Morris ANGB covers 179 acres within the northwest corner of Tucson International Airport, and environmental testing has revealed extensive contamination throughout the facility. Since the 1950s, military operations have introduced hundreds of thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals into the base environment. The EPA designated the broader Tucson International Airport as a Superfund site in 1983, the remediation efforts are ongoing since.
What hazardous substances contaminate Morris Air National Guard Base?
The contamination crisis at Morris ANGB involves multiple dangerous chemicals that pose severe health risks to anyone exposed. PFAS contamination represents the most significant threat in the present day, with tests revealing very high concentrations throughout the base. The contamination originates from extensive use of aqueous film-forming foam by military firefighters during training exercises, emergency responses, and aircraft crash site operations.
Recent testing shows alarming PFAS levels across Morris ANGB. The maintenance hangar recorded PFOS concentrations of 2.1 ug/L, which exceed EPA safety values by more than 52 times. The fire station and various maintenance areas also showed significant PFAS contamination. In some groundwater areas, PFAS concentrations reached 53,000 parts per trillion, an astounding 5,300 times the allowable limit for drinking water.
Morris ANGB is contaminated with the following hazardous substances:
- PFAS compounds (PFOS, PFOA, PFBS)
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- 1,4-dioxane
- Dichloroethane (DCE)
- Chloroform
- Chromium
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- Various heavy metals
What serious health conditions can result from toxic exposure at Morris Air National Guard Base?
Exposure to PFAS and other contaminants at Morris ANGB can cause severe health conditions that may not show symptoms for years or decades after the initial exposure. Cancer represents the most serious risk, as PFAS chemicals accumulate in the body and cannot be naturally eliminated. The IARC has classified certain PFAS compounds as carcinogenic to humans.
Military personnel, civilian employees, and family members who spent at least one cumulative year at Morris Air National Guard Base may be eligible for compensation if diagnosed with any of these conditions:
Community health impacts around Morris ANGB include over 1,350 residents filing formal claims with the U.S. Air Force for pollution-related illnesses.