Naval Station Great Lakes is currently a Superfund site, as the issue of PFAS contamination is acute. The Environmental Protection Agency is striving to clean up the toxic chemicals from the site, which is a very challenging job, as PFAS are also known as “forever chemicals”. This means that, once they are released into the environment by the use of AFFF, they persist, which makes the removal process very difficult. Similarly, when PFAS enter the human body, they cannot be eliminated and can thereby lead to the development of serious diseases over the years.
What toxic agents are present on Naval Station Great Lakes?
The only known toxic agent that is lurking on Naval Station Great Lakes is PFAS, but their presence is enough to alarm the people who were stationed there, as well as the members of the military who are currently spending time on the military base. Two of the most studied, as well as the most dangerous, compounds from the PFAS group, are PFOS and PFOA. Exposure to both of these dangerous chemicals may result in harrowing diseases such as cancer.
AFFF was first manufactured by the U.S. Navy together with the renowned 3M company in the early 1960s. Since then, it has been widely used by civilian and military firefighters to put out class B fires. Even the personal protective equipment worn by firefighters was found to contain a layer of PFAS, which only increases the extent of toxic exposure.
If you suspect you may be suffering from a disease caused by military exposure to PFAS, we strongly encourage you to seek medical attention and to visit multiple specialists, as misdiagnosis is very common among victims of toxic exposure. Not only will having the right diagnosis grant you access to the most effective treatment, but it will also influence the sum of money you will receive following claim submission.
What diseases can exposure to PFAS result in?
The most serious disease exposure to PFAS can cause is cancer, which may develop on various organs and tissues in the body. Because PFAS can travel through the body via the bloodstream and the lymphatic system, they may reach any organ or tissue, where they will gradually damage it until disease develops. It is important to keep in mind that you can recover compensation only for certain diagnoses if you were injured by PFAS, as there must be a definitive causal relation between your toxic exposure and your disease. The following are the diseases for which you can file a toxic exposure claim if you spent 1 cumulative year or longer at the military base:
It is worthy of note that, if you are a family member of a veteran who was stationed with them at Naval Station Great Lakes and came to struggle with one of the diseases above, you can also file a toxic exposure claim to recover financial compensation. Similarly, if you were pregnant during your stay at this military base and gave birth to a child with health problems, our attorneys will help you file a toxic exposure claim to obtain compensation on behalf of your baby.
