Aberdeen Proving Ground

Base Background

Location Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, 21005, United States
Years of Operation 1917-Present

Aberdeen Proving Ground, established in 1917 in Harford County, Maryland near the Chesapeake Bay, has served as an Army facility for weapons research, development, and testing since 1918. It has a long history of exposure to hazardous materials.

Aberdeen Proving Ground Toxic Exposure

PFAS

Aberdeen Proving Ground faces significant PFAS contamination from decades of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) use at firefighting training areas, emergency response locations, and fire stations across the installation. Testing found these “forever chemicals” in groundwater, soil, and surface waters, potentially affecting the surrounding communities. If you have a condition related to PFAS contamination, you can get a free case evaluation here.

Agent Orange

Aberdeen Proving Ground was one of the storage sites for Agent Orange inside the U.S. Unfortunately, veterans stationed at the base still have to prove they were exposed to Agent Orange and service connect their conditions to receive disability benefits. If you were denied by the VA, we may be able to help.

Asbestos

In 2024, a safety manager whistleblower reported that Aberdeen Proving Ground failed to comply with critical asbestos safety requirements for years. Asbestos mitigation procedures during multiple large-scale demolitions were neglected, potentially exposing employees, contractors, and the public to hazardous materials that can cause asbestosis, mesothelioma or COPD.

Other Toxins

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated the Michaelsville Landfill within Aberdeen Proving Ground as a National Priorities List site in 1989. The 20-acre unlined Michaelsville Landfill operated from 1970 to approximately 1980, receiving diverse waste including domestic trash, industrial waste, solvents, waste oils, PCB transformer oils, wastewater treatment sludge, and pesticides containing heavy metals such as thallium, selenium, and antimony.

Aberdeen Proving Ground and its surrounding area encompass dozens of other contaminated sites including the Aberdeen Fire Training Area (where firefighting exercises were conducted from 1960-1989), the Phillips Army Airfield Landfill, and aircraft storage areas. In 1991, trichloroethene (TCE) contamination was discovered in Harford County’s Perryman well field.

If you lived or worked in the Aberdeen Proving Ground area and experienced the following adverse health effects, you may be eligible for compensation.

Known Toxins

The following chart outlines the medical conditions associated with toxic exposure at this base, classified by the strength of evidence required (strong, good or limited).* Please keep in mind that it is not a complete list.

Toxin Potential Effects
Strong Good Limited
Acetone Potential Effects - Arrhythmias -
Aluminium Potential Effects Lung cancer, Bronchitis ­ chronic Spasticity/Myoclonus, Seizures, Pneumonitis hypersensitivity, Dementia, Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium, Asthma ­ allergic Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary fibrosis, Pulmonary edema, Porphyria ­ toxic, Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders, Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Alzheimer's, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count)
Arsenic Potential Effects Peripheral neuropathy, Hyperkeratosis/Hyperpigmentation, Diabetes ­ Type II, Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis Steatosis (fatty liver), Skeletal malformations, Renal (kidney) cancer, Raynaud's phenomenon, Pneumonitis hypersensitivity, Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Nasal septal perforation, Myocardial ischemia, Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age, Hypertension, Hepatoportal Sclerosis, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Congenital malformations ­ general, Cirrhosis, Cardiomyopathy, Bladder cancer, Arrhythmias, Anemia ­ hemolytic, Alopecia, Adult­-Onset Leukemias Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome), Myelodysplastic syndrome, Metal fume fever, Immune suppression, Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer), Genito­urinary malformations (includes cryptorchidism, hypospadias), Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Acute tubular necrosis
Barium Potential Effects - - Sarcoidosis, Arrhythmias
Benzene Potential Effects Myelodysplastic syndrome, Multiple myeloma, Aplastic anemia Scleroderma, Renal (kidney) cancer, Pre­term delivery, Menstrual disorders, Lymphoma non ­Hodgkin's, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA, Arrhythmias Peripheral neuropathy, Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Nasopharyngeal/Sino­Nasal cancer, Lung cancer, Immune suppression, Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer), Cardiac congenital malformations, Breast cancer, Brain cancer ­adult, Asthma ­irritant
Benzo A Pyrene Potential Effects Lung cancer Skin cancer (non­melanoma), Lung cancer, Immune suppression, Bladder cancer Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility)
Beryllium Potential Effects Skin ulceration, Pneumonitis hypersensitivity, Pneumoconiosis, Chronic renal disease, Berylliosis Renal stones, Pulmonary fibrosis, Pulmonary edema, Pneumonia, Nasal septal perforation, Granulomatous disease (liver), Bronchitis ­ acute Seizures, Sarcoidosis, Mesothelioma, Immune suppression, Cardiomyopathy, Bone cancer/Ewings sarcoma
Cadmium Potential Effects Renal stones, Osteoporosis, Itai­itai disease, Chronic renal disease, Acute tubular necrosis Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Prostate cancer, Pneumonia, Nephrotic syndrome, COPD ­chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Cardiomyopathy, Anemia ­ hemolytic Testicular cancer, Soft tissue sarcoma, Renal (kidney) cancer, Pulmonary fibrosis, Pulmonary edema, Peripheral neuropathy, Pancreatic cancer, Oral clefts (cleft lip and palate), Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Metal fume fever, Menstrual disorders, Immune suppression, Hypoactivity, Hypertension, Genito­urinary malformations (includes cryptorchidism, hypospadias), Decreased I.Q../Mental retardation, Congenital malformation Cranio­ Facial, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Brain cancer ­adult, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA, Arrhythmias, ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity, Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count)
Carbon disculfide Potential Effects Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Psychiatric disturbances, Peripheral neuropathy, Myocardial ischemia, Hypertension, Hearing loss, Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium, Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span) Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders, Menstrual disorders, Lymphoma non ­Hodgkin's, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Erectile dysfunction, Dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, Decreased vision (includes blindness, retinopathy, optic neuropathy), Color vision disturbance, Arrhythmias, Adult­-Onset Leukemias, Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) Thyroid disorders ­Hypothyroidism, Pre­term delivery, Nephrotic syndrome, Glomerulonephritis, Congenital malformations ­ general, Congenital malformation Cranio­ Facial
Chlordane Potential Effects - Porphyria ­ toxic, Peripheral neuropathy Soft tissue sarcoma, Multiple Sclerosis, Lymphoma non ­Hodgkin's, Lung cancer, Hormonal changes (levels of circulating sex hormones ­ FSH/LH, Inhibin, and/or estrogens, progesterones, and androgens), Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer), Childhood Leukemias, Breast cancer, Aplastic anemia, Adult­-Onset Leukemias
Chromium Potential Effects Skin ulceration, Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders, Nasopharyngeal/Sino­Nasal cancer, Nasal septal perforation, Nasal polyps, Cholestasis, Bronchitis ­ acute, Asthma ­ allergic Stomach cancer, Pulmonary fibrosis, Psychiatric disturbances, Pneumonitis hypersensitivity, Pneumonia, Photosensitivity, Peripheral neuropathy, Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium, COPD ­chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Chronic renal disease, Bronchitis ­ acute, Brain cancer ­adult, ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity, Acute tubular necrosis Soft tissue sarcoma, Skeletal malformations, Renal (kidney) cancer, Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Prostate cancer, Peripheral neuropathy, Pancreatic cancer, Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome), Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Metal fume fever, Immune suppression, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Esophageal cancer, Erectile dysfunction, Delayed growth, COPD ­chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Bladder cancer, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA, Arrhythmias, Adult­-Onset Leukemias, Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count)
Cobalt Potential Effects Thyroid disorders ­Hypothyroidism, Hard metal disease, Cardiomyopathy, Asthma ­ allergic - Soft tissue sarcoma, Sarcoidosis, Pancreatitis, Lung cancer, Arrhythmias
Copper Potential Effects - Nasal septal perforation, Metal fume fever, Lung cancer, Granulomatous disease (liver), Decreased vision (includes blindness, retinopathy, optic neuropathy), Chronic renal disease, Angiosarcoma (hepatic), Anemia ­ hemolytic Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary fibrosis, Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Myelodysplastic syndrome, Immune suppression, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA, Acute tubular necrosis
Cyanide Potential Effects Seizures, Myocardial ischemia, Arrhythmias Peripheral neuropathy -
DDT Potential Effects - Soft tissue sarcoma, Psychiatric disturbances, Porphyria ­ toxic, Peripheral neuropathy, Menstrual disorders, Lymphoma non ­Hodgkin's, Adult­-Onset Leukemias Thrombocytopenia, Reduced Fertility ­ Female (infertility and subfertility), Prostate cancer, Multiple myeloma, Menstrual disorders, Lung cancer, Hypertension, Hodgkin's Disease (lymphoma), Gallbladder cancer, Aplastic anemia, ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity
Dibenzo (A,H) anthracene Potential Effects - - -
Ethylbenzene Potential Effects - - -
Heavy metals (misc.) Potential Effects Pneumonitis hypersensitivity - Multiple myeloma, Chronic renal disease
Heptachlor epoxide Potential Effects - - -
Iron Potential Effects Bronchitis ­ chronic - Soft tissue sarcoma, Diabetes ­ Type II, Brain cancer ­adult, Alzheimer's
Lead Potential Effects Seizures, Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Peripheral neuropathy, Hypertension, Gout, Developmental Delay, Decreased I.Q../Mental retardation, Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium, Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Chronic renal disease, Behavioral problems, Anemia ­ hemolytic, ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity, Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) Reduced Fertility ­ Female (infertility and subfertility), Psychiatric disturbances, Pre­term delivery, Porphyria ­ toxic, Pancreatic cancer, Nephrotic syndrome, Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age, Immune suppression, Hearing loss, Glomerulonephritis, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Delayed growth, Cardiomyopathy, Arrhythmias, Altered time to sexual maturation (accelerated or delayed puberty) Wilm's Tumor, Uterine cancer, Thyroid disorders ­Hypothyroidism, Stomach cancer, Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Osteoporosis, Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome), Lung cancer, Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer), Erectile dysfunction, Diabetes ­ Type II, Congenital malformation Cranio­ Facial, Colo­rectal cancer, Carcinoid, Breast cancer, Brain cancer ­adult, Bladder cancer, Alzheimer's, Altered time to sexual maturation (accelerated or delayed puberty), ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count)
Manganese Potential Effects Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders, Cholestasis Psychiatric disturbances, Pneumonitis hypersensitivity, Pneumonia, Peripheral neuropathy, Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium, Bronchitis ­ acute, ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity Skeletal malformations, Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Peripheral neuropathy, Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome), Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Metal fume fever, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Erectile dysfunction, Delayed growth, COPD ­chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Arrhythmias
Mercury Potential Effects Peripheral neuropathy, Hearing loss, Behavioral problems, Acute tubular necrosis Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age, Immune suppression, Hormonal changes (levels of circulating sex hormones ­ FSH/LH, Inhibin, and/or estrogens, progesterones, and androgens), Glomerulonephritis, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Congenital malformations ­ general, Chronic renal disease, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA, Aplastic anemia, Anemia ­ hemolytic Thyroid disorders ­Hypothyroidism, Scleroderma, Reduced Fertility ­ Female (infertility and subfertility), Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome), Nephrotic syndrome, Myocardial ischemia, Menstrual disorders, Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis
Nickel Potential Effects Asthma ­ allergic Stomach cancer, Pulmonary fibrosis, Pulmonary edema, Nasal septal perforation, Laryngeal cancer, Immune suppression Soft tissue sarcoma, Renal (kidney) cancer, Prostate cancer, Myocardial ischemia, Myelodysplastic syndrome, Metal fume fever, Mesothelioma, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Arrhythmias
Pesticides/Insecticides Potential Effects Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Contact dermatitis ­ Irritant, Contact dermatitis ­ Allergic Testicular cancer, Renal (kidney) cancer, Porphyria ­ toxic, Photosensitivity, Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders, Myelodysplastic syndrome, Multiple myeloma, Childhood Leukemias, Bone cancer/Ewings sarcoma Wilm's Tumor, Vasculitis, Thyroid disorders ­Hypothyroidism, Thyroid cancer, Thrombocytopenic purpura, Soft tissue sarcoma, Rheumatoid arthritis, Retinoblastoma, Pneumonia, Melanoma, Laryngeal cancer, Esophageal cancer, Congenital malformations ­ general, Cirrhosis, Cervical cancer, Bronchitis ­ chronic, Bronchitis ­ acute, Alzheimer's, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
Petroleum Potential Effects - - Multiple myeloma, Laryngeal cancer
PFAS (Firefighting Foam) Potential Effects - - Testicular cancer, Renal (kidney) cancer, Prostate cancer
Phenanthrene Potential Effects - - -
Polychlorinated Byphenyls (PCBs) Potential Effects Thyroid disorders ­Hypothyroidism, Porphyria ­ toxic, Developmental Delay, Decreased I.Q../Mental retardation, Cirrhosis, Chloracne, Behavioral problems, ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity Peripheral neuropathy, Pancreatic cancer, Menstrual disorders, Lymphoma non ­Hodgkin's, Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age, Immune suppression, Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer), Dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, Delayed growth, Congenital malformation Cranio­ Facial, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Bronchitis ­ chronic, Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis), Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) Testicular cancer, Reduced Fertility ­ Female (infertility and subfertility), Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders, Hypoactivity, Hypertension, Hyperkeratosis/Hyperpigmentation, Hearing loss, Endometriosis, Diabetes ­ Type I, Breast cancer, Bone cancer/Ewings sarcoma, Altered time to sexual maturation (accelerated or delayed puberty), Altered sex ratio
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Potential Effects Rhinitis ­ irritant - -
White phosphorus Potential Effects - - -

*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.

Paths to Compensation

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes toxic exposure during military service as potentially eligible for disability benefits. Additionally, both veterans and non-veterans may seek compensation for PFAS exposure through lawsuits.

An experienced lawyer can assist you in winning your case. Please call us on 1-888-477-2363 for a free evaluation.