Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard

Base Background

Location 2401, Hawkins Point Road, Baltimore, Maryland, 21226, United States
Years of Operation 1905-Present

The U.S. Coast Guard Yard at Curtis Bay was officially established in 1905 as the Revenue Cutter Station At Curtis Bay. The initial mission of the site was to repair and construct a variety of boats and Coast Guard ships. Local officials uncovered construction debris at the site in recent years, suspending fishing and crabbing activities in the area while they conduct environmental testing.

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
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
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)
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)
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
Dioxins Potential Effects - Thyroid disorders ­Hypothyroidism Reduced Fertility ­ Female (infertility and subfertility), Peripheral neuropathy, Oral clefts (cleft lip and palate), Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Cataracts
Heavy metals (misc.) Potential Effects Pneumonitis hypersensitivity - Multiple myeloma, Chronic renal disease
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)
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
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
Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) Potential Effects - - -
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

If you worked or were stationed at Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard, and later experienced 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.