AFFF Exposure at Naval Station Great Lakes: What Veterans Should Know

For decades, the US Navy has used Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF), a firefighting foam designed to quickly put out jet fuel and other flammable liquids to protect ships, personnel, and bases from fuel fires. While AFFF is vital for naval safety, its use at sites like Naval Station Great Lakes (NSGL) exposed people to hazardous chemicals and raised health concerns for veterans, including potential long-term effects.

NSGL opened in 1911 and developed into the Navy's largest training base. In 1993, it became the Navy's only basic training facility, known as the Recruit Training Command (RTC). As the Navy's training hub, NSGL has a history of firefighting practices with far-reaching implications for the approximately 40,000 yearly recruits in RTC. Toxic exposure also affects about 7,000 individuals who are on the base at any time. Moreover, the installation supports more than 50 tenant commands and 20,000 personnel. At NSGL, sailors receive shipboard firefighting and damage control training, learning how to:

• respond to shipboard fires
• organize fire teams
• use firefighting equipment

From 1970 until the 2000s, firefighting training often involved live fire drills using jet fuel or other fuels in burn pits. Firefighters practiced extinguishing with AFFF foam to simulate real emergencies - a training common at many naval bases. However, in the early 2000s, science discovered and began recognizing that PFAS chemicals in AFFF could persist and contaminate water sources. Research into PFAS contamination and possible health impacts increased, and revealed high exposure levels of dedicated firefighters, such as damage controlmen.

Elevated Levels of PFAS Contamination at Great Lakes Naval Station

Concerns about PFAS have grown over the past decade as research and testing revealed their persistence in the environment and potential health risks. After extensive EPA and DoD investigations into PFAS contamination at NSGL, a 2024 DoD memorandum prioritized PFAS chemical cleanup on military bases according to the EPA's new drinking water standards. This directive specifically addresses contamination at military installations like NSLG, where exposure began decades earlier during the widespread use of AFFF for:

• firefighting training
• emergency response
• equipment testing

Moreover, as part of EPA's statewide assessment program, the Illinois branch has completed comprehensive investigations of PFAS in community water supplies, including areas surrounding the naval station. In response, the DoD established policies for systematic drinking water testing at military installations, and the EPA issued health advisories and later proposed stricter regulatory standards for PFAS in water. As awareness of PFAS risk grew, the Navy investigated the safety of AFFF use and implemented monitoring to reduce personnel's environmental exposure through:

• internal testing
• updated safety protocols
• new policies

Even though testing in 2022 showed drinking water contamination at NSGL was below the older EPA limit, PFAS can still build up in the body over time and pose health risks, especially for firefighters who handled the foam. Navy firefighters are exposed to AFFF primarily through:

• direct skin contact
• inhaling toxic mist and smoke
• contaminated water ingestion

Health Risks Associated With PFAS Exposure

Scientific research has linked PFAS exposure to numerous serious health conditions, particularly concerning for base personnel and communities around NSGL, where contamination has been documented. The severity and likelihood of these health effectsare linked to both exposure levels and duration.

For service members and communities around NSGL, where PFAS contamination has been confirmed, these health risks require careful monitoring and medical attention. According to medical studies and health agency documentation, PFAS exposure can lead to:

• cancer
• liver damage
• heart complications
• immune system dysfunction
• reproductive problems
• developmental issues in children
• increased cholesterol levels
• thyroid disruption
• kidney disorders
• birth defects
• other serious health risks

While the Navy is actively transitioning to safer, fluorine-free firefighting alternatives, many individuals who worked on or lived near the base may already have been exposed. In response, the use of AFFF for routine training was significantly restricted in 2016. AFFF foam is now generally reserved for real emergency situations, while training exercises have now shifted to:

• simulators
• water-only drills
• limited foam substitutes

Filing a VA Claim for AFFF Exposure

The VA claims process for AFFF exposure involves demonstrating a clear connection between veterans' health issues and their military service. To qualify for VA disability benefits, former service members need to establish service connection by providing:

• Military service records that demonstrate firefighting duties or stationing at contaminated sites where AFFF was used.
• Medical records, which provide diagnoses of PFAS-related illnesses from licensed medical professionals.
• Nexus letter from a physician linking your condition to AFFF exposure during service.

The recently proposed Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act of 2024 aims to provide firefighters who worked for at least two years in this occupational field and developed a disease related to PFAS contamination, cancerous or non-cancerous, with the possibility to obtain financial compensation from the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Qualifying individuals have up to two years after the regulations are finalized to submit their claim form. Moreover, family members of firefighters who passed from cancer linked to AFFF exposure may be eligible to receive compensation.

Offering Support for Veterans' AFFF Claims

The Navy created AFFF in the 1960s to fight fuel fires on ships and aircraft. It soon became standard in military firefighting and training, but years of direct contact with the foam may have come with the cost of long-term health damage.

If you routinely handled AFFF and were diagnosed with a related condition, you could be eligible under the 2024 ACT. To explore your options, contact us. We can help by connecting you with a legal specialist who will help you understand your rights and guide you through the process of filing an AFFF claim.