Offutt Air Force Base currently employs over 6,000 military members and 4,000 civilian personnel, making it one of Omaha’s largest employers. The Environmental Protection Agency included the base in the National Priorities List (NPL) of the Superfund.
The Department of Defense (DoD) has also documented at least 40 sites at Offutt Air Force Base that have been contaminated with toxic substances and spent over $50.5 million to address this problem. Latest estimates showed that it would take the government until 2045 to complete all cleanup efforts at the base, and an additional $16 million might be required to cover future costs.
Harmful chemicals present on Offutt Air Force Base
As an active base for over 120 years, several toxic substances have been detected at Offutt Air Force Base, and many of these chemicals originated from multiple military activities that occurred in the past decades. Military and civilian personnel at Offutt Air Force Base may have been exposed to:
PFAS found at Offutt Air Force Base most likely came from the use of AFFF for firefighting response and training. AFFF is a PFAS-based firefighting foam and was once considered the gold standard due to its ability to rapidly suppress liquid-based fires such as jet fuel commonly stored at Air Force bases.
The PFAS concentrations detected at the Offutt Air Force Base have reached unsafe levels. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), between 2018 and 2019, the PFAS levels in Offutt Air Force Base were as follows:
- PFBS: 74,000
- PFOA: 410,000
- PFOS: 42,000
The EPA pointed out that there is no safe level of exposure to PFAS.
What are the health risks associated with exposure PFAS at Offutt Air Force Base?
PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals" because of their stubborn nature, have been linked to several health problems such as:
If you were diagnosed with any of the above-mentioned diseases, ELG Law can help you file a PFAS claim if you meet all eligibility criteria.
