The military base covers 3,447 acres in the extreme northeast corner of New York and was built in 1954. In 1995, Plattsburgh Air Force Base closed permanently as a result of the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Act. Today, the base is a Superfund site and the Environmental Protection Agency is striving to clean up the toxic agents that contaminate the area, which are numerous.
Because military firefighters would use aqueous film-forming foam, commonly known as AFFF, to extinguish aircraft fires, contamination with PFAS was unavoidable. They are a group of dangerous chemicals and exposure, particularly over a long period of time, can lead to the development of serious diseases. The people who lived on the base with their family members drank contaminated water, which increases their risk of developing a terrible disease.
In 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency found over 1 million parts per trillion PFAS in the drinking water of the Plattsburgh Air Force Base, which is substantially over the permissible limit of 70 parts per trillion. Therefore, everyone who was stationed on the military base after 1970 inevitably consumed tainted water, which may, over the years, cause damage to one or multiple organs in their bodies. On the bright side, the EPA has nearly finished the cleanup on the military base.
In addition to PFAS, which is the most prevalent contaminant on Plattsburgh Air Force Base, there were other toxic agents polluting the drinking water, which significantly increases the risk of veterans and their family members developing terrible diseases. The following are only some of the contaminants lurking in the drinking water of the military base:
If you were stationed on Plattsburgh Air Force Base after 1970, either alone or with your family, you have a great risk of developing a serious disease, as there were extremely high levels of PFAS in the drinking water. It is a good idea to undergo medical examination regularly, as a disease may have occurred without you knowing since the majority of diseases that develop as a consequence of PFAS exposure are asymptomatic in their early phases.
While there are multiple diseases that may have a connection with exposure to PFAS, only some of these health issues deem you eligible for taking legal action. This is because there is a definitive causal relation between these diseases and exposure to PFAS. These are some of the health problems you can develop as a result of drinking water contaminated with PFOA, as well as the diagnoses that make you eligible for filing a claim:
Since these diseases are often misdiagnosed, you may want to seek a second and even third opinion, as the rate of misdiagnosis is high among the victims of toxic exposure. Not only will a correct diagnosis help you receive the treatment you need, but it may also make you eligible for recovering financial compensation.
If you are a veteran or a family member of one who was stationed on Plattsburgh Air Force Base for at least 1 cumulative year and subsequently developed a disease, do not hesitate to reach out to our team, as we have over three decades of experience in pursuing compensation for the victims of toxic exposure. The process is quick and easy, over the phone and will require minimal involvement on your part. If you are found eligible for a PFAS claim, a skilled attorney will file one on your behalf. Eventually, you will receive the maximum compensation available if you choose to work with us.