Wurtsmith Air Force Base
Base Background
Location
Oscoda, Michigan, 48750, United States
Years of Operation
1923-1993
Wurtsmith Air Force Base was established in 1923. The site was originally home to the 134th Army Air Force Base Fighter Unit and 379th Bombardment Wing. Wurtsmith AFB was active during World War II, Vietnam War, and Persian Gulf War, providing fighter jet and missile training. A number of contaminants were discovered at this location, and the base has been undergoing environmental cleanup in recent years.
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 | ||
| Acetone | Potential Effects | - | Arrhythmias | - |
| 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 |
| Barium | Potential Effects | - | - | Sarcoidosis, Arrhythmias |
| Benzene | Potential Effects | Myelodysplastic syndrome, Multiple myeloma, Aplastic anemia | Scleroderma, Renal (kidney) cancer, Preterm delivery, Menstrual disorders, Lymphoma non Hodgkin's, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA, Arrhythmias | Peripheral neuropathy, Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Nasopharyngeal/SinoNasal cancer, Lung cancer, Immune suppression, Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer), Cardiac congenital malformations, Breast cancer, Brain cancer adult, Asthma irritant |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| Cobalt | Potential Effects | Thyroid disorders Hypothyroidism, Hard metal disease, Cardiomyopathy, Asthma allergic | - | Soft tissue sarcoma, Sarcoidosis, Pancreatitis, Lung cancer, Arrhythmias |
| Copper | Potential Effects | - | Nasal septal perforation, Metal fume fever, Lung cancer, Granulomatous disease (liver), Decreased vision (includes blindness, retinopathy, optic neuropathy), Chronic renal disease, Angiosarcoma (hepatic), Anemia hemolytic | Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary fibrosis, Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Myelodysplastic syndrome, Immune suppression, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA, Acute tubular necrosis |
| Dichloroethanes | Potential Effects | - | - | Immune suppression |
| Ethylbenzene | Potential Effects | - | - | - |
| Heavy metals (misc.) | Potential Effects | Pneumonitis hypersensitivity | - | Multiple myeloma, Chronic renal disease |
| 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 |
| Mercury | Potential Effects | Peripheral neuropathy, Hearing loss, Behavioral problems, Acute tubular necrosis | Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age, Immune suppression, Hormonal changes (levels of circulating sex hormones FSH/LH, Inhibin, and/or estrogens, progesterones, and androgens), Glomerulonephritis, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Congenital malformations general, Chronic renal disease, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA, Aplastic anemia, Anemia hemolytic | Thyroid disorders Hypothyroidism, Scleroderma, Reduced Fertility Female (infertility and subfertility), Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome), Nephrotic syndrome, Myocardial ischemia, Menstrual disorders, Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis |
| Naphthalene | Potential Effects | Methemoglobinemia | Cataracts, Anemia hemolytic | - |
| 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 |
| Phenols | Potential Effects | - | Asthma allergic | - |
| Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) | Potential Effects | Scrotal cancer, Porphyria toxic, Laryngeal cancer | Skin cancer (nonmelanoma), Renal (kidney) cancer, Prostate cancer, Photosensitivity, Pancreatic cancer, Nasopharyngeal/SinoNasal cancer, Lung cancer, Immune suppression, Esophageal cancer, Breast cancer, Bladder cancer | Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Oral cancer, Melanoma, Early onset menopause, Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis, Colorectal cancer, Bone cancer/Ewings sarcoma, Adult-Onset Leukemias |
| Tetrachloroethanes | Potential Effects | Cirrhosis, Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) | Steatosis (fatty liver) | Acute tubular necrosis, Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) |
| Tetrachloroethylene | Potential Effects | - | Reduced Fertility Female (infertility and subfertility), Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility), Pulmonary edema, Menstrual disorders, Lymphoma non Hodgkin's, Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Esophageal cancer, Arrhythmias | Scleroderma, Renal (kidney) cancer, Raynaud's phenomenon, Peripheral neuropathy, Pancreatic cancer, Lung cancer, Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age, Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer), Congenital malformation Cranio Facial, Color vision disturbance, Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Cervical cancer, Breast cancer, Bladder cancer, Adult-Onset Leukemias, Acute tubular necrosis |
| Trichloroethylene (TCE) | Potential Effects | Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) | Scleroderma, Renal (kidney) cancer, Psychiatric disturbances, Lymphoma non Hodgkin's, Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer), Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth), Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium, Cirrhosis, Childhood Leukemias, Cardiac congenital malformations, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA, Arrhythmias | Trigeminal neuropathy, Testicular cancer, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Raynaud's phenomenon, Prostate cancer, Peripheral neuropathy, Pancreatitis, Pancreatic cancer, Oral clefts (cleft lip and palate), Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Nephrotic syndrome, Multiple myeloma, Lung cancer, Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age, Immune suppression, Hodgkin's Disease (lymphoma), Genitourinary malformations (includes cryptorchidism, hypospadias), Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span), Choanal atresia, Cervical cancer, Brain cancer adult, Adult-Onset Leukemias, ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity, Acute tubular necrosis |
| 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 |
| Vinyl chloride | Potential Effects | Vinyl chloride disease - Acroosteolysis, Raynaud's phenomenon | Thrombocytopenia, Scleroderma, Pulmonary fibrosis, Porphyria toxic, Hepatoportal Sclerosis, Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer) | Skin cancer (nonmelanoma), Renal (kidney) cancer, Pancreatic cancer, Neural tube defects/CNS malformations, Lung cancer, Laryngeal cancer, Immune suppression, Hypertension, Erectile dysfunction, Breast cancer, Brain cancer adult, Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA |
| Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | Potential Effects | Rhinitis irritant | - | - |
| Xylene | Potential Effects | - | Scleroderma, Menstrual disorders, Arrhythmias | Stomach cancer, Peripheral neuropathy, Delayed growth, Colorectal cancer, Brain cancer adult, Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) |
| Zinc | Potential Effects | Skin ulceration | - | Testicular cancer |
If you were stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base and later experienced adverse health effects, you may be eligible for compensation for illnesses connected to toxic exposure.
*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.
Base Sources
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Site
https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.contams&id=0503675