For decades, the Department of Defense used aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) for fire training and emergency response at military installations worldwide. AFFF is extremely effective at suppressing fuel fires. It is also loaded with PFAS compounds, primarily PFOS and PFOA.
When AFFF was used in training exercises (which happened routinely at airfields, hangars, and fire training pits), the foam soaked into the ground. Over time, PFAS migrated into groundwater, contaminating drinking water wells both on and off base.
The DoD has identified over 700 installations where PFAS contamination has been confirmed or is suspected. This includes major bases across every branch of service: Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard facilities.
The DoD's PFAS Task Force maintains a list of installations under investigation. Some of the most heavily contaminated include:
The contamination is not limited to large bases. Guard and Reserve facilities, Coast Guard stations, and smaller installations that conducted any fire training with AFFF may be affected.
Check your water quality to see if military-related PFAS contamination has been detected near your current address.
If you served at or lived on an installation that used AFFF, you may have been exposed to elevated PFAS levels through:
PFAS accumulates in the body over time. The biological half-life of PFOS (the time it takes for your body to eliminate half of it) is approximately 3.4 to 5.4 years. For PFOA, it is approximately 2.1 to 3.8 years. This means if you were exposed during your service, some PFAS may still be in your system years or decades later.
Research has linked PFAS exposure to:
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a 2022 report confirming several of these associations and recommending that individuals with substantial PFAS exposure receive clinical guidance.
List every military installation where you were stationed or lived. Cross-reference with the DoD's PFAS investigation list, available through the DoD's environmental restoration program website. Even if your base is not on the current list, AFFF was used widely, and investigations are ongoing.
Ask your doctor for a PFAS blood test (serum PFAS panel). The VA does not routinely screen for PFAS, but you can request it. Commercial labs like Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp offer serum PFAS panels. The National Academies report recommends clinical testing for individuals with known PFAS exposure.
Results are measured in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). The general U.S. population median is approximately 1 to 3 ng/mL for PFOS. Levels above 2 ng/mL for PFOS or 2 ng/mL for PFOA are considered elevated by some clinical guidance frameworks.
Whether you now live near your former base or elsewhere, test your current home water supply. PFAS contamination is widespread beyond military installations.
If PFAS is detected in your water at any level, install a filter with NSF P473 certification. Reverse osmosis under-sink systems provide the highest removal rates (90%+). Certified pitcher filters are a lower-cost starting point.
The VA has been expanding its recognition of PFAS-related health conditions:
Multiple lawsuits are ongoing against PFAS manufacturers and the DoD. The PFAS multidistrict litigation (MDL) in South Carolina has consolidated thousands of cases. Settlements from 3M and Chemours/DuPont have already exceeded $10 billion. Individual veterans and military families may have standing in ongoing or future cases.
If you are currently stationed on an active installation or living in base housing:
For veterans who have separated from service: your exposure history does not expire. Document everything. The connection between military PFAS exposure and health outcomes is becoming clearer with every new study published.
Check your water now. Enter your zip code at KnowYourExposure.com to see what contaminants have been detected in your local water supply, including PFAS, lead, and other regulated compounds.