Force bases.
Exposure to PFAS occurs through inhalation and ingestion, and once inside the body, the chemicals cannot be eliminated. The higher the concentration of PFAS in your blood, the greater your chances of coming to struggle with a terrible disease are. There are over 25,000 soldiers and civilians who live and work on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, as well as 100,000 military retirees and nearly 30,000 family members at the moment. The health of all of these people is in danger, as they are inevitably exposed to PFAS on a daily basis.
What health issues can exposure to PFAS on McChord Field cause?
Undoubtedly, the most terrible disease PFAS exposure can cause is cancer, which can affect numerous organs and tissues in the body, depending on where the highest concentration of these harmful chemicals is located. However, there are other health issues exposure to PFAS can result in within several years to several decades. This is the complete list of diagnoses PFAS exposure can be responsible for, as well as the diseases that make you eligible to file a claim if you spent 1 cumulative year or longer at the military base:
If you had the misfortune of receiving one of these diagnoses, we advise you to reach out to our experienced legal team, as you are most likely entitled to financial compensation. We will promptly review your case to determine if you meet the eligibility requirements. Finally, if you were pregnant while you were staying at McChord Field and your child was born with health problems, you should also give us a call, as you can file a claim on behalf of your baby.
