Base Background
Location
Kittery, Maine, 03904, United States
Years of Operation
1800-Present
The federal government established Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 1800, but shipbuilding at the site dates back to 1690. The shipyard’s first military ship was the USS Washington, a 74-gun warship. Activity increased during the World Wars, and the yard employed tens of thousands of civilians to construct submarines. This construction continued for several decades, until the shipyard launched their final submarine in 1969. Since then, the site has focused on refueling and repair.
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 | ||
| Asbestos | Potential Effects | Pulmonary fibrosis, Pneumoconiosis, Pleural disease (effusions,plaques,thickening), Asbestosis | Stomach cancer, Renal (kidney) cancer, Immune suppression, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA | Ovarian cancer, Myelodysplastic syndrome, Multiple myeloma, Melanoma, Lymphoma non Hodgkin's, Laryngeal cancer, Colorectal cancer, Bladder cancer, Adult-Onset Leukemias |
| 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) |
| Chromium | Potential Effects | Skin ulceration, Nasopharyngeal/SinoNasal cancer, Nasal septal perforation, Nasal polyps, Bronchitis acute, Asthma allergic | Stomach cancer, Pulmonary fibrosis, Photosensitivity, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Chronic renal disease, Brain cancer adult, Acute tubular necrosis | Soft tissue sarcoma, Renal (kidney) cancer, Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Prostate cancer, Pancreatic cancer, Immune suppression, Esophageal cancer, Bladder cancer, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA, Adult-Onset Leukemias, 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) |
| Mercury | Potential Effects | Peripheral neuropathy, Hearing loss, Behavioral problems, Acute tubular necrosis | Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age, Immune suppression, 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, Hormonal changes (levels of circulating sex hormones FSH/LH, Inhibin, and/or estrogens, progesterones, and androgens), Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis |
| Solvents (misc.) | Potential Effects | Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Contact dermatitis Irritant | Lung cancer | Vasculitis, Seizures, Rheumatoid arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis |
| Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | Potential Effects | Rhinitis irritant | - | - |
The above chromium, lead, and cadmium contamination was present in plating sludge. Heavy metals were found in sandblasting grit. Waste paint was also found on the site. If you were stationed or worked at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, 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.
