As a U.S. Air Force installation in northeastern North Dakota, this military base is situated 16 miles west of Grand Forks and north of Emerado. It was built in 1955 and is still active today. During the Cold War, Grand Forks Air Force Base was a major installation of the Strategic Air Command. The military base is also a U.S. Census Bureau designated place. Regrettably, Grand Forks Air Force Base, like hundreds of other military bases across the country, is contaminated with PFAS, a group of dangerous fluorinated chemicals whose removal from the environment is very challenging.
The soil and groundwater of Grand Forks Air Force Base are contaminated with PFAS, according to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. These dangerous substances are known as "forever chemicals", as they do not break down in the environment or in living tissue. Even the presence of small amounts in your body can lead to the development of a serious disease over the years.
At the moment, PFAS are the only toxic agents on Grand Forks Air Force Base, but their presence is enough to cause toxic exposure among the members of the military who are stationed there. Exposure to PFAS occurs via inhalation or ingestion. The source of PFAS on military bases is AFFF, a fire suppressant used to put out petroleum and jet fuel fires. Since 1966, when it was invented by the U.S. Navy and the 3M company, it has been employed by military and civilian firefighters for Class B fires.
However, AFFF contains a high concentration of PFAS, and firefighters have the greatest risk of developing a health issue since they are in close contact with the fire suppressant on a regular basis. Alarmingly, firefighters have a cancer death rate 14% higher than the rest of the population, and frequent PFAS exposure plays a role in this harrowing statistic. Furthermore, PFAS are also present in the turnout gear of firefighters, which only worsens the extent of toxic exposure.
By far, the most serious health problem exposure to PFAS can result in is cancer, which may develop on numerous organs and tissues in the body, depending on where the largest amount of these harmful chemicals has accumulated. Nevertheless, people can receive other diagnoses as a consequence of PFAS exposure. The following are all the health issues you can come to suffer from if you were exposed to PFAS, as well as the diseases that make people who were stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base eligible for compensation:
Every member of the military who has one of these diagnoses should seek compensation for their physical and emotional distress, as not only will it provide them with a significant sum of money to afford better treatment, but it will also hold the responsible parties liable for negligence.
If you had the misfortune of developing a disease as a result of PFAS exposure on Grand Forks Air Force Base, our resourceful legal team is ready to help you file a PFAS claim. Our process is quick and simple and over the phone. If you meet the eligibility criteria, a skilled lawyer will promptly begin working on your claim. Following claim submission, you will obtain the compensation you are entitled to within several months to several years.
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