Location: El Toro, CA 92709
Years of Operation: 1943-1993
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.
The EPA notes 25 potentially contaminated sites, resulting from four landfills that contain both solid and liquid waste.
Known Toxins
The following chart outlines the toxins associated with this military location and the potential effects of exposure.*
| Toxin | Potential Effects |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | Skin conditions (adults), neurobehavioral and immunological changes (children) PCBs have been found to cause cancer in animals |
| Battery acids | Nervous system damage, digestive issues (source) |
| Leaded fuels | Nervous system damage, behavioral disorders, anemia (source) |
| Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | Damage to the kidneys, liver, and central nervous system; irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat; headaches, nausea, loss of coordination Evidence of VOCs causing cancer in animals; some suspected to cause cancer in humans (source) |
| Trichloroethylene (TCE) | Immune system damage, kidney disfunction, respiratory issues, neurological effects, dizziness, behavioral changes, heart damage in unborn children (source, source) |
If you were stationed or lived on El Toro Marine Corps Air Station and have experience adverse health effects, you may qualify for compensation.
*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.
Base Sources:
