Base Background
Established in 1799, the Washington Navy Yard is the Navy’s oldest military establishment. This site originated as a shipbuilding and shipfitting facility. The shipyard continues operations through the War of 1812 and Civil War, becoming a Navy manufacturing center at the end of the 19th century. Advances in gun technology emerged from the Washington Navy Yard in the 20th century, and it was renamed the U.S. Naval Gun Factory from 1945 and 1961.
This site was gradually converted to office buildings and remains the Naval District headquarters in Washington D.C. today.
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 | ||
| Chlorinated Solvents | Potential Effects | - | Childhood Leukemias, Adult-Onset Leukemias | - |
| Heavy metals (misc.) | Potential Effects | Pneumonitis hypersensitivity | - | Multiple myeloma |
| Hexavalent chromium | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| 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 |
If you were stationed or worked at Washington Navy Yard, 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.
