Luke Air Force Base
Glendale, AZ
Known Toxins9
Years of Operation1941-Present
Base Background
Luke Air Force Base opened in 1941 and is located near Glendale, AZ. The base is one of the largest in the world. It was briefly disestablished at the end of World War II but opened back up during the Korean War. The military started training F-16 Falcon pilots at Luke AFB during the 80’s, and it is currently the only base in the world to do so.
This Arizona base is run by the 56th Fighter Wing and about 500 pilots and 700 technicians graduate each year. Luke AFB has nearly 600 homes to accommodate military personnel and their families. The base has a history of contaminated soil and drinking water potentially causing toxic exposure for those who lived or worked on site.
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 & Strength of Evidence Needed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong | Good | Limited | ||
| Benzene | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | 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 & Strength of Evidence Needed | Lung cancer |
Skin cancer (nonmelanoma) Lung cancer... Immune suppression Bladder cancer |
Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility) |
| Chrysene | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Fluoroanthene | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Indeno pyrene | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Naphthalene | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Methemoglobinemia |
Cataracts Anemia hemolytic |
- |
| Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | 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 |
| Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Rhinitis irritant |
- | - |
| Waste Oils | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | Mycosis fungoides (cutaneous Tcell lymphoma) |
If you worked, trained, or lived on Luke Air Force Base, you may be eligible for compensation and disabled veteran benefits for illnesses related to the above contaminants. Contact our Phoenix VA attorneys for a free case evaluation.
*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.