Wurtsmith Air Force Base

Location
Oscoda, MI

Known Toxins
29

Years of Operation
1923-1993

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Base Background

Wurtsmith Air Force Base was established in 1923. The site was originally home to the 134th Army Air Force Base Fighter Unit and 379th Bombardment Wing. Wurtsmith AFB was active during World War II, Vietnam War, and Persian Gulf War, providing fighter jet and missile training. A number of contaminants were discovered at this location, and the base has been undergoing environmental cleanup in recent years.

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 :

Toxin	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed
Toxin	Strong	Good	Limited
Acetone	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	- MoreLess	Arrhythmias MoreLess	- MoreLess
Aluminium	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Lung cancer Bronchitis chronic MoreLess	Spasticity/Myoclonus Seizures... Pneumonitis hypersensitivity Dementia Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium Asthma allergic MoreLess	Sarcoidosis Pulmonary fibrosis... Pulmonary edema Porphyria toxic Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span) Alzheimer's ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) MoreLess
Antimony	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Bronchitis chronic MoreLess	COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Arrhythmias MoreLess	Pulmonary edema Nasal septal perforation... Menstrual disorders Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth) Bladder cancer Anemia hemolytic Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) MoreLess
Arsenic	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Peripheral neuropathy Hyperkeratosis/Hyperpigmentation... Diabetes Type II Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis MoreLess	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 MoreLess	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 MoreLess
Barium	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	- MoreLess	- MoreLess	Sarcoidosis Arrhythmias MoreLess
Benzene	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Myelodysplastic syndrome Multiple myeloma... Aplastic anemia MoreLess	Scleroderma Renal (kidney) cancer... Preterm delivery Menstrual disorders Lymphoma non Hodgkin's Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA Arrhythmias MoreLess	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 MoreLess
Cadmium	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Renal stones Osteoporosis... Itaiitai disease Chronic renal disease Acute tubular necrosis MoreLess	Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility) Prostate cancer... Pneumonia Nephrotic syndrome COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Cardiomyopathy Anemia hemolytic MoreLess	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) MoreLess
Chromium	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Skin ulceration Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders... Nasopharyngeal/SinoNasal cancer Nasal septal perforation Nasal polyps Cholestasis Bronchitis acute Asthma allergic MoreLess	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 MoreLess	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) MoreLess
Cobalt	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Thyroid disorders Hypothyroidism Hard metal disease... Cardiomyopathy Asthma allergic MoreLess	- MoreLess	Soft tissue sarcoma Sarcoidosis... Pancreatitis Lung cancer Arrhythmias MoreLess
Copper	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	- MoreLess	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 MoreLess	Sarcoidosis Pulmonary fibrosis... Neural tube defects/CNS malformations Myelodysplastic syndrome Immune suppression Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA Acute tubular necrosis MoreLess
Dichloroethanes	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	- MoreLess	- MoreLess	Immune suppression MoreLess
Ethylbenzene	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	- MoreLess	- MoreLess	- MoreLess
Heavy metals (misc.)	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Pneumonitis hypersensitivity MoreLess	- MoreLess	Multiple myeloma Chronic renal disease MoreLess
Iron	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Bronchitis chronic MoreLess	- MoreLess	Soft tissue sarcoma Diabetes Type II... Brain cancer adult Alzheimer's MoreLess
Lead	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	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) MoreLess	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) MoreLess	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) MoreLess
Manganese	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders Cholestasis MoreLess	Psychiatric disturbances Pneumonitis hypersensitivity... Pneumonia Peripheral neuropathy Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium Bronchitis acute ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity MoreLess	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 MoreLess
Mercury	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Peripheral neuropathy Hearing loss... Behavioral problems Acute tubular necrosis MoreLess	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 MoreLess	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 MoreLess
Naphthalene	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Methemoglobinemia MoreLess	Cataracts Anemia hemolytic MoreLess	- MoreLess
Nickel	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Asthma allergic MoreLess	Stomach cancer Pulmonary fibrosis... Pulmonary edema Nasal septal perforation Laryngeal cancer Immune suppression MoreLess	Soft tissue sarcoma Renal (kidney) cancer... Prostate cancer Myocardial ischemia Myelodysplastic syndrome Metal fume fever Mesothelioma Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth) Arrhythmias MoreLess
Phenols	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	- MoreLess	Asthma allergic MoreLess	- MoreLess
Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Scrotal cancer Porphyria toxic... Laryngeal cancer MoreLess	Skin cancer (nonmelanoma) Renal (kidney) cancer... Prostate cancer Photosensitivity Pancreatic cancer Nasopharyngeal/SinoNasal cancer Lung cancer Immune suppression Esophageal cancer Breast cancer Bladder cancer MoreLess	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 MoreLess
Tetrachloroethanes	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Cirrhosis Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) MoreLess	Steatosis (fatty liver) MoreLess	Acute tubular necrosis Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) MoreLess
Tetrachloroethylene	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	- MoreLess	Reduced Fertility Female (infertility and subfertility) Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility)... Pulmonary edema Menstrual disorders Lymphoma non Hodgkin's Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth) Esophageal cancer Arrhythmias MoreLess	Scleroderma Renal (kidney) cancer... Raynaud's phenomenon Peripheral neuropathy Pancreatic cancer Lung cancer Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer) Congenital malformation Cranio Facial Color vision disturbance Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span) Cervical cancer Breast cancer Bladder cancer Adult-Onset Leukemias Acute tubular necrosis MoreLess
Trichloroethylene (TCE)	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) MoreLess	Scleroderma Renal (kidney) cancer... Psychiatric disturbances Lymphoma non Hodgkin's Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer) Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth) Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium Cirrhosis Childhood Leukemias Cardiac congenital malformations Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA Arrhythmias MoreLess	Trigeminal neuropathy Testicular cancer... Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Raynaud's phenomenon Prostate cancer Peripheral neuropathy Pancreatitis Pancreatic cancer Oral clefts (cleft lip and palate) Neural tube defects/CNS malformations Nephrotic syndrome Multiple myeloma Lung cancer Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age Immune suppression Hodgkin's Disease (lymphoma) Genitourinary malformations (includes cryptorchidism, hypospadias) Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span) Choanal atresia Cervical cancer Brain cancer adult Adult-Onset Leukemias ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity Acute tubular necrosis MoreLess
Vanadium	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Bronchitis chronic... Asthma allergic MoreLess	Acute tubular necrosis MoreLess	Reduced Fertility Female (infertility and subfertility) Pneumonia... Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth) Bronchitis acute MoreLess
Vinyl chloride	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Vinyl chloride disease - Acroosteolysis Raynaud's phenomenon MoreLess	Thrombocytopenia Scleroderma... Pulmonary fibrosis Porphyria toxic Hepatoportal Sclerosis Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer) MoreLess	Skin cancer (nonmelanoma) Renal (kidney) cancer... Pancreatic cancer Neural tube defects/CNS malformations Lung cancer Laryngeal cancer Immune suppression Hypertension Erectile dysfunction Breast cancer Brain cancer adult Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA MoreLess
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Rhinitis irritant MoreLess	- MoreLess	- MoreLess
Xylene	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	- MoreLess	Scleroderma Menstrual disorders... Arrhythmias MoreLess	Stomach cancer Peripheral neuropathy... Delayed growth Colorectal cancer Brain cancer adult Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) MoreLess
Zinc	Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed	Skin ulceration MoreLess	- MoreLess	Testicular cancer MoreLess

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If you were stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base and later experienced adverse health effects, you may be eligible for compensation for illnesses connected to toxic exposure.

*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.