Joliet Army Ammunition Plant
Location
Wilmington, IL
Wilmington, IL
Known Toxins12
Years of Operation1940-1993
Base Background
Joliet Army Ammunition Plant was established in 1940 as the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant and Elwood Ordnance Plant. This site was part of a group of manufacturing plants that produced explosives and ammunition during World War II. Between the early 40’s and late 70’s, the plant produced over four billion pounds of explosives. Following the discovery of environmental contamination on the site, cleanup finished in 2008.
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.
Search the table for a specific disease :
| 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 |
| 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) |
| Dinitrotoluene (DNT) | Potential Effects | - | Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis |
Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility) Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) |
| Heavy metals (misc.) | Potential Effects | Pneumonitis hypersensitivity |
- | Multiple myeloma Chronic renal disease |
| 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) |
| Tetrachloroethene (PERC) | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Tetryl | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Trinitrotoluene (TNT) | Potential Effects | Cirrhosis Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) |
Steatosis (fatty liver) Methemoglobinemia... Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis Aplastic anemia |
Menstrual disorders Erectile dysfunction... Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) |
| Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | Potential Effects | Rhinitis irritant |
- | - |
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If you worked at Joliet Army Ammunition Plant and later experienced health issues associated with toxic exposure, you may be eligible for compensation. Our Illinois attorneys can provide legal assistance to help you win disabled veterans benefits and compensation. Get a free case evaluation here.
*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.
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Sources
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Site
https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.contams&id=0501179