US Air Force Issues Guidance on Toxic Chemicals in Air Force Missile Facilities

The US Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) issues a memorandum on PCB exposure at missile facilities, aiding personnel in discussing potential health risks with healthcare providers and the VA.

The US Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) has released a memorandum addressing the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at its missile facilities. This document is intended to help personnel who have worked at these sites disclose potential exposure to PCBs to their healthcare providers or the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

PCBs are synthetic chlorinated compounds introduced in the 1930s and banned in the 1970s due to their hazardous nature. These compounds were used in various industrial applications, including plasticizers, pigments, dyes, and electrical equipment, because of their chemical stability, high boiling point, and non-flammability. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PCBs are toxic and can cause serious health issues, including cancer and severe effects on the reproductive, immune, nervous, and endocrine systems.

The memorandum is particularly relevant for personnel who have served at missile facilities in Montana, Wyoming, California, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, and North and South Dakota. These bases have been involved in the development and maintenance of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) such as the Titan, Peacekeeper, and Minuteman missiles. For instance, Vandenberg Air Force Base in California conducts developmental tests for the Minuteman III ICBM.

A recent study by the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine's Missile Community Cancer Study team revealed that out of 1,000 swabs collected from various missile facilities, 71 samples contained traces of PCBs. Four of these samples exceeded the remediation standards set by the US Code of Federal Regulations. The study found that PCBs persisted in some covered locations despite extensive removal efforts in the 1990s.

Col. Gregory Coleman, AFGSC Surgeon General, highlighted the challenges that service members, retirees, and veterans face in communicating their concerns about toxic exposure to healthcare providers, especially civilian doctors who lack access to military medical records. He noted that while the memorandum cannot provide specifics for individual service members, it serves as a starting point for discussions and documentation of potential exposure.

The PCB memorandum is available on the Missile Community Cancer Study website. The AFGSC encourages airmen and guardians to obtain personal copies of the document to facilitate healthcare discussions. AFGSC Commander Gen. Thomas Bussiere emphasized that documenting potential exposures is a small but crucial step in helping veterans receive care for conditions related to their military service.

By providing this guidance, the US Air Force aims to support its personnel in navigating the complexities of health concerns linked to PCB exposure, ultimately aiding in their pursuit of appropriate medical care and benefits.