McGuire Air Force Base
Base Background
Location
McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, United States
Years of Operation
1941-Present
McGuire Air Force Base opened in 1941 and re-opened in 1948 after a brief shutdown. As a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure legislation, McGuire Air Force Base was realigned along with Fort Dix and Naval Air Engineering Station-Lakehurst to become one joint base uniquely capable of projecting air, land, and sea power to support national defense. The base is currently known as the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The Air Force is the main branch on the base, and there are over 44,000 service members present. Currently, the 87th Air Base Wing, 305th Air Mobility Wing, and other associate tenants are on the base.
Toxic Exposure at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
The site is known to be contaminated with TCE, PCE and other VOCs, as well as PFAs and heavy metals (see list below).
The Fort Dix Landfill, which operated from 1950 until 1984, is designated as an NPL (National Priorities List) Superfund site. Both the U.S. Army’s Fort Dix Military Reservation and McGuire Air Force Base used the landfill to bury hazardous materials.
PFAS Contamination
In 2016, PFAS was publicly recognized as a contaminant at the base, with testing at 21 different sites detecting PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA across multiple samples. Some samples tested as high as 200,000 parts per trillion, far exceeding health guidelines. By 2019, Environmental Working Group data showed maximum testing levels of PFAS ranging from 4,700-264,000 ppt when tens of thousands of military personnel were stationed at the base.
The severity of the contamination led to legal action, with the state of New Jersey suing the federal government in January 2021 over contaminated water on and around New Jersey military bases, including Fort Dix. The lawsuit cited firefighting foam as the probable source. A study published in October 2021 acknowledged the presence of large concentrations of PFAS in Pine Lake and Little Pine Lake, located near Fort Dix.
Hill & Ponton may be able to assist veterans and civilians exposed to PFAS or the other toxins in the chart below. 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 | ||
| Acetone | Potential Effects | - | Arrhythmias | - |
| Aluminium | Potential Effects | Lung cancer, Bronchitis chronic | Spasticity/Myoclonus, Seizures, Pneumonitis hypersensitivity, Dementia, Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium, Asthma allergic | Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary fibrosis, Pulmonary edema, Porphyria toxic, Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders, Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Alzheimer's, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| Carbon disculfide | Potential Effects | Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Psychiatric disturbances, Peripheral neuropathy, Myocardial ischemia, Hypertension, Hearing loss, Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium, Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span) | Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders, Menstrual disorders, Lymphoma non Hodgkin's, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Erectile dysfunction, Dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, Decreased vision (includes blindness, retinopathy, optic neuropathy), Color vision disturbance, Arrhythmias, Adult-Onset Leukemias, Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) | Thyroid disorders Hypothyroidism, Preterm delivery, Nephrotic syndrome, Glomerulonephritis, Congenital malformations general, Congenital malformation Cranio Facial |
| Chlorobenzene | 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 | - | - | - |
| Cobalt | Potential Effects | Thyroid disorders Hypothyroidism, Hard metal disease, Cardiomyopathy, Asthma allergic | - | Soft tissue sarcoma, Sarcoidosis, Pancreatitis, Lung cancer, Arrhythmias |
| Copper | Potential Effects | - | Nasal septal perforation, Metal fume fever, Lung cancer, Granulomatous disease (liver), Decreased vision (includes blindness, retinopathy, optic neuropathy), Chronic renal disease, Angiosarcoma (hepatic), Anemia hemolytic | Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary fibrosis, Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Myelodysplastic syndrome, Immune suppression, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA, Acute tubular necrosis |
| Dibenzo (A,H) anthracene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Dichloroethanes | Potential Effects | - | - | Immune suppression |
| Ethylbenzene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Fluoroanthene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Indeno pyrene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| Methyl ethyl ketone | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Naphthalene | Potential Effects | Methemoglobinemia | Cataracts, Anemia hemolytic | - |
| 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 |
| PFAS (Firefighting Foam) | Potential Effects | - | - | Testicular cancer, Renal (kidney) cancer, Prostate cancer |
| Polychlorinated Byphenyls (PCBs) | Potential Effects | Thyroid disorders Hypothyroidism, Porphyria toxic, Developmental Delay, Decreased I.Q../Mental retardation, Cirrhosis, Chloracne, Behavioral problems, ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity | Peripheral neuropathy, Pancreatic cancer, Menstrual disorders, Lymphoma non Hodgkin's, Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age, Immune suppression, Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer), Dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, Delayed growth, Congenital malformation Cranio Facial, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Bronchitis chronic, Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis), Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) | Testicular cancer, Reduced Fertility Female (infertility and subfertility), Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders, Hypoactivity, Hypertension, Hyperkeratosis/Hyperpigmentation, Hearing loss, Endometriosis, Diabetes Type I, Breast cancer, Bone cancer/Ewings sarcoma, Altered time to sexual maturation (accelerated or delayed puberty), Altered sex ratio |
| Pyrene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Selenium | Potential Effects | - | - | Pulmonary edema, Cirrhosis, Alopecia |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| 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.
Paths to Getting Compensation
Veterans and civilians who lived or worked at or near the base may be eligible for compensation if they developed health conditions associated with toxic exposure. This would require:
Documenting the time spent at the base using service records and other documentation
Gathering comprehensive medical evidence
Obtaining expert medical opinions to establish a link between the diagnosed medical conditions and the toxic exposure
Making a VA disability claim or pursuing a lawsuit
To win your case, you will likely need assistance from an experienced disability lawyer who 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.
Base Sources
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Site
https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.contams&id=0201162