Fort Riley
Base Background
Established in 1853, Fort Riley is an active U.S. Army installation located in north-central Kansas. Home to the 1st Infantry Division, the base serves approximately 15,000 active duty service members and their families. Spanning 101,733 acres, Fort Riley has been a critical military training facility throughout its long operational history.
Toxic Exposure at Fort Riley
In October 1990, Fort Riley was added to the EPA’s National Priorities List due to extensive soil and groundwater contamination. The primary contaminants of concern include chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), metals, and munitions-related substances.
PFAS Contamination
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been a major environmental concern at Fort Riley. The military’s extensive use of PFAS-containing aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) led to widespread contamination of soil, surface water, and groundwater. In 2020, sampling revealed nine locations with PFAS levels exceeding EPA guidelines, prompting increased monitoring and remediation efforts.
The base has multiple contaminated areas, including the Southwest Funston landfill, pesticide storage facilities, the dry cleaning facility, the former fire training area, and Building 354.
The list of disabilities potentially caused by military service at Fort Riley includes cancer and other serious medical conditions associated with PFAS exposure. If you developed related health issues after living or working at or near Fort Riley, 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 | ||
| Antimony | Potential Effects | Bronchitis chronic | COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Arrhythmias | Pulmonary edema, Nasal septal perforation, Menstrual disorders, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Bladder cancer, Anemia hemolytic, Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Chlordane | Potential Effects | - | Porphyria toxic, Peripheral neuropathy | Soft tissue sarcoma, Multiple Sclerosis, Lymphoma non Hodgkin's, Lung cancer, Hormonal changes (levels of circulating sex hormones FSH/LH, Inhibin, and/or estrogens, progesterones, and androgens), Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer), Childhood Leukemias, Breast cancer, Aplastic anemia, Adult-Onset Leukemias |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| Naphthalene | Potential Effects | Methemoglobinemia | Cataracts, Anemia hemolytic | - |
| Perchloroethylene (PCE) | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| PFAS (Firefighting Foam) | Potential Effects | - | - | Testicular cancer, Renal (kidney) cancer, Prostate cancer |
| Solvents (misc.) | Potential Effects | Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Contact dermatitis Irritant | Lung cancer | Vasculitis, Seizures, Rheumatoid arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis |
| Tetrachloroethene (PERC) | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Vinyl chloride | Potential Effects | Vinyl chloride disease - Acroosteolysis, Raynaud's phenomenon | Thrombocytopenia, Scleroderma, Pulmonary fibrosis, Porphyria toxic, Hepatoportal Sclerosis, Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer) | Skin cancer (nonmelanoma), Renal (kidney) cancer, Pancreatic cancer, Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Lung cancer, Laryngeal cancer, Immune suppression, Hypertension, Erectile dysfunction, Breast cancer, Brain cancer adult, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA |
| Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | Potential Effects | Rhinitis irritant | - | - |
| Waste Oils | Potential Effects | - | - | Mycosis fungoides (cutaneous Tcell lymphoma) |
*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.
Fort Riley VA Claims and Lawsuits
Veterans who were stationed at Fort Riley and developed health conditions potentially linked to toxic exposure may be eligible for compensation. We recommend the following steps:
- Document the time spent at the base using service records and other documentation
- Gather comprehensive medical evidence
- Obtain expert medical opinions to establish a link between diagnosed medical conditions and Agent Orange or PFAS exposure
- File VA disability claims or a lawsuit
To win your case, you may need legal assistance. An experienced disability lawyer 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.