El Toro Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS)
Irvine, CA
Known Toxins23
Years of Operation1943-1993
Base Background
The El Toro Marine Corps Air Station was first commissioned in 1943 and is located near Irvine, CA. This base was one of the main aviation support facilities on the West Coast. It also served as a base for military service members deployed to Vietnam. Thousands of military personnel and family members lived on the base until its closing in 1993, making the station an economic hub for the area.
El Toro Marine Base Contamination
The EPA notes 25 potentially contaminated areas across the base: 4 hazardous waste landfills and other sites where toxic materials were either spilled or deliberately disposed of. Contaminants include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), battery acids, leaded fuels, arsenic, and more, which can cause severe diseases such as testicular cancer, kidney cancer, breast cancer, etc. Environmental investigations, remediation work, and monitoring of these sites continue today.
The toxic exposure at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Irvine has left a lasting impact on the health of service members stationed there. Veterans who served at El Toro have developed chronic health conditions, potentially linked to exposure to PCBs, TCE and other chemicals. The contamination’s effects extends beyond the service members themselves, impacting their families and children who lived on or near the base.
If you developed a medical condition related to toxic exposure after living or working at or near MCAS El Toro, our California disability lawyers may be able to help you get compensation. 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.
| Toxin | Potential Effects | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong | Good | Limited | ||
| Acetone | Potential Effects | - | Arrhythmias |
- |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| Battery Acids | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| 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) |
| Beryllium | Potential Effects | 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 |
| Carbon disculfide | Potential Effects | Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility) Psychiatric disturbances... Peripheral neuropathy Myocardial ischemia Hypertension Hearing loss Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span) |
Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders Menstrual disorders... Lymphoma non Hodgkin's Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth) Erectile dysfunction Dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia Decreased vision (includes blindness, retinopathy, optic neuropathy) Color vision disturbance Arrhythmias Adult-Onset Leukemias Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) |
Thyroid disorders Hypothyroidism Preterm delivery... Nephrotic syndrome Glomerulonephritis Congenital malformations general Congenital malformation Cranio Facial |
| Chlorobenzene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Chrysene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Dibenzo (A,H) anthracene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Dibenzos | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Dieldrin | Potential Effects | - | 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 |
| Ethylbenzene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Indeno pyrene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Leaded Fuels | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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) 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) |
| Trichloroethanes | Potential Effects | - | - | Hormonal changes (levels of circulating sex hormones FSH/LH, Inhibin, and/or estrogens, progesterones, and androgens) |
| Trichloroethylene (TCE) | Potential Effects | 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 |
| 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) |
*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.
MCAS El Toro VA Claims
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes toxic exposure during service as potentially eligible for veterans disability benefits, but it can be difficult to prove service connection for non-presumptive illnesses. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a condition potentially related to toxic exposure from being stationed at El Toro MCAS (please note the illness list above may be incomplete), get in touch for a free evaluation of your case.