Anniston Army Depot

Base Background

Location 7, Frankford Avenue, Anniston, Alabama, 36201, United States
Years of Operation 1942-Present

Beginning operation in 1942, the Anniston Army Depot is located in northeast Alabama. While the location originated as a storage facility, it has since become a manufacturing and maintenance center. The main function of the facility is the production and maintenance of ground combat vehicles. Military employees also maintain small arms, weapons, and land combat missiles at this location. The facility stores a portion of the U.S. military’s stockpile of chemical weapons.

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
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)
Antimony Potential Effects Bronchitis ­ chronic COPD ­chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Arrhythmias Pulmonary edema, Nasal septal perforation, Menstrual disorders, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Bladder cancer, Anemia ­ hemolytic, Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis)
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
Asbestos Potential Effects Pulmonary fibrosis, Pneumoconiosis, Pleural disease (effusions,plaques,thickening), Asbestosis Stomach cancer, Renal (kidney) cancer, Immune suppression, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA Ovarian cancer, Myelodysplastic syndrome, Multiple myeloma, Melanoma, Lymphoma non ­Hodgkin's, Laryngeal cancer, Colo­rectal cancer, Bladder cancer, Adult­-Onset Leukemias
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 tetrachloride Potential Effects Steatosis (fatty liver), Cirrhosis, Acute tubular necrosis, Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) Scleroderma, Porphyria ­ toxic, Lymphoma non ­Hodgkin's, Childhood Leukemias, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA, Arrhythmias, Aplastic anemia, Adult­-Onset Leukemias Renal (kidney) cancer, Pancreatitis, Pancreatic cancer, Oral clefts (cleft lip and palate), Nephrotic syndrome, Melanoma, Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age, Immune suppression, Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer), Brain cancer ­adult
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)
Creosote Potential Effects Spasticity/Myoclonus, Seizures, Minamata disease, Developmental Delay, Decreased I.Q../Mental retardation, Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Cerebral palsy Lymphoma non ­Hodgkin's, Delayed growth, Decreased vision (includes blindness, retinopathy, optic neuropathy), Congenital malformation Cranio­ Facial, Altered sex ratio Hypertension, Hodgkin's Disease (lymphoma)
Cyanide Potential Effects Seizures, Myocardial ischemia, Arrhythmias Peripheral neuropathy -
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
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 hydrocarbons Potential Effects Methemoglobinemia Cataracts, Anemia ­ hemolytic -
PFAS (Firefighting Foam) Potential Effects - - Testicular cancer, Renal (kidney) cancer, Prostate cancer
Phenols Potential Effects - Asthma ­ allergic -
Solvents (misc.) Potential Effects Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Contact dermatitis ­ Irritant Lung cancer Vasculitis, Seizures, Rheumatoid arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis
Thallium Potential Effects Peripheral neuropathy Alopecia Psychiatric disturbances, Menstrual disorders
Vanadium Potential Effects COPD ­chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Bronchitis ­ chronic, Asthma ­ allergic Acute tubular necrosis Reduced Fertility ­ Female (infertility and subfertility), Pneumonia, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Bronchitis ­ acute
Zinc Potential Effects Skin ulceration - Testicular cancer

Additional chemicals found at this site include herbicides, chlorinated hydrocarbons, acids, and chelating agents.

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.