Fort Devens

Base Background

Location Devens, Massachusetts, United States
Years of Operation 1917-Present

Fort Devens opened in 1917 as Camp Devens, originally recruiting and training troops for World War I combat. While the base was a temporary Army site, it became a permanent installation in 1931. Base personnel used a portion of the site as a prisoner of war camp during World War II. Units continued training at Devens through the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts. Today, the Reserve and National Guard use the base for training.

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
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
Barium Potential Effects - - Sarcoidosis, Arrhythmias
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
Cadmium Potential Effects 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 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
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)
Chrysene Potential Effects - - -
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
Dibenzo (A,H) anthracene Potential Effects - - -
Ethylbenzene Potential Effects - - -
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)
Magnesium Potential Effects Metal fume fever - -
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
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
Nickel Potential Effects 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
PFAS (Firefighting Foam) Potential Effects - - Testicular cancer, Renal (kidney) cancer, Prostate cancer
Pyrene Potential Effects - - -
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)
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
Xylene Potential Effects - Scleroderma, Menstrual disorders, Arrhythmias Stomach cancer, Peripheral neuropathy, Delayed growth, Colo­rectal cancer, Brain cancer ­adult, Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis)
Zinc Potential Effects Skin ulceration - Testicular cancer

If you were stationed at Fort Devens and later experienced adverse health effects, you may be eligible for compensation for illnesses connected to toxic exposure.

*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.