In 2010, there were 1,222 people stationed at Patrick Air Force Base. It was not until 2016 that the Environmental Protection Agency began taking radical measures to remove PFAS from the environment of this military base, a process that is still ongoing at the moment. Because PFAS are known as forever chemicals, they are very difficult to remove from the environment, which is why the cleanup process initiated by the Environmental Protection Agency is still in progress today. While PFAS as a group of toxic substances greatly endangers the health of people who come in contact with it, PFOS and PFOA are the most studied chemicals from this category and have a strong causal relationship with a wide range of malignant diseases, among other serious health problems.
If you are a veteran who was stationed at Patrick Air Force Base after 1970 and developed a disease as a result of toxic exposure, we strongly encourage you to contact our law firm, as we specialize in helping people injured by hazardous substances recover the compensation they are entitled to. Similarly, if you are the family member of a veteran who spent time at this military base and received a diagnosis as a consequence of exposure to PFAS, you should also give us a call to begin the process of recovering the money you deserve for your injury.
What toxic agents were present on Patrick Air Force Base?
Although PFAS were the only toxic agent present on Patrick Air Force Base, the concentration of this group of chemicals is very high and thereby poses a great danger to the health of the military personnel stationed there. Exposure to PFAS occurs by inhalation or ingestion and once, inside the body, these chemicals can easily reach various organs or tissues by traveling through the bloodstream and the lymphatic system.
It is worthy of note that exposure to PFAS may not immediately result in a disease, as it may take several years for a health problem to occur since these chemicals gradually cause damage to the part of the body they reach. Therefore, if you were stationed at Patrick Air Force Base, you should keep a close eye on your health and seek medical attention as soon as you notice a new onset of unusual symptoms.
What diseases can you develop following toxic exposure at Patrick Air Force Base?
Exposure to PFAS is linked to a large number of diseases, particularly cancer, which is why people who spent time at Patrick Air Force Base need to closely monitor their health. When found in the early stages, cancer can be successfully kept under control with treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Unfortunately, most cases of cancer are discovered in the late stages, when the disease has already spread to adjacent organs and tissues. The following are the diseases exposure to PFAS can lead to, as well as the diagnoses that make you eligible for filing a claim if you were stationed at the military base for at least 1 cumulative year:
It is important to keep in mind that any type of cancer qualifies you for seeking financial compensation, as exposure to PFAS has a strong causal relation with malignant diseases, regardless of the location they affect in the body.
Thereby, we strongly advise you to contact our law firm if you are a veteran or a family member of one who spent time at Patrick Air Force Base and received a cancer diagnosis. We will thoroughly review your case and file a claim both with the military base and with the VA so that you can obtain the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
