Fort Jackson
Base Background
Location
5450, Strom Thurmond Boulevard, Columbia, South Carolina, 29206, United States
Years of Operation
1917-present
Fort Jackson was established in 1917 and is located in Columbia, South Carolina. The base has played a crucial role in military operations and training, serving as the Army’s largest Basic Combat Training Center. Fort Jackson continues to operate today, training approximately 50% of all new soldiers entering the Army each year.
Known Toxins
The following chart outlines the medical conditions associated with toxic exposure at this base, classified by the strength of evidence required (strong, good or limited).* Please keep in mind that it is not a complete list.
| Toxin | Potential Effects | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong | Good | Limited | ||
| Aluminium | Potential Effects | Lung cancer, Bronchitis chronic | Spasticity/Myoclonus, Seizures, Pneumonitis hypersensitivity, Dementia, Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium, Asthma allergic | Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary fibrosis, Pulmonary edema, Porphyria toxic, Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders, Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Alzheimer's, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) |
| Antimony | Potential Effects | Bronchitis chronic | COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Arrhythmias | Pulmonary edema, Nasal septal perforation, Menstrual disorders, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Bladder cancer, Anemia hemolytic, Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) |
| Arsenic | Potential Effects | Peripheral neuropathy, Hyperkeratosis/Hyperpigmentation, Diabetes Type II, Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis | Steatosis (fatty liver), Skeletal malformations, Renal (kidney) cancer, Raynaud's phenomenon, Pneumonitis hypersensitivity, Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Nasal septal perforation, Myocardial ischemia, Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age, Hypertension, Hepatoportal Sclerosis, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Congenital malformations general, Cirrhosis, Cardiomyopathy, Bladder cancer, Arrhythmias, Anemia hemolytic, Alopecia, Adult-Onset Leukemias | Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome), Myelodysplastic syndrome, Metal fume fever, Immune suppression, Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer), Genitourinary malformations (includes cryptorchidism, hypospadias), Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Acute tubular necrosis |
| Cadmium | Potential Effects | Renal stones, Osteoporosis, Itaiitai disease, Chronic renal disease, Acute tubular necrosis | Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Prostate cancer, Pneumonia, Nephrotic syndrome, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Cardiomyopathy, Anemia hemolytic | Testicular cancer, Soft tissue sarcoma, Renal (kidney) cancer, Pulmonary fibrosis, Pulmonary edema, Peripheral neuropathy, Pancreatic cancer, Oral clefts (cleft lip and palate), Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Metal fume fever, Menstrual disorders, Immune suppression, Hypoactivity, Hypertension, Genitourinary malformations (includes cryptorchidism, hypospadias), Decreased I.Q../Mental retardation, Congenital malformation Cranio Facial, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Brain cancer adult, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA, Arrhythmias, ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity, Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) |
| Carbon tetrachloride | Potential Effects | Steatosis (fatty liver), Cirrhosis, Acute tubular necrosis, Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) | Scleroderma, Porphyria toxic, Lymphoma non Hodgkin's, Childhood Leukemias, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA, Arrhythmias, Aplastic anemia, Adult-Onset Leukemias | Renal (kidney) cancer, Pancreatitis, Pancreatic cancer, Oral clefts (cleft lip and palate), Nephrotic syndrome, Melanoma, Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age, Immune suppression, Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer), Brain cancer adult |
| Chromium | Potential Effects | Skin ulceration, Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders, Nasopharyngeal/SinoNasal cancer, Nasal septal perforation, Nasal polyps, Cholestasis, Bronchitis acute, Asthma allergic | Stomach cancer, Pulmonary fibrosis, Psychiatric disturbances, Pneumonitis hypersensitivity, Pneumonia, Photosensitivity, Peripheral neuropathy, Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Chronic renal disease, Bronchitis acute, Brain cancer adult, ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity, Acute tubular necrosis | Soft tissue sarcoma, Skeletal malformations, Renal (kidney) cancer, Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Prostate cancer, Peripheral neuropathy, Pancreatic cancer, Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome), Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Metal fume fever, Immune suppression, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Esophageal cancer, Erectile dysfunction, Delayed growth, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Bladder cancer, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA, Arrhythmias, Adult-Onset Leukemias, Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) |
| Dichloroethene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Iron | Potential Effects | Bronchitis chronic | - | Soft tissue sarcoma, Diabetes Type II, Brain cancer adult, Alzheimer's |
| Lead | Potential Effects | Seizures, Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Peripheral neuropathy, Hypertension, Gout, Developmental Delay, Decreased I.Q../Mental retardation, Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium, Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Chronic renal disease, Behavioral problems, Anemia hemolytic, ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity, Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) | Reduced Fertility Female (infertility and subfertility), Psychiatric disturbances, Preterm delivery, Porphyria toxic, Pancreatic cancer, Nephrotic syndrome, Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age, Immune suppression, Hearing loss, Glomerulonephritis, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Delayed growth, Cardiomyopathy, Arrhythmias, Altered time to sexual maturation (accelerated or delayed puberty) | Wilm's Tumor, Uterine cancer, Thyroid disorders Hypothyroidism, Stomach cancer, Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Osteoporosis, Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome), Lung cancer, Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer), Erectile dysfunction, Diabetes Type II, Congenital malformation Cranio Facial, Colorectal cancer, Carcinoid, Breast cancer, Brain cancer adult, Bladder cancer, Alzheimer's, Altered time to sexual maturation (accelerated or delayed puberty), ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) |
| Manganese | Potential Effects | Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders, Cholestasis | Psychiatric disturbances, Pneumonitis hypersensitivity, Pneumonia, Peripheral neuropathy, Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium, Bronchitis acute, ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity | Skeletal malformations, Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Peripheral neuropathy, Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome), Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Metal fume fever, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Erectile dysfunction, Delayed growth, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Arrhythmias |
| Nickel | Potential Effects | Asthma allergic | Stomach cancer, Pulmonary fibrosis, Pulmonary edema, Nasal septal perforation, Laryngeal cancer, Immune suppression | Soft tissue sarcoma, Renal (kidney) cancer, Prostate cancer, Myocardial ischemia, Myelodysplastic syndrome, Metal fume fever, Mesothelioma, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Arrhythmias |
| PFAS (Firefighting Foam) | Potential Effects | - | - | Testicular cancer, Renal (kidney) cancer, Prostate cancer |
| Tetrachloroethene (PERC) | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Thallium | Potential Effects | Peripheral neuropathy | Alopecia | Psychiatric disturbances, Menstrual disorders |
| Trichloroethanes | Potential Effects | - | - | Hormonal changes (levels of circulating sex hormones FSH/LH, Inhibin, and/or estrogens, progesterones, and androgens) |
| Vanadium | Potential Effects | COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Bronchitis chronic, Asthma allergic | Acute tubular necrosis | Reduced Fertility Female (infertility and subfertility), Pneumonia, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Bronchitis acute |
| Zinc | Potential Effects | Skin ulceration | - | Testicular cancer |
Base Sources
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Site
https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.contams&id=0400443