Dover Air Force Base
Location
Dover, DE
Dover, DE
Known Toxins27
Years of Operation1941-Present
Base Background
Dover Air Force base opened in 1941, and the site started as a municipal airport. The Army Air Corps took over site operations following the attack on Pearl Harbor. During World War II, the base focused on anti submarine missions and rocket testing. Dover AFB also hosted air crafts during the Korean and Cold Wars. Currently, nearly 9,000 airmen, service members, families, and civilians are present on the base.
Toxic Exposure at Dover Air Force Base
The base is a designated EPA site and part of the federal cleanup system under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). EPA records confirm contamination tied to past operations from fuels, pesticides, heavy metals, industrial solvents and VOCs that migrated into the local groundwater and soil.
In 2014, high levels of PFAS (especially PFOS and PFOA) were detected in on-base monitoring wells. These chemicals were historically used in Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) for aircraft and fuel-fire suppression and are associated with several diseases.
If you developed related health issues after living or working at or near the base, you may be eligible for compensation. Get a free case evaluation here to explore your legal options with the help of Hill & Ponton’s VA-accredited lawyers.
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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong | Good | Limited | ||
| Antimony | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | 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 & Strength of Evidence Needed | 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 |
| Benzene | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | 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 & Strength of Evidence Needed | Lung cancer |
Skin cancer (nonmelanoma) Lung cancer... Immune suppression Bladder cancer |
Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility) |
| Beryllium | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Skin ulceration Pneumonitis hypersensitivity... Pneumoconiosis Chronic renal disease Berylliosis |
Renal stones Pulmonary fibrosis... Pulmonary edema Pneumonia Nasal septal perforation Granulomatous disease (liver) Bronchitis acute |
Seizures Sarcoidosis... Mesothelioma Immune suppression Cardiomyopathy Bone cancer/Ewings sarcoma |
| Cadmium | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | 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 & Strength of Evidence Needed | 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 |
| Chlorobenzene | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Chloroethene | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Chrysene | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Cobalt | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Thyroid disorders Hypothyroidism Hard metal disease... Cardiomyopathy Asthma allergic |
- | Soft tissue sarcoma Sarcoidosis... Pancreatitis Lung cancer Arrhythmias |
| Dieldrin | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | 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 & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| 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) |
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) |
| Magnesium | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Metal fume fever |
- | - |
| Manganese | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | 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 |
| Naphthalene | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Methemoglobinemia |
Cataracts Anemia hemolytic |
- |
| Nickel | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | 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 |
| Perchloroethylene (PCE) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Pyrene | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Silver | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | Chronic renal disease |
| Tetrachloroethene (PERC) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Thallium | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Peripheral neuropathy |
Alopecia |
Psychiatric disturbances Menstrual disorders |
| Toluene (BTEX compounds) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Fetal solvent syndrome/ Fetal Ethanol Syndrome Congenital malformation Cranio Facial |
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) |
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) |
| Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Trichloroethylene (TCE) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) |
Scleroderma Renal (kidney) cancer... Psychiatric disturbances Lymphoma non Hodgkin's Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer) Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth) Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium Cirrhosis Childhood Leukemias Cardiac congenital malformations Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA Arrhythmias |
Trigeminal neuropathy Testicular cancer... Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Raynaud's phenomenon Prostate cancer Peripheral neuropathy Pancreatitis Pancreatic cancer Oral clefts (cleft lip and palate) Neural tube defects/CNS malformations Nephrotic syndrome Multiple myeloma Lung cancer Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age Immune suppression Hodgkin's Disease (lymphoma) Genitourinary malformations (includes cryptorchidism, hypospadias) Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span) Choanal atresia Cervical cancer Brain cancer adult Adult-Onset Leukemias ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity Acute tubular necrosis |
| Xylene | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | Scleroderma Menstrual disorders... Arrhythmias |
Stomach cancer Peripheral neuropathy... Delayed growth Colorectal cancer Brain cancer adult Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) |
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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.
Dover AFB Exposure VA Claims
Veterans who served at Dover Air Force Base and developed health conditions potentially linked to toxic exposure may be eligible for disability benefits. We recommend the following steps:
- Document the time spent at the base using service records and other documentation
- Gather comprehensive medical evidence
- Obtain expert medical opinions to establish a link between diagnosed medical conditions and toxic exposure
- File VA disability claims for each condition
To win your case, you may need legal assistance. The VA often denies initial claims, but an experienced VA disability lawyer can handle the appeal on your behalf or challenge a low rating to maximize your compensation.