Adak Naval Air Station
Adak, AK
Known Toxins3
Years of Operation1942-1997
Base Background
Located about 1,200 miles southwest of Anchorage, the Adak Naval Air Station was established as a military base for the Army Air Corps during World War II. About 90,000 troops were present in the area at this time. In 1950, the U.S. Navy took over base operations. The military used the base as a submarine surveillance center during the Cold War. During this time, a portion of the island was allocated for the Navy, and the remainder was part of the Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
In 1994, the U.S. government added the base to the National Priority List of contaminated sites. This was in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. The base then closed in 1997.
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 & Strength of Evidence Needed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong | Good | Limited | ||
| Chlorinated Solvents | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | Childhood Leukemias Adult-Onset Leukemias |
- |
| Heavy metals (misc.) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Pneumonitis hypersensitivity |
- | Multiple myeloma Chronic renal disease |
| Polychlorinated Byphenyls (PCBs) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | 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 |
Additional chemicals found at this site include chlorinated hydrocarbons and organic chemicals.
If you worked at the Anniston Army Depot, you may be eligible for compensation for medical conditions associated with toxic exposure.
*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.