The main source of PFAS on military bases nationwide is AFFF, a fire suppressant that sometimes contains up to 98% of these harmful chemicals. It was devised by the U.S. Navy and the 3M company in 1966, and ever since, it has been widely used by the military for jet fuel and petroleum fires. With each use, AFFF releases tremendous amounts of PFAS, polluting the environment and endangering the health of everyone who lives in that area. The current PFAS level at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is 58,922 ppt, exceeding the safe exposure limit by over 840 times.
What toxic agents were present on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island?
At the moment, PFAS are the only contaminants present at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, but other toxic agents might lurk on the site as a result of the military’s activity during the last century. The most dangerous chemicals from the PFAS class are PFOS and PFOA, as they have a strong connection with many cancers. While the current safe exposure limit to these substances is 70 ppt, the Environmental Protection Agency has recently proposed substantially lower levels.
According to the proposed rule, the new PFOS limit would be 0.02 ppt and the PFOA limit, 0,004 ppt. Therefore, the PFOS level at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island would exceed the new safe limit by over 2 million times, whereas the PFOA level would eclipse it by more than 14 million times. The military base was deemed a Superfund site, yet cleanup activities are not carried out at the facility since it has not been added to the National Priorities List.
What diseases can you develop following toxic exposure at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island?
Toxic exposure on military bases can cause numerous health problems, ranging from mild to severe. Still, veterans who intend to file a claim should know that only certain diagnoses make them eligible. Even if they have one of these diseases, they might still not be entitled to compensation, as there are other requirements they have to meet. These are the diagnoses that can deem veterans eligible to file a military base toxic exposure claim if they spent at least 1 cumulative year at the military base:
If you spent time at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and struggle with one of the above diseases, we strongly encourage you to give our law firm a call, as you are likely entitled to financial compensation. Our attorneys have been handling this kind of case for over 30 years, so they have the necessary experience, knowledge, and resources to assist you. The legal process for veterans is simple, as we understand that they often suffer from debilitating illnesses.
