Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
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 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 | ||
| 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 | - | - |
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.
Base Sources
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Site
https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.contams&id=0101072