Fort Lewis Logistics Center
Base Background
Location
9511, Washington Boulevard Southwest, Lakewood, Washington, 98498, United States
Fort Lewis (now part of Joint Base Lewis-McChord or JBLM) was established in 1917 in Pierce County near Tacoma, Washington. It merged with McChord Air Force Base in 2010. Both bases have multiple contaminated areas and are on EPA’s National Priorities List (superfund) – McChord since 1984 and Fort Lewis since 1989.
Toxic Exposure at Fort Lewis
JBLM has significant water contamination problems, primarily from PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances or “forever chemicals”) and other toxic substances including TCE and VOCs.
Contamination Sources
- Firefighting foam (AFFF) used in training exercises since the 1980s
- Fort Lewis Logistics Center’s equipment repair operations
- East Gate Disposal Yard waste disposal
- Multiple landfills, including one near the base’s main water supply
When Was PFAS Discovered?
- In 2018-2019, Pentagon identified JBLM as one of 90+ contaminated military bases
- In 2021, Environmental Working Group found PFOA levels 456 times above Health Guidelines
- Between 2023 and 2024, multiple PFAS were detected in drinking water
PFAS are linked to serious medical conditions, including cancers, neurological disorders and kidney and liver problems. If you developed related health issues after living or working at the base, you may be eligible for 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 | ||
| 1,3-dinitrobenzene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| 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 |
| Asbestos | Potential Effects | Pulmonary fibrosis, Pneumoconiosis, Pleural disease (effusions,plaques,thickening), Asbestosis | Stomach cancer, Renal (kidney) cancer, Immune suppression, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA | Ovarian cancer, Myelodysplastic syndrome, Multiple myeloma, Melanoma, Lymphoma non Hodgkin's, Laryngeal cancer, Colorectal cancer, Bladder cancer, Adult-Onset Leukemias |
| Barium | Potential Effects | - | - | Sarcoidosis, Arrhythmias |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| Chlorobenzene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Chloroethene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| 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 | - | - | - |
| Dibenzo (A,H) anthracene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Dichloroethene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Dichloroethene (DCE) | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Ethylbenzene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Heavy metals (misc.) | Potential Effects | Pneumonitis hypersensitivity | - | Multiple myeloma, Chronic renal disease |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) | Potential Effects | Scrotal cancer, Porphyria toxic, Laryngeal cancer | Skin cancer (nonmelanoma), Renal (kidney) cancer, Prostate cancer, Photosensitivity, Pancreatic cancer, Nasopharyngeal/SinoNasal cancer, Lung cancer, Immune suppression, Esophageal cancer, Breast cancer, Bladder cancer | Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Oral cancer, Melanoma, Early onset menopause, Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis, Colorectal cancer, Bone cancer/Ewings sarcoma, Adult-Onset Leukemias |
| Tetrachloroethylene | Potential Effects | - | Reduced Fertility Female (infertility and subfertility), Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Pulmonary edema, Menstrual disorders, Lymphoma non Hodgkin's, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Esophageal cancer, Arrhythmias | Scleroderma, Renal (kidney) cancer, Raynaud's phenomenon, Peripheral neuropathy, Pancreatic cancer, Lung cancer, Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age, Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer), Congenital malformation Cranio Facial, Color vision disturbance, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Cervical cancer, Breast cancer, Bladder cancer, Adult-Onset Leukemias, Acute tubular necrosis |
| Thallium | Potential Effects | Peripheral neuropathy | Alopecia | Psychiatric disturbances, Menstrual disorders |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| Zinc | Potential Effects | Skin ulceration | - | Testicular cancer |
*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.
Fort Lewis VA Claims and Lawsuits
You may be entitled to compensation if you were stationed or worked at Fort Lewis (JBLM) and developed health conditions associated with exposure to dangerous chemicals. Requirements include:
- Proof of diagnosis related to contaminated water
- Evidence of exposure at the military base
To win your case, you may need assistance gathering and interpreting complex medical and scientific evidence, addressing denials and ensuring all deadlines are met for VA claims or lawsuits. An experienced attorney can fight on your behalf and maximize compensation.
For a free case evaluation, please call us on 1-888-477-2363. We specialize in disability law and work on a contingency basis, with no upfront fees.