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. However, the site was declared inactive in 1993.
Known Toxins
The following chart outlines the toxins associated with this military location and the potential effects of exposure.*
| Toxin | Potential Effects | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong | Good | Limited | ||
| 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 |
| 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, Nephrotic syndrome, 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), Hearing loss, Glomerulonephritis, Delayed growth, Cardiomyopathy, Arrhythmias, Altered time to sexual maturation (accelerated or delayed puberty) | Wilm's Tumor, Thyroid disorders Hypothyroidism, Stomach cancer, Osteoporosis, Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome), Lung cancer, Erectile dysfunction, Congenital malformation Cranio Facial, Carcinoid, Brain cancer adult, Bladder cancer, Alzheimer's, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) |
| 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 | - | - |
If you worked at Joliet Army Ammunition Plant and later experienced adverse health effects, you may be eligible for compensation.
*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.
