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Alameda Naval Air Station

Base Background

Location Alameda, California, 94501, United States
Years of Operation 1940-1997

The former Alameda Naval Air Station is located in California’s Bay Area and makes up 2,806 acres of land. First commissioned in 1940, the base played a significant role at the start of World War II. The attack on Pearl Harbor occurred just one year after the base opened. As a naval air station, this location served as a base for military personnel, supplies, and machinery — all of which were transported to the Pacific through WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

The site is currently closed, as the EPA oversees multiple restoration sites. The EPA notes that two on-site landfills contained solid waste, and liquid waste was previously released into the Oakland Inner Harbor and Seaplane Lagoon. However, city officials are discussing plans to redevelop the site as part of the community in the future.

Known Toxins

The following chart outlines the toxins associated with this military location and the potential effects of exposure.*

Toxin Potential Effects
Strong Good Limited
Benzo A Pyrene Potential Effects Lung cancer Skin cancer (non­melanoma), Lung cancer, Immune suppression, Bladder cancer Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility)
Cesium Potential Effects - - -
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
Dibenzo (A,H) anthracene Potential Effects - - -
Dieldrin Potential Effects - Hormonal changes (levels of circulating sex hormones ­ FSH/LH, Inhibin, and/or estrogens, progesterones, and androgens) Uterine cancer, Thrombocytopenia, Psychiatric disturbances, Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders, Lymphoma non ­Hodgkin's, Hormonal changes (levels of circulating sex hormones ­ FSH/LH, Inhibin, and/or estrogens, progesterones, and androgens), Colo­rectal cancer, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Breast cancer, Adult­-Onset Leukemias
Heptachlor epoxide Potential Effects - - -
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)
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
Radium Potential Effects - - Nasopharyngeal/Sino­Nasal cancer
Strontium Potential Effects - - Hormonal changes (levels of circulating sex hormones ­ FSH/LH, Inhibin, and/or estrogens, progesterones, and androgens)
Uranium Potential Effects Lung cancer - Hormonal changes (levels of circulating sex hormones ­ FSH/LH, Inhibin, and/or estrogens, progesterones, and androgens), Chronic renal disease, Acute tubular necrosis

If you were stationed or lived on the Alameda Naval Air Station and are experiencing adverse health effects, you may be eligible for compensation.

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