Location: McGuire AFB, NJ 08641
Years of Operation: 1941-Present
Base Background
McGuire Air Force Base opened in 1941. After briefly shutting down, it re-opened in 1948. 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.
Known Toxins
The following chart outlines the toxins associated with this military location and the potential effects of exposure.*
| Toxin | Potential Effects |
| Arsenic | Skin, liver, bladder, and lung cancer; skin discoloration; death |
| Barium | Gastrointestinal issues, muscle weakness, kidney damage |
| Cadmium | Kidney, lung, and bone damage |
| Chlorobenzene | Headaches, nausea, sleepiness, numbness, vomiting; Liver, kidney, and nervous system damage in animals |
| Copper | Nose, mouth, and eye irritation; gastrointestinal issues; death (in high levels) |
| Lead | Nervous system damage, anemia, kidney damage, miscarriage, reproductive damage, death at high levels |
| Mercury | Brain and kidney damage; damage to developing fetus |
| Methyl ethyl ketone | Skin, eye, nose, and throat irritation; dizziness, lightheadedness, headaches, nausea, blurred vision, unconsciousness (source) |
| Nickel | Chronic bronchitis, lung and nasal cancer |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | Skin conditions (adults), neurobehavioral and immunological changes (children) PCBs have been found to cause cancer in animals |
| Toluene | Nervous system damage |
| Zinc | Anemia, stomach cramps, changes in cholesterol |
If you were stationed at McGuire Air Force Base 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.
Base Sources:
