List of Military Bases with PFAS Contamination

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances, or most commonly referred to as PFAS for short, are a subcategory of engineered chemicals that are found in a wide array of consumer products. The wide-spread use of PFAS can be attributed to its unique chemical properties which are highly resistant to water, staining, and heat. Perhaps the most familiar incorporation of PFAS into a consumer product is non-stick cookware. This is why water, butter, and greece tend to bead upon contact. And, this is also what makes cleaning your favorite frying pan so easy. However, the same chemical properties that make PFAS so appealing, are the exact properties that make its wide-spread incorporation into consumer goods so dangerous.

The concern with the wide-spread use of PFAS is that these chemicals are extremely difficult to break down. Because PFAS is so resistant to deconstruction, they tend to persist within our environment and our bodies and build up to unhealthy levels over time. When such a build up of PFAS occurs, either within our environment or our bodies, it can cause adverse effects on our health. Indeed, exposure to high levels of PFAS have been linked to disorders within our immune systems, asthma, decreased fertility, thyroid disease, developmental delays, liver damage and cancer.

In the context of the military, however, the risk of exposure to PFAS is of much greater concern. This is because military service members tend to use products containing higher volumes of PFAS at a much greater frequency than the average consumer ever would. To be sure, PFAS are present in uncharacteristically high amounts in aqueous film fighting foam (AFFF, or firefighter foam), jet fuel, and diesel fuel. All of which are used by, or in close proximity to, military service members at a high degree of frequency. Importantly, once PFAS are released into the environment, they can cause contamination to the soil and the groundwater. This contamination then spread through the consumption of local water and food sources by members of the military.

What Military Bases Have PFAS Contamination?

Because there is some confusion over which military bases have confirmed cases of PFAS contamination, when the contamination took place, and the source(s) that contributed to that contamination, the following table should help remedy some of these concerns: 

State	Installation	City	DoD Component
Alabama	Maxwell Gunter AFB	Autaugaville	Air Force - Active
Arizona	Air Force Plant 44	Sells	Air Force - Active
Arkansas	Little Rock AFB	Lonoke	Air Force - Active
California	Edwards AFB	Bakersfield	Air Force - Active
California	Travis AFB	Vacaville	Air Force - Active
Delaware	Dover AFB	Dover	Air Force - Active
Florida	Homestead ARB	Homestead	Air Force - Active
Illinois	Scott AFB	Belleville	Air Force - Active
Kansas	McConnell AFB	Derby	Air Force - Active
Louisiana	Barksdale AFB	Shreveport	Air Force - Active
Maryland	JB Andrews	Upper Marlboro	Air Force - Active
Massachusetts	Otis - JB Cape Cod	Lincoln	Air Force - Active
Mississippi	Columbus AFB	Columbus	Air Force - Active
Montana	Malmstrom AFB	Great Falls	Air Force - Active
Nebraska	Offutt AFB	Bellevue	Air Force - Active
New Hampshire	New Boston AFS	Bedford	Air Force - Active
New Jersey	JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst	Pemberton	Air Force - Active
New Mexico	Holloman AFB	Alamogordo	Air Force - Active
New York	Air Force Research Labs Rome	Rome	Air Force - Active
Ohio	Wright Patterson AFB	Dayton	Air Force - Active
Ohio	Youngstown ARS	Vienna	Air Force - Active
Oklahoma	Air Force Plant 3	Tulsa	Air Force - Active
Oklahoma	Air Force Plant 4	Altus	Air Force - Active
Oklahoma	Altus AFB	Altus	Air Force - Active
Oklahoma	Tinker AFB	Oklahoma City	Air Force - Active
Tennessee	Arnold AFB	Manchester	Air Force - Active
Texas	Dyess AFB	Abilene	Air Force - Active
Texas	Laughlin AFB	Del Rio	Air Force - Active
Texas	Sheppard AFB	Wichita Falls	Air Force - Active
Utah	Hill AFB	Ogden	Air Force - Active
Virginia	JB Langley-Eustis	Poquoson	Air Force - Active
Washington	Fairchild AFB	Spokane	Air Force - Active
Illinois	Greater Peoria	Peoria	Air Force - ANG
Illinois	Springfield Municipal (Capital)	Springfield	Air Force - ANG
Iowa	Des Moines	Des Moines	Air Force - ANG
Iowa	Sioux Gateway Municipal Airport	Sioux City	Air Force - ANG
Montana	Great Falls International Airport	Great Falls	Air Force - ANG
Nebraska	Lincoln Municipal	Lincoln	Air Force - ANG
New York	Hancock Field	North Syracuse	Air Force - ANG
New York	Schenectady Airport	Schenectady	Air Force - ANG
Ohio	Toledo Express	Swanton	Air Force - ANG
Oregon	Klamath Falls	Klamath Falls	Air Force - ANG
Pennsylvania	BIDDLE ANGB (HORSHAM AGS (WILLOW GROVE))	Hatboro	Air Force - ANG
Vermont	Burlington	South Burlington	Air Force - ANG
West Virginia	EWVRA Shepherd Field	Martinsburg	Air Force - ANG
Wisconsin	Truax Field	Madison	Air Force - ANG
Wisconsin	Volk Field	Camp Douglas	Air Force - ANG
Arizona	Williams AFB	Mesa	Air Force - BRAC
California	Castle AFB	Atwater	Air Force - BRAC
California	Mather AFB	Sacramento	Air Force - BRAC
Indiana	Grissom AFB	Grissom Arb	Air Force - BRAC
Louisiana	England AFB	Alexandria	Air Force - BRAC
Maine	Loring AFB	Limestone	Air Force - BRAC
New Hampshire	Pease AFB	Portsmouth	Air Force - BRAC
New York	Griffiss AFB	Rome	Air Force - BRAC
New York	Plattsburgh AFB	Plattsburgh	Air Force - BRAC
Ohio	Newark AFB	Heath	Air Force - BRAC
Ohio	Rickenbacker	Columbus	Air Force - BRAC
South Carolina	Myrtle Beach AFB	Myrtle Beach	Air Force - BRAC
Texas	Reese AFB	Lubbock	Air Force - BRAC
Kansas	Fort Riley	Fort Riley	Army - Active
Pennsylvania	N Penn	Worchester	Army - BRAC
Michigan	MTC-H Camp Grayling	Grayling	Army - OMNG
California	DFSP Ozol	Martinez	DLA - Active
California	DFSP San Pedro	San Pedro	DLA - Active
New Hampshire	DFSP Newington	Newington	DLA - Active
New York	DFSP Verona	Verona	DLA - Active
California	NAS PT MUGU CA NAVAIRWARC	Point Mugu	Navy - Active
Florida	SAUFLEY FLD FL NAS	Pensacola	Navy - Active
Florida	WHITING FLD FL NAS	Milton	Navy - Active
Indiana	NAVSURFWARCENDIV CRANE	Crane	Navy - Active
Maine	NCTAMSLANT DET CUTLER	East Machias	Navy - Active
Maryland	CHESAPEAKE BEACH MD RESLB	Chesapeake Beach	Navy - Active
Mississippi	GULFPORT MS NCBC	Gulfport	Navy - Active
Mississippi	MERIDIAN MS NAS	Meridian	Navy - Active
New Jersey	NMC DET EARLE	Colts Neck	Navy - Active
New York	CALVERTON NY NPRO	Riverhead	Navy - Active
Puerto Rico	ROOSEVELT ROADS RQ CGARCA	Vieques	Navy - Active
Texas	CORPUS CHRISTI TX NAS	Corpus Christi	Navy - Active
Virginia	CHESAPEAKE VA NSGA NW	Chesapeake	Navy - Active
Virginia	NMC DET YORKTOWN	Yorktown	Navy - Active
Virginia	NORFOLK VA FISC	Norfolk	Navy - Active
Virginia	OCEANA VA NAS	Virginia Beach	Navy - Active
Washington	WHIDBEY IS WA NAS	Oak Harbor	Navy - Active
Maine	Brunswick NAS	Brunswick	Navy - BRAC
Maryland	White Oak- NSWC Dahlgren DIV Det	Silver Spring	Navy - BRAC
Pennsylvania	Warminster NAWC AD	Warminster Township	Navy - BRAC
Pennsylvania	Willow Grove NASJRB	Willow Grove	Navy - BRAC
Rhode Island	DAVISVILLE_NCBC	North Kingstown	Navy - BRAC
Tennessee	Memphis NAS (Millington)	Millington	Navy - BRAC
Texas	Chase Field NAS	Beeville	Navy - BRAC
Texas	Dallas NAS	Dallas	Navy - BRAC
Arizona	YUMA AZ MCAS	Yuma	USMC - Active
North Carolina	CAMP LEJEUNE NC MCB	Camp Lejeune	USMC - Active
North Carolina	CHERRY POINT NC MCAS	Atlantic	USMC - Active
North Carolina	CHERRY POINT NC MCAS	Oak Grove	USMC - Active
California	El Toro MCAS	Santa Ana	USMC - BRAC

To view an interactive map of all suspected and confirmed contamination sites please visit: https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/2020-military-pfas-sites/map/

The Causes of PFAS Contamination in Military Bases

PFAS contamination on military bases is, without question, a very serious environmental concern. This type of contamination can happen in a number of different ways. Some of the most common ways PFAS contamination can occur is through chemical spills, pollution, jet fuel, and Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF). These occurrences usually stem from accidental spills, improper handling or improper disposal practices of material containing PFAS chemicals. Once released into the environment, PFAS chemicals can absorb into and contaminate soil, surface water, and ground water sources. Such contamination can cause irreparable harm to the environment and long-term health risks for any individual who is consuming products, commodities, or goods that have been either grown, raised, or taken directly from any given PFAS contaminated area. 

PFAS contamination is all too common on military bases. And, there exists a lengthy history of industrial accidents and waste mismanagement by the military, due in part to their excessive use and oversight of chemical agents containing PFAS. Because the use of jet fuel and AFFF by the military is so prominent, leaks, spills, and mismanaged disposal practices contribute heavily to PFAS contamination. In order to address and minimize these sources of PFAS contamination, the military has taken a comprehensive approach to properly train its members on appropriate practices for the handling and disposal of PFAS containing chemicals. Additionally, the military has taken steps to regularly test sources of drinking water and implement effective strategies of remediation to help decontaminate sites with confirmed exposure. 

Fire Fighting Foams  (AFFF)

The use of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS for short, in  firefighting foams has caused a great deal of concern for environmentalists and public health officials for years. As stated above, PFAS exist in a class of man-made or engineered chemicals that are widely used in a number of industrial and consumer products, including firefighting foams. Because of PFAS unique chemical properties – specifically, its resilience to decomposition and ability to repel other substances like water and oil – its inclusion in the manufacturing process of firefighting foam has been extensive. 

Several notable companies manufacture PFAS. As a result of their role in the production and sale of PFAS containing material, these manufacturers have faced both legal retaliation and public backlash. Among the companies that produce and sell PFAS and PFAS containing material are:

Although many countries, including the United States, have taken action to restrict or even ban the use of PFAS in AFFF, the effects of its past use continue to cause a litany of concerns. While more information is still being gathered on the impacts of exposure to PFAS, the information that we do have available to us underscores just how important it is for manufacturers, regulators, and lawmakers to be proactive in protecting the public and the environment against these harmful substances.

Industrial Products 

In addition to AFFF, PFAS have also been used in a variety of other industrial applications on military bases, including but not limited to:

Although promises by both the Trump and Biden Administration have been made to regulate and limit the production of PFAS containing material, little has actually been done. This, of course, is due in part to some manufacturers’ refusal to release the contents of their products because of proprietary protections. For this reason, the fight to limit and regulate the inclusion of PFAS containing material in industrial products is slow and difficult. 

Wastewater Treatment Facilities

Among the other potential sources for PFAS contamination on military bases is 

wastewater treatment facilities. These treatment facilities are specifically designed to remove harmful levels of pollutants from wastewater prior to its reintroduction back into the environment. The problem, though, is that many wastewater treatment facilities are not effective in removing PFAS because they are extremely difficult to remove using traditional methods of filtration and purification. 

Because military bases can generate enormous volumes of wastewater from a variety of sources (some of which contain PFAS), the sheer amount of water that needs to be purified combined with the inability to separate out those sources that contain PFAS, make finding an  effective means of purification nearly impossible for those wastewater treatment facilities that are already inadequate for removing PFAS. Understanding this, in turn, helps us understand how PFAS contaminated water can be released back into the environment even after it has been treated. To be sure, these results are absolutely devastating to surrounding water sources as well as solid and even the air. Although some effort has been made to better equip wastewater treatment facilities with the ability to effectively remove PFAS, more effort should be made to prevent PFAS contamination from occurring in the first place. 

Health Risks Associated with PFAS Contamination 

The use or consumption of PFAS contaminated water can have short or long-term health effects. Some short-term health effects include, but are not limited to:

On the other hand, if the exposure to higher levels of PFAS contamination, or prolonged exposure may cause more severe health concerns. Some long-term health effects include, but are not limited to:

It should also be noted that the health effects upon those exposed to PFAS contamination vary based on a person’s prior or current healthcare concerns, what stage of development a person is in when the exposure occurs, and whether a person becomes pregnant prior to during or after exposure. Again, these health concerns also vary depending on the frequency and amount of exposure a person is subjected to.

It is also important to be aware that PFAS contamination can occur through consumption, direct contact, or through the inhalation of contaminated water vapor. Because the means by which individuals may become exposed are numerous, it is especially important to be aware of the quality of the water you use and to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself from these sources of contamination.  

PFAS Contamination Awareness and Education

Education and awareness of PFAS contamination is crucial for all service members. Whether you have served, are serving, or plan to serve in the military, PFAS contamination is a very real and present danger. Because these engineered chemicals have been linked to a staggering amount of health concerns, the importance of education and awareness surrounding PFAS contamination cannot be overstated. By educating yourself and being aware of the countless products, materials, and sources from which PFAS contamination may arise, you can take the necessary steps to ensure that you do not place yourself or your family at risk.  

Indeed, there are many resources available for members of the armed forces to learn more about PFAS contamination. Some helpful resources included:

– The Department of Defense’s PFAS Task Force

– The Center for Disease Control

– Other Prevention Agencies for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
All of these agencies can provide you with information and other resources about PFAS contamination, the health risks associated with exposure, and methods of prevention you can use to reduce those risks. Lastly, military members can also contact their installation’s environmental office of health care provider for this information as well.