Location: Devens, MA 01434
Years of Operation: 1917-Present
Base Background
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 toxins associated with this military location and the potential effects of exposure.*
| Toxin | Potential Effects |
| Perchloroethylene (PCE) | Mood changes, memory changes, vision issues, skin irritation, headaches, coordination issues, neurological issues, cancer (source) |
| Arsenic | Throat and lung irritation, nausea, vomiting, decreased red and white blood cell production, blood vessel damage, irregular heart rhythm, pins and needles, death |
| Iron | Eye discoloration, pneumoconiosis (source) |
| Magnesium | Eye and nose irritation; “metal fume fever” (source) |
| Cadmium | Lung damage, kidney disease, fragile bones, digestive issues |
| Chromium | Stomach and intestinal damage, anemia, nose damage, cancer |
| Lead | Nervous system damage, anemia, kidney damage, miscarriage, reproductive damage, death at high levels |
| Mercury | Brain and kidney damage; damage to a developing fetus |
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.
Base Sources:
