Naval Air Station Pensacola is regarded as the "Cradle of Aviation" since it was the location of the first-formed Naval Aviation command during World War I. While aviation training halted after the war, the military established a cadet training program at the station in 1935. This site has remained a focal point for training, education, and other activities in the years afterward. It employs approximately 17,000 military personnel and 5,000 civilians at the moment.
At Navy sites, PFAS accumulation is often found in the soil and/or groundwater as a result of historical firefighting activities using AFFF, including crash response, hangar system operations, and testing, responses to fuel fires or spills, and emergency response actions. Since PFAS-based foam was used in response to plane crashes on Sherman Field Runway 7R of Naval Air Station Pensacola, there is the potential for veterans, family members, and dependents who lived or worked on this facility to suffer adverse health effects.
What chemical agents are present on Naval Air Station Pensacola?
Fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been utilized in a number of military applications for a long period of time. They were employed in quite significant amounts as components in AFFF, which was regularly used at different military sites, notably Naval Air Station Pensacola. Current and historical AFFF storage and transfer sites are a major source of concern for the discharge into the environment. Because of its persistence, mobility, and potential toxicity, PFAS may pose a risk to human health and the ecosystem.
In addition to PFAS, veterans and family members who were stationed at the Naval Air Station Pensacola were unknowingly exposed to numerous toxins that have had devastating health outcomes, including:
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- Tetrachloroethene (PCE)
- Trichloroethene (TCE)
- Heavy metals
Long-term exposure to these substances may result in a range of complex health problems that can last for the remainder of an individual's life. Some diseases, depending on the type of toxin and the amount of time spent exposed to it, may also prove to be fatal in the long run.
What diseases can PFAS exposure cause?
The science of PFAS health hazards is still in its infancy, but like with mercury and lead, it increasingly indicates that no amount of exposure to these fluorinated compounds is deemed safe. The potential for PFAS chemicals to cause severe health effects increases dramatically as they accumulate over time. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified PFAS as a potential human carcinogen, which means that exposure may result in cancer in people exposed. This classification was based on epidemiological data connecting exposure to illnesses such as kidney and testicular malignancies, as well as other health problems such as hormone disruption, immune system damage, and liver and kidney toxicity.
The health issues caused by PFAS exposure, as well as the diagnoses that entitle a person to file a PFAS exposure claim with the help of ELG Law, are as follows:
If you believe that your health was affected by PFAS exposure during the time they spent at Naval Air Station Pensacola, first talk to your doctor; he/she will evaluate your symptoms and may direct you to a specialist trained in assessing hazardous exposure in the workplace. If your doctor determines you have an illness or condition due to PFAS exposure, contact our law firm, as we possess the expertise in assisting victims of toxic exposure to obtain adequate compensation to help cover the costs of their medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.