In 2004, Carl Axel Soderberg, director of the Environmental Protection Agency for the Caribbean region, found that nearly 500 acres of the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station were contaminated. Furthermore, he said that parts of the ammunition used by the U.S. Navy were discovered in one of the 18 contaminated areas. At the moment, the agency continues the cleanup endeavors on the military base.
What dangerous agents are present on Roosevelt Roads Naval Station?
One of the most prevalent contaminants on Roosevelt Roads Naval Station are PFAS, a group of toxic chemicals that can lead to the occurrence of numerous awful health problems if they are present in high concentrations in the blood. The source of these chemicals on the military base was the employment of AFFF, a fire suppressant that efficiently puts out jet fuel and petroleum fires, by military firefighters and trainees. PFAS are very dangerous both for the environment and for our health, as they are frequently called "forever chemicals". This means that, once they are released by the use of AFFF, they do not break down and pollute the environment indeterminately.
Nonetheless, there are other hazardous agents lurking on Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, which the Environmental Protection Agency is also striving to remove, such as:
- grease
- oil
- jet fuel
- gasoline
- petroleum hydrocarbons
- chlorinated solvents
- asbestos
- polychlorinated biphenyls
The existence of these additional toxic agents on the premises of Roosevelt Roads Naval Station only worsens the degree of toxic exposure people who are stationed there experience. Regrettably, toxic exposure is inevitable if you spend time on a contaminated military base, and it may greatly endanger your life, particularly if your stay was longer than several months. For this reason, we advise everyone who was stationed at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station to pay close attention to their health and to undergo regular medical examinations, as they are prone to developing serious diseases.
What health issues can exposure to PFAS cause?
Occurring through inhalation and ingestion, PFAS exposure can lead to the development of numerous awful diseases over the years, the most serious, as well as life-threatening, being cancer. Cancer that is the result of exposure to PFAS can grow on various organs and tissues in the body, depending on where the largest amount of these chemicals is. Here is the complete list of health problems PFAS exposure can cause, as well as the diagnoses for which you can file a claim to recover compensation:
With the specialized assistance of our attorneys, seeking financial compensation if you are a victim of military toxic exposure is very easy, as they will take care of the majority of aspects of the legal process on your behalf. Thereby, we advise you to contact us if you have one of the health problems above, as the money you may obtain will help you cover your medical expenses. It is important to note that if you were pregnant while you were staying at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station and your baby was born with health issues, you are also eligible for compensation.