Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is one of several hundred contaminated military sites in the United States. Due to the nature of military activity on base, the water supply in and around the site is contaminated with dozens of toxins. Veterans who lived and trained here may wonder if they can receive benefits for Fort Dix water contamination.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
In this article, we detail some of the harmful contaminants identified at Fort Dix, the potential health effects of exposure, and explain how you can file a claim for health issues you may have developed from Fort Dix toxic exposure.
In this article on Fort Dix water contamination:
Fort Dix history
Fort Dix, originally Camp Dix, began as a training and staging center in New Jersey during World War I. In 2005, as the result of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) efforts, it merged with McGuire Air Force Base and Naval Support Activity Lakehurst to become Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The 42,000-acre installation is the only tri-service base in the U.S. Department of Defense.
Veterans stationed at McGuire, Dix, or Lakehurst at any time may have been exposed to harmful contaminants through the air, water, or soil. Below we explain which toxins were found, where they were found, and how that exposure may lead to health problems for veterans.
Fort Dix water contamination
For decades, veterans and civilians disposed of waste that went to a landfill at Fort Dix. As a result, hazardous chemicals leaked into the groundwater, soil, and eventually drinking water on site.
In 1991, Fort Dix was placed on the EPA Superfund National Priorities List, allowing the EPA to perform cleanups to remove contaminants from the site.
Some of the contaminants found in the water, air, and soil at Fort Dix include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals.
Volatile organic compounds
VOCs are man made chemicals that are often components of petroleum fuels, paint thinners, and industrial solvents. Prolonged exposure to high levels of VOCs can damage the central nervous system and may increase your risk of cancer.
Two particularly dangerous VOCs, tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), were detected in Fort Dix water. Some studies suggest that high levels of PCE and TCE exposure may cause cancer, liver or kidney damage, skin rashes, and scleroderma.
Heavy metals
Heavy metals including arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium were all detected in the groundwater at Fort Dix. Exposure to these heavy metals can lead to a myriad of health problems. Arsenic and cadmium in particular are considered cancer-causing if ingested or exposed to at a toxic level.
For a full list of contaminants found at Fort Dix, click here.
McGuire Air Force Base toxic exposure
Contaminants were also found in landfill and training areas at McGuire Air Force Base. In addition to VOCs and heavy metals, the groundwater and surface water at the base was found to be contaminated with:
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
PAHs are a group of chemicals formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil, gas, garbage, or other organic substances. Exposure to these toxins can increase your risk of developing cancer and reproductive issues.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
PCBs are organic chemicals that are no longer made in the U.S., but still remain in our soil, water, and in the air. Exposure to high levels of PCBs may cause skin conditions and liver damage.
Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH)
Total petroleum hydrocarbons is a term used to describe several hundred chemical compounds that come from crude oil. Although there are hundreds of TPH compounds, one (benzene) is known to cause cancer. Exposure to TPH can also increase your risk of peripheral neuropathy and negatively affect your blood, immune system, lungs, skin, and eyes.
The EPA Superfund website contains the full list of contaminants at the McGuire Air Force Base.
PFAS at Mcguire-Dix-Lakehurst
High levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were also detected at joint base Mcguire-Dix-Lakehurst.
PFAS, sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals” because of how slowly they break down in the environment, are used to make fabrics, adhesives, and food packaging. They’re also a component of aqueous film-forming form (AFFF), or fire-fighting foam, which the Department of Defense began using in the 1970s to fight fuel fires in the military.
In 2020, the Environmental Working Group detected high levels of PFAS in the water on base. Exposure to and buildup of these chemicals can result in health problems such as reproductive issues, developmental delays in children, and an increased risk of some cancers.
Getting VA benefits for Fort Dix toxic exposure
You may be eligible for VA disability benefits if you served at what is now Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and are experiencing health issues that are linked to toxic exposure.
The VA doesn’t presume any specific health conditions associated with service at the base. However, this does not mean you can’t get the disability compensation you deserve. Any veteran who believes their condition is tied to Fort Dix water contamination may still be eligible to receive VA disability benefits if they are able to service connect their condition.
“Woods and Woods will jump over any hurdles the VA throws at them! They know how the VA works and get the job DONE!! I’m now 100% P&T! My wife and I can move on with our lives! Thank you W&W and team!”
E.H. an Air Force veteran from North Carolina
From a Google review for Woods & Woods
To establish a service connection, you must usually provide a medical nexus, or a professional medical opinion, that links your condition to your military service. Additional supporting evidence including your military records and lay statements can also help your claim and prove service connection.
Because exposure-related claims can be challenging to prove, you may want to hire an accredited VA disability lawyer to help strengthen and build your case.
How Woods & Woods can help
At Woods & Woods, we focus on helping non-working veterans with service-connected conditions get individual unemployability benefits and, in some cases, increased ratings. We also help survivors of veterans receive their DIC benefits. If you think we can help you with your claim, call us today for a free case evaluation. You won’t pay us unless we take and win your case.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The EPA identified dozens of harmful contaminants in the water at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Among these include VOCs, PFAS, heavy metals, and PCBs.
Yes. Although the VA doesn’t presume any specific health conditions associated with service at the base, if you can establish a service connection between your time at Fort Dix and your current health conditions, you may be eligible for compensation.
Neil Woods
VA disability attorney
Woods & Woods
Neil Woods is the firm’s owner and president. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
