Base Background
The Eielson Air Force Base is located 26 miles southeast of Fairbanks, AK. Opening in 1944, the base serves to train troops on air support in arctic climates. The base is currently still in operation, with he 354th Fighter Wing as the main host unit.
Historically, operations at the base have caused groundwater contamination. The EPA has found unlined landfills, buried tank sludge, and petroleum contamination.
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 | ||
| 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 |
| Petroleum | Potential Effects | - | - | Multiple myeloma, Laryngeal cancer |
| Toluene (BTEX compounds) | Potential Effects | 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), Arrhythmias, Acute tubular necrosis | Stomach cancer, Peripheral neuropathy, Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome), Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Immune suppression, Genitourinary malformations (includes cryptorchidism, hypospadias), Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium, Colorectal cancer, Color vision disturbance, Brain cancer adult, Asthma irritant, Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis), Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) |
| Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | Potential Effects | Rhinitis irritant | - | - |
| Xylene | Potential Effects | - | Scleroderma, Menstrual disorders, Arrhythmias | Stomach cancer, Peripheral neuropathy, Delayed growth, Colorectal cancer, Brain cancer adult, Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) |
If you were stationed at Eielson Air Force Base, you may be eligible for compensation for the above health issues.
*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.
