Built in 1877 as Camp Huachuca, this military installation is located in Cochise County, in southeast Arizona, nearly 15 miles north of the border with Mexico. It is currently under the command of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command. During the beginning of World War II, Fort Huachuca was home to over 25,000 male soldiers and several hundred members of the Women's Army Corps, which was created in 1942. At the moment, the military base has a population of over 6,500 active members of the military, 7,400 military family members, and 5,000 civilian employees.
Regrettably, Fort Huachuca is one of the 700 military bases in the country that are heavily contaminated with PFAS, a group of very toxic chemicals. If you were stationed at Fort Huachuca and came to struggle with a disease that may be related to PFAS exposure, we encourage you to give our legal team a call, as you may be eligible for compensation.
At Fort Huachuca, the concentration of PFAS in the environment is currently 26.5 parts per trillion, which poses a significant danger to the health of the people who live there.
Right now, PFAS are the primary contaminant of concern on Fort Huachuca, as a high concentration of these chemicals in your blood significantly increases your chances of developing a terrible disease. The source of PFAS on this military base, as well as on the other 700, is the use of AFFF by military firefighters and trainees to extinguish petroleum and jet fuel fires. AFFF is a very effective fire suppressant that was, surprisingly, invented by the U.S. Navy, but because it contains large amounts of PFAS, it is also highly dangerous, particularly to military firefighters who have to employ it on a regular basis.
The other toxic agents that were found to be present on the premises of Fort Huachuca by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality are the following:
Multiple hazardous agents contaminating Fort Huachuca is a cause for concern, as this only worsens the extent of toxic exposure among members of the military and civilians who live on the base. Both exposure to PFAS and exposure to other toxic agents are correlated with a high risk of cancer, among other serious health problems. Therefore, if you were stationed or worked there, you should keep a close eye on your health by undergoing periodical medical examinations and informing your healthcare provider about your history of toxic exposure.
Undoubtedly, the most harrowing health problem exposure to PFAS can result in over the years is cancer, which can develop on multiple organs and tissues in the body, depending on where the highest concentration of these chemicals is located. Nevertheless, PFAS exposure can also cause other health issues, which are serious as well. The following are all the diseases you can come to suffer from due to PFAS exposure, as well as the diagnoses that qualify you for filing a claim:
It is worthy of note that exposure to PFAS takes several years to several decades to trigger a disease, as they cause damage to the body gradually. The greater the concentration of PFAS in your blood, the more susceptible you are to developing a disease. Since PFAS are also known as "forever chemicals", they do not break down in the environment, and they cannot be eliminated by our bodies either.
The issue of PFAS exposure began arising on the military bases of our country after 1966 when AFFF became the norm when it came to putting out Class B fires. Consequently, if you were stationed at Fort Huachuca or another contaminated military installation and developed one of the health issues above, we advise you to give our legal team a call, as you are most likely eligible to file a toxic exposure claim.
All you have to do to start the legal process is contact us, provide our legal team with as many details as you know, and can remember about your circumstances of PFAS exposure during a 10-minute phone call. If you meet the eligibility criteria a skilled toxic exposure attorney will file a PFAS claim on your behalf.
10 Minutes Over the Phone
*No fees unless compensation is obtained