MacDill Air Force Base was built in 1939 and is still operational. It is located 4 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida. The military base was initially named MacDill Field, and the installation was under the control of the U.S. Army Air Forces and the U.S. Army Air Corps. It was only in September of 1947 that it became MacDill Air Force Base. During the 1950s, it was a Strategic Air Command installation, and during the 1960s, it transitioned to a Tactical Air Command installation.
However, MacDill Air Force Base is one of the 700 military bases whose environment is contaminated with PFAS, a group of very toxic chemicals. As a result, people who are stationed there are heavily exposed to PFAS, which can lead to cancer, among other health problems.
According to the research conducted by the Environmental Working Group, MacDill Air Force Base has a PFAS concentration in the environment of 523,710 parts per trillion, whereas the safe limit is 70 parts per trillion. Therefore, the issue of contamination is acute, and the Environmental Protection Agency is striving to mitigate the problem by strategically cleaning up the military site. At the moment, MacDill Air Force Base is a Superfund site.
Even though there are multiple toxic agents polluting MacDill Air Force Base, the most prevalent chemicals are PFAS. The tremendous amounts of PFAS that contaminate the environment of the military base come from firefighters and trainees using aqueous film-forming foam, commonly known as AFFF. This is a fire suppressant that is very effective in putting out jet fuel and petroleum fires, which occur frequently on U.S. Air Force bases. It is worthy of note that PFAS are also known as "forever chemicals", meaning that once they are released by the employment of AFFF, they do not break down and pollute the affected site.
The following are other hazardous contaminants that are currently present on MacDill Air Force Base, which only worsens the extent of toxic exposure for those stationed there:
During a site survey carried out in 2016, there were 8 locations on MacDill Air Force Base where the level of PFAS was considerably higher than the permissible limit.
Undoubtedly, the most terrible disease you can come to struggle with as a consequence of exposure to PFAS is cancer, which can affect numerous organs and tissues in the body. However, there are other diagnoses that make you eligible for filing a toxic exposure claim if you spent time on MacDill Air Force Base. These are all the health problems that qualify you for compensation if you were exposed to PFAS:
It is noteworthy that diseases that occur as a result of PFAS exposure may take several years or even several decades to develop, which is why we advise everyone who was stationed at MacDill Air Force Base to keep a close eye on their health and undergo regular medical examinations. The sooner your disease is found, the more effective the treatment will be.
For over three decades, we have been providing assistance to people injured by toxic exposure, including members of the military and their families. In the unfortunate event that you were assigned a diagnosis related to PFAS exposure, do not hesitate to contact our experienced legal team, who will carefully assess your case to determine whether you are entitled to compensation.
After our 10-minute free evaluation over the phone if you meet all eligibility criteria a skilled attorney will file your PFAS claim. Following the submission of your claim, you will receive the maximum compensation you qualify for within several months to several years.
10 Minutes Over the Phone
*No fees unless compensation is obtained