Camp Pendleton

Location
Camp Pendleton North, CA

Known Toxins
27

Years of Operation
1942-Present

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Base Background

Camp Pendleton is located in North San Diego County, California, established in 1942 as the West Coast Marine Corps Base. It then became home to the 1st Marine Division and a hub for West Coast Marine operations. The main mission has been training for military combat and humanitarian efforts. This location offers support and training for the Marines, Army, and Navy, and there are specialized schools on the base.

Toxic Exposure at Camp Pendleton

Investigations have revealed concerning environmental contamination at Camp Pendleton. Military servicemembers and their families may have been exposed to numerous cancer-causing chemicals, such as pesticides, PCBs and heavy metals.

PFAS Contamination

The use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) by firefighters at the installation is another source of toxic contamination. This fire suppressant, which contains harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), was regularly deployed during training exercises and emergency response activities. The “forever chemicals”, as PFAS have been dubbed, remain in the environment and accumulate in the human body, creating long-term hazards.

If you lived or worked at Camp Pendleton and have a condition related to toxic exposure, you can seek compensation through a VA disability claim or a lawsuit. Get a free case evaluation here to explore your legal options.

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.

Search the table for a specific disease :

Toxin	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed
Toxin	Strong	Good	Limited
1, 4-Dioxane	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	- MoreLess	Acute tubular necrosis MoreLess	Nasopharyngeal/SinoNasal cancer Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer) MoreLess
Aluminium	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Lung cancer Bronchitis chronic MoreLess	Spasticity/Myoclonus Seizures... Pneumonitis hypersensitivity Dementia Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium Asthma allergic MoreLess	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) MoreLess
Antimony	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Bronchitis chronic MoreLess	COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Arrhythmias MoreLess	Pulmonary edema Nasal septal perforation... Menstrual disorders Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth) Bladder cancer Anemia hemolytic Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) MoreLess
Arsenic	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Peripheral neuropathy Hyperkeratosis/Hyperpigmentation... Diabetes Type II Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis MoreLess	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 MoreLess	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 MoreLess
Barium	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	- MoreLess	- MoreLess	Sarcoidosis Arrhythmias MoreLess
Benzene	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Myelodysplastic syndrome Multiple myeloma... Aplastic anemia MoreLess	Scleroderma Renal (kidney) cancer... Preterm delivery Menstrual disorders Lymphoma non Hodgkin's Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA Arrhythmias MoreLess	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 MoreLess
Beryllium	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Skin ulceration Pneumonitis hypersensitivity... Pneumoconiosis Chronic renal disease Berylliosis MoreLess	Renal stones Pulmonary fibrosis... Pulmonary edema Pneumonia Nasal septal perforation Granulomatous disease (liver) Bronchitis acute MoreLess	Seizures Sarcoidosis... Mesothelioma Immune suppression Cardiomyopathy Bone cancer/Ewings sarcoma MoreLess
Cadmium	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Renal stones Osteoporosis... Itaiitai disease Chronic renal disease Acute tubular necrosis MoreLess	Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility) Prostate cancer... Pneumonia Nephrotic syndrome COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Cardiomyopathy Anemia hemolytic MoreLess	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) MoreLess
Chloroethene	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	- MoreLess	- MoreLess	- MoreLess
Cobalt	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Thyroid disorders Hypothyroidism Hard metal disease... Cardiomyopathy Asthma allergic MoreLess	- MoreLess	Soft tissue sarcoma Sarcoidosis... Pancreatitis Lung cancer Arrhythmias MoreLess
Copper	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	- MoreLess	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 MoreLess	Sarcoidosis Pulmonary fibrosis... Neural tube defects/CNS malformations Myelodysplastic syndrome Immune suppression Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA Acute tubular necrosis MoreLess
Heavy metals (misc.)	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Pneumonitis hypersensitivity MoreLess	- MoreLess	Multiple myeloma Chronic renal disease MoreLess
Iron	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Bronchitis chronic MoreLess	- MoreLess	Soft tissue sarcoma Diabetes Type II... Brain cancer adult Alzheimer's MoreLess
Lead	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	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) MoreLess	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) MoreLess	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) MoreLess
Manganese	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders Cholestasis MoreLess	Psychiatric disturbances Pneumonitis hypersensitivity... Pneumonia Peripheral neuropathy Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium Bronchitis acute ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity MoreLess	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 MoreLess
Mercury	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Peripheral neuropathy Hearing loss... Behavioral problems Acute tubular necrosis MoreLess	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 MoreLess	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 MoreLess
Pesticides/Insecticides	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Contact dermatitis Irritant... Contact dermatitis Allergic MoreLess	Testicular cancer Renal (kidney) cancer... Porphyria toxic Photosensitivity Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders Myelodysplastic syndrome Multiple myeloma Childhood Leukemias Bone cancer/Ewings sarcoma MoreLess	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) MoreLess
PFAS (Firefighting Foam)	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	- MoreLess	- MoreLess	Testicular cancer Renal (kidney) cancer... Prostate cancer MoreLess
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 MoreLess	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) MoreLess	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 MoreLess
Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Scrotal cancer Porphyria toxic... Laryngeal cancer MoreLess	Skin cancer (nonmelanoma) Renal (kidney) cancer... Prostate cancer Photosensitivity Pancreatic cancer Nasopharyngeal/SinoNasal cancer Lung cancer Immune suppression Esophageal cancer Breast cancer Bladder cancer MoreLess	Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility) Oral cancer... Melanoma Early onset menopause Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis Colorectal cancer Bone cancer/Ewings sarcoma Adult-Onset Leukemias MoreLess
Silver	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	- MoreLess	- MoreLess	Chronic renal disease MoreLess
Tetrachloroethene (PERC)	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	- MoreLess	- MoreLess	- MoreLess
Thallium	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Peripheral neuropathy MoreLess	Alopecia MoreLess	Psychiatric disturbances Menstrual disorders MoreLess
Toluene (BTEX compounds)	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Fetal solvent syndrome/ Fetal Ethanol Syndrome Congenital malformation Cranio Facial MoreLess	Steatosis (fatty liver) Scleroderma... Reduced Fertility Female (infertility and subfertility) Menstrual disorders Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth) Developmental Delay Delayed growth Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span) Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA Arrhythmias Acute tubular necrosis Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) MoreLess	Stomach cancer Peripheral neuropathy... Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome) Neural tube defects/CNS malformations Multiple myeloma Immune suppression Genitourinary malformations (includes cryptorchidism, hypospadias) Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium Colorectal cancer Color vision disturbance Cirrhosis Brain cancer adult Asthma irritant Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) MoreLess
Vanadium	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Bronchitis chronic... Asthma allergic MoreLess	Acute tubular necrosis MoreLess	Reduced Fertility Female (infertility and subfertility) Pneumonia... Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth) Bronchitis acute MoreLess
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Rhinitis irritant MoreLess	- MoreLess	- MoreLess
Zinc	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Skin ulceration MoreLess	- MoreLess	Testicular cancer MoreLess

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

Camp Pendleton VA Claims and Lawsuits

Veterans and their dependents who lived or worked at Camp Pendleton may be eligible for compensation through VA disability claims or litigation. To successfully pursue compensation, affected individuals should:

Document their time at Camp Pendleton with military records

Gather medical evidence connecting their health conditions to toxic exposure

Obtain expert medical opinions establishing a link between their conditions and the known toxins

File a VA disability claim or join existing litigation

To win your case, you may need assistance interpreting complex medical and scientific evidence, addressing VA denials and ensuring all deadlines are met for claims and lawsuits. An experienced San Diego VA lawyer can fight on your behalf and maximize your veteran benefits.

Contact us for a free evaluation of your case. Our California attorneys specialize in disability law and work on a contingency basis, with no upfront fees.