Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Location
Kittery, ME
Kittery, ME
Known Toxins23
Years of Operation1800-Present
Base Background
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 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.
Search the table for a specific disease :
ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity
ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count)
Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis)
Acute tubular necrosis
Adult-Onset Leukemias
Alopecia
Altered sex ratio
Altered time to sexual maturation (accelerated or delayed puberty)
Alzheimer's
Anemia hemolytic
Angiosarcoma (hepatic)
Aplastic anemia
Arrhythmias
Asbestosis
Asthma allergic
Asthma irritant
Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA
Behavioral problems
Bladder cancer
Bone cancer/Ewings sarcoma
Brain cancer adult
Breast cancer
Bronchitis acute
Bronchitis chronic
COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Carcinoid
Cardiac congenital malformations
Cardiomyopathy
Chloracne
Cholestasis
Chronic renal disease
Cirrhosis
Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span)
Colorectal cancer
Congenital malformation Cranio Facial
Congenital malformations general
Contact dermatitis Irritant
Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis
Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium
Decreased I.Q../Mental retardation
Decreased vision (includes blindness, retinopathy, optic neuropathy)
Delayed growth
Developmental Delay
Diabetes Type I
Diabetes Type II
Dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia
Early onset menopause
Endometriosis
Erectile dysfunction
Esophageal cancer
Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth)
Genitourinary malformations (includes cryptorchidism, hypospadias)
Glomerulonephritis
Gout
Granulomatous disease (liver)
Hard metal disease
Hearing loss
Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer)
Hepatoportal Sclerosis
Hormonal changes (levels of circulating sex hormones FSH/LH, Inhibin, and/or estrogens, progesterones, and androgens)
Hyperkeratosis/Hyperpigmentation
Hypertension
Hypoactivity
Immune suppression
Itaiitai disease
Laryngeal cancer
Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age
Lung cancer
Lymphoma non Hodgkin's
Melanoma
Menstrual disorders
Mesothelioma
Metal fume fever
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple myeloma
Myelodysplastic syndrome
Myocardial ischemia
Nasal polyps
Nasal septal perforation
Nasopharyngeal/SinoNasal cancer
Nephrotic syndrome
Neural tube defects/CNS malformations
Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome)
Oral cancer
Oral clefts (cleft lip and palate)
Osteoporosis
Ovarian cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatitis
Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders
Peripheral neuropathy
Photosensitivity
Pleural disease (effusions,plaques,thickening)
Pneumoconiosis
Pneumonia
Pneumonitis hypersensitivity
Porphyria toxic
Preterm delivery
Prostate cancer
Psychiatric disturbances
Pulmonary edema
Pulmonary fibrosis
Raynaud's phenomenon
Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility)
Reduced Fertility Female (infertility and subfertility)
Renal (kidney) cancer
Renal stones
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rhinitis irritant
Sarcoidosis
Scleroderma
Scrotal cancer
Seizures
Skeletal malformations
Skin cancer (nonmelanoma)
Skin ulceration
Soft tissue sarcoma
Steatosis (fatty liver)
Stomach cancer
Testicular cancer
Thyroid disorders Hypothyroidism
Uterine cancer
Vasculitis
Wilm's Tumor
| Toxin | Potential Effects | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong | Good | Limited | ||
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| 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 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) |
| 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 | - | - | - |
| Heavy metals (misc.) | Potential Effects | Pneumonitis hypersensitivity |
- | Multiple myeloma Chronic renal disease |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) | Potential Effects | 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 |
| Solvents (misc.) | Potential Effects | Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Contact dermatitis Irritant |
Lung cancer |
Vasculitis Seizures... Rheumatoid arthritis Multiple Sclerosis |
| Thallium | Potential Effects | Peripheral neuropathy |
Alopecia |
Psychiatric disturbances Menstrual disorders |
| Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | Potential Effects | Rhinitis irritant |
- | - |
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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.
If the VA denied your rightful benefits, contact us today - No Fee Unless We Win!
Sources
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Site
https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.contams&id=0101072