By Tracy Turner

The United States of America, a nation more times than not hailed as a beacon of progress and advancement, has a dark underbelly. Beneath its veneer of prosperity lies a poisonous landscape, where the wedded interests of government and corporate powers have created an environment pockmarked by cancer clusters, ecological destruction, and human suffering. This essay chronicles the ghastly record of this cancer-causing complex, presenting the worst records of military contamination by state, with on-the-ground accounts of cancer clusters in dozens of cities and states.

The blue spots on cancer cluster maps (black streaks on radioactive fallout map) tell a very sinister tale. The red dots identify locations where cancer rates higher than the national rate are occurring, and occasionally by astronomical ratios. Plotted against the pattern of military bases, nuclear power plants, and fifty-year atomic-bombing test fallout zones, a chilling pattern is found. The government vowed to protect citizens is secretly poisoning them.

Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

One of the most egregious examples of military pollution is Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base where drinking water was contaminated with toxic chemicals for over three decades.

From the 1950s to the 1980s, service members and their families were exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and other carcinogens. The contamination has been linked to cancers, birth defects, and other serious health issues. It was long after the government brought healthcare and compensation to affected veterans and their families, even with overwhelming evidence. Rocky Flats, Colorado The Rocky Flats Plant, a former nuclear weapons production site, is another top-notch case. The plant manufactured plutonium triggers for nuclear weapons for almost 40 years, releasing radioactive material into the environment. Cleanup efforts have been conducted, but the site is still contaminated, with plutonium particles remaining in the ground. Local populations still carry high cancer risks, but the state has mitigated the risk, even opening portions of the site to the public.

Hanford Site, Washington

The Hanford Site, the Manhattan Project facility, produced plutonium for World War II and the Cold War atomic weapons.

It is currently the most polluted location in the Western Hemisphere.

Millions of gallons of radioactive waste have been buried in the ground and groundwater by leaking storage tanks, contaminating the Columbia River and the communities that rely on it. The cleanup has been plagued by delays and cost overruns, leaving the site in a state of constant peril.

Savannah River Site, South Carolina

The Savannah River Site, the second key component of the U.S. nuclear weapons complex, shares a similar history of contamination. Radioactive waste, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals have polluted the site's groundwater and soil and pose a threat to surrounding communities and ecosystems. Despite decades of cleanup, the site is still a serious environmental and public health hazard.

Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Oak Ridge, where the Y-12 National Security Complex lay, was one of the key locations of the Manhattan Project. Plant operations have left a record of mercury, uranium, and other contaminants in the groundwater and soil. East Fork Poplar Creek, passing through the plant, remains strongly contaminated and poses a threat to communities downstream. Oak Ridge Tennessee has Infinity Rooms, rooms in abandoned buildings so radioactive even robots are not allowed in the rooms, for infinity.

Fallout from Nuclear Testing

Between 1945 and 1963, the United States conducted over 1,000 atmospheric nuclear tests worldwide, primarily in Nevada. The nuclear fallout from the tests disseminated radioactive isotopes like strontium-90 and cesium-137 across the country, contaminating soil, water, and food. Downwinders, those individuals in the path of nuclear fallout, have contracted high rates of cancer and other diseases, but the government has been unwilling to acknowledge their plight.

Environmental Racism and Inequity

The effects of war pollution fall disproportionately on poor communities. The Navajo Nation, for instance, has been afflicted by uranium mining. While the mines closed decades ago, the radiation legacy endures, with increased rates of cancer and other diseases for Navajo individuals. Similarly, people living downwind of petrochemical plants in Louisiana's "Cancer Alley" suffer increased cancer rates, but their appeals for redress are too often ignored.

The Economic Burden of Cancer
 
Cancer is not only a medical crisis, but an economic one. Cancer treatment in the United States is an eye-watering figure, and patients go bankrupt as they battle for their lives. The government's contribution to the crisis cannot be overstated. Legislators have been less concerned with public health and more with corporate profits, from permitting industrial pollution to underfunding environmental legislation.

Thirty Examples of Military Cancer

1. Fort McClellan, Alabama

Fort McClellan, a former Army base that has been closed, is notorious for having been poisoned with chemical warfare agents, including mustard gas and nerve agents. Veterans who served there have developed high incidences of cancer, respiratory illness, and neurological illness. Despite continuing reports of illness, the government has been slow to admit the base's toxic past.

2. Natal Test Site, Nevada

The Nevada Test Site, in which over 900 nuclear tests were conducted, has a past of radioactive fallout. Downwinders in St. George, Utah, and Ely, Nevada, have seen high occurrences of cancer, such as leukemia and thyroid cancer. The government's compensation system for victims has been criticized as having restricted factors of eligibility and bureaucratic barriers.

3. Pine Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas

The Pine Bluff Arsenal that houses and disposes of chemical weapons has contaminated the surrounding environment with dangerous chemicals. The residents have suffered from increased cases of cancer and other diseases, but the government has failed to move quickly to contain the site and provide adequate healthcare. 

4. McClellan Air Force Base, California

McClellan Air Force Base, which is a closed Air Force base, is contaminated with many toxic chemicals like TCE, PCE, and heavy metals. Contamination of groundwater in the base has been extended to the nearby neighborhoods and is resulting in high cancer rates and other diseases. The cleanup process has been ongoing for decades but the contamination continues.

5. Tobyhanna Army Depot, Pennsylvania

Tobyhanna Army Depot, one of the largest electronics repair centers, was polluted with several toxic chemicals like PCBs and TCE. The people of the region reported high cancer and disease cases, but the government reacted slowly to the pollution and provided adequate health care. 

6. Fort Detrick, Maryland

Fort Detrick, a military base, has a history of contamination with toxic chemicals such as PCE and TCE. Groundwater contamination on the base has also extended to neighboring communities, where cancer rates and other diseases have been high. Remediation has taken decades, but there is still contamination.

7. Redstone Arsenal, Alabama

Redstone Arsenal, a U.S. Army base, has been contaminated with TCE and PCE, among other toxic chemicals, for decades. Groundwater contamination at the plant has already spread to surrounding communities, causing higher cancer rates and other diseases. Cleanup has been in progress for decades, but contamination persists.

8. Letterkenny Army Depot, Pennsylvania

Letterkenny Army Depot, a vast Army facility, has had its soil contaminated with toxic chemicals, such as TCE and PCE, for decades. Water contamination at the facility has leaked into surrounding communities, causing higher cancer rates and other illnesses. The site has taken decades to clean up, but still the contamination exists.

9. Watervliet Arsenal, New York

Watervliet Arsenal, a large Army facility, has been contaminated with toxic chemicals, such as PCE and TCE, for decades. Contamination of the groundwater at the facility has migrated into surrounding communities, leading to increased cancer and other illnesses. Cleanup has been stalled for decades, but the contamination continues.

10. Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey

Picatinny Arsenal, a huge Army base, has had a decades-long contamination record of hazardous chemicals like TCE and PCE. Contamination of the base's water has spread into neighboring communities with high cancer rates and other disease. Cleanup efforts have languished for decades but continue.  

11. Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Fort Bragg, a huge Army base, has a history of decades of contamination with cancer-causing chemicals like TCE and PCE. Groundwater contamination at the base has spread to adjacent neighborhoods, with resultant high cancer and other disease incidence rates. The cleanup has been in progress for decades, but nothing has changed.

12. Fort Hood, Texas

Fort Hood, a major Army base, has a decades-old history of contamination with hazardous chemicals, TCE and PCE. Contamination of the base's groundwater has migrated into the surrounding communities, leading to higher cancer rates and other health problems. Cleanup was delayed for decades but the contamination still exists.

13. Fort Benning, Georgia

Fort Benning is a large Army base with a history of carcinogen contamination of groundwater from TCE and PCE. Groundwater contamination at the base has spread to surrounding neighborhoods, causing elevated cancer rates and other diseases. Cleanup has taken decades, but it is still ongoing.

14. Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Fort Campbell, a major Army base, has been contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals for years, including TCE and PCE. Groundwater contamination on the base has spread into neighborhoods, leading to high levels of cancer and other diseases. Decades have passed since cleanup started, but it still persists.

15. Fort Carson, Colorado

Fort Carson is a large Army base with decades of history of contamination with hazardous chemicals such as TCE and PCE. Groundwater at the facility contaminated surrounding communities and has led to high rates of cancer, among other health problems. Cleanups have been ongoing for decades, but contamination has not abated.

16. Fort Drum, New York

Fort Drum, a massive Army installation, has decades of toxic chemical pollution, including TCE and PCE. Groundwater contamination on the base has spread to surrounding communities, adding to cancer and other disease incidence. Cleanup has taken decades, but pollution persists.

17. Fort Knox, Kentucky

Fort Knox, a large Army base, has a contaminated history with hazardous chemicals, including TCE and PCE. Groundwater pollution at the facility has spread into surrounding communities with increased cancer risks and other ailments. Cleanup has been ongoing for decades, yet the pollution still exists.

18. Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri

Fort Leonard Wood, which is a large Army base, has a toxic chemical contamination history of TCE and PCE. Groundwater contamination at the plant has spread to surrounding neighborhoods, leading to increased cancer risks and other ailments. Cleanup has been in the works for many decades, but the contamination still exists.

19. Fort Riley, Kansas

Fort Riley, a huge Army base, has been contaminated with the toxic chemicals PCE and TCE for generations. Groundwater pollution at the installation has also extended into neighboring communities and introduced excessive cancer rates and other diseases. Cleanup efforts have taken decades but the contamination persists.

20. Fort Sill, Oklahoma

Fort Sill, a massive Army installation, has decades of toxic chemical contamination under its belt, such as PCE and TCE. The groundwater contamination on site has found its way to adjacent communities, where it is bringing about elevated rates of cancer and other disease. Cleanup activities have been languishing for decades but continue. 

21. Fort Stewart, Georgia

Fort Stewart, a large Army base, has a history of unsafe chemical contamination involving TCE and PCE. Groundwater at the post is contaminated, contaminating neighborhoods around it with cancer clusters and other illnesses. Decontamination of pollution has been behind schedule for decades with no success.

22. Fort Wainwright, Alaska

Fort Wainwright, a significant Army base, has had a long history of contamination with harmful chemicals such as TCE and PCE. Groundwater contamination of the base has spread into surrounding communities and has resulted in large numbers of cancer and other illnesses. Long-term cleanup efforts are in progress but contamination continues.

23. Fort Bliss, Texas

Fort Bliss, a huge Army installation, is decades contaminated with toxic chemicals such as TCE and PCE. Groundwater contamination at the base has spread into surrounding communities, resulting in elevated cancer rates and other disease. Cleanup has stalled for decades, but contamination persists.

24. Fort Gordon, Georgia

Fort Gordon, a large Army facility, is contaminated with toxic chemicals like TCE and PCE. Groundwater contamination in the facility has migrated to neighboring communities, resulting in elevated cancer and disease rates. Cleanup has been going on for decades but is still ongoing.

25. Fort Huachuca, Arizona

Fort Huachuca, which is a huge Army installation, has had toxic chemicals in it for decades, including PCE and TCE. The groundwater contamination at the installation has moved into neighboring communities, leading to high cancer and other disease rates. For decades, cleanup has gotten nowhere, but the contamination persists.

26. Fort Irwin, California

Fort Irwin, a large Army installation, has been contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals like TCE and PCE over its history. Groundwater contamination in the base has migrated to neighboring communities, where cancer rates have increased and other health problems occur. The process of cleanup began decades ago but continues to exist.

27. Fort Jackson, South Carolina

Fort Jackson, one of the Army's bigger bases, has been contaminated with poisonous chemicals for many decades, including TCE and PCE. Contaminated from the base, the toxic chemicals have migrated off the base into surrounding neighborhoods and induced increased-than-usual cancer incidence and other illnesses. Cleanup has been stalled for decades but keeps on going on apace.

28. Fort Lee, Virginia

Fort Lee, a massive Army base, has a history of decades of contamination with poisonous chemicals, including TCE and PCE. Groundwater contamination at the base has affected nearby communities, with very high cancer and disease rates. Cleanup has been delayed for decades, but the contamination persists.

29. Fort Meade, Maryland

Fort Meade, a sprawling Army base, has been poisoned for decades by toxic chemicals such as TCE and PCE. Ground contamination at the facility also has extended off base into surrounding communities and has caused increased cancer and disease rates. Cleaning processes that have continued for decades still have failed to stem the contamination.

30. Fort Polk, Louisiana

Fort Polk, a large Army base, has been contaminated with poisonous chemicals such as TCE and PCE for many years. The groundwater contamination within the base has permeated surrounding neighborhoods, leading to cancer clusters and other diseases. Cleanup has been going on for decades without ceasing.

Cancerville USA's Grim Reality

The United States, born out of the promises of freedom and plenty, is now an endless expanse of contamination, in which the same institutions created to benefit its citizens have actually poisoned them.

These stories of Camp Lejeune, Rocky Flats, Hanford, and the Navajo Nation are not isolated tragedies but are woven into a larger narrative of neglect, exploitation, and ecological violence. People think of Alaska as a Pristine Wilderness, rather than a place where the military dumps atomic and chemical waste, and does not even bother to mark these new Superfund sites on maps.

The government-corporate cancer complex is not an anomaly; it is the inevitable result of a system that prioritizes profit over people, power over health, and cover-up over accountability.

The harsh reality is that Cancerville USA is not a temporary condition but a persistent plague on the nation's landscape. The toxic heritage of military and industrial pollution will afflict future generations, if not for thousands of years. The nuclear materials and toxic chemicals poured on the land, in the air, and in the water don't disappear. They filter into the ground water, build up in the food chain, and get trapped in the bodies of the men and women who live, play, and work in these poisoned areas.

Ten Other Despair Sites

1. Anniston Army Depot, Alabama

The Anniston Army Depot, the main chemical weapons and munitions storage and maintenance depot, has a long history of spilling sarin gas, mustard gas, and other chemical warfare agent contamination. The community has had higher-than-normal rates of cancer, neurological disease, and respiratory disease. Although years of remediation, the pollution still persists and the government is unwilling to provide adequate healthcare and compensation to those suffering residents.

2. Pueblo Chemical Depot, Colorado

Pueblo Chemical Depot, a storage facility for chemical weapons, leaked mustard gas and other toxic substances into the environment. The residents suffered from high cancer rates, among other illnesses, but the government has not been willing to clean up the contamination and provide adequate healthcare.

3. Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky

Blue Grass Army Depot, a storage depot for chemical weapons, has contaminated the local environment with sarin nerve gas, VX nerve agent, and other poisonous chemicals. Residents have experienced higher than normal cancer and other diseases, but the government has been slow to act against the pollution and provide adequate health care.

4. Umatilla Chemical Depot, Oregon

The Umatilla Chemical Depot chemical weapons storage facility has contaminated the region with mustard gas, sarin gas, and other chemicals. The residents of the region have reported high rates of cancer and other ailments, but the government has been reluctant to decontaminate the area and provide quality healthcare.

5. Tooele Army Depot, Utah

The Tooele Army Depot, a gargantuan chemical weapons and ammunition storage and maintenance complex, has left a permanent legacy of sarin gas, mustard gas, and other chemical warfare agent contamination. The population in the region has been afflicted with extremely high cancer rates, neurological disease, and respiratory illness. Even with decades of clean-up activities, the contamination remains present, and the government has been slow to provide adequate healthcare or compensation to residents in the region.

6. Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland

The Aberdeen Proving Ground, a world-famous testing and research facility for chemical weapons, has contaminated the environment with mustard gas, sarin gas, and other toxic chemicals. The people have been subjected to higher rates of cancer and other diseases, but the government has been slow to clean up the pollution and provide adequate healthcare.

7. Dugway Proving Ground, Utah

Dugway Proving Ground, the primary chemical and biological weapons testing ground and laboratory, has tainted the area with sarin gas, VX nerve agent, and other toxic chemicals. People from the area have registered high cancer incidence rates, among other ailments, but the government has been reluctant about getting rid of poisons and providing quality healthcare.

8. Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland
 
Edgewood Arsenal, infamous for being a chemical weapons lab and testing range, has tainted the area landscape with mustard gas, sarin gas, and other toxins. Residents have long been reporting increased cancer and other disease rates, but the government has been dragging its heels decontaminating the poisoning and providing adequate medical care.

9. Pine Bluff Chemical Activity, Arkansas

Pine Bluff Chemical Activity, a giant chemical weapons depot and disposal facility, has contaminated the surrounding area with mustard gas, sarin gas, and other toxic substances. The community has suffered high cancer and illness rates, yet the government is slow to clean up the environment and provide proper medical care.

10. Newport Chemical Depot, Indiana

Newport Chemical Depot, one of the biggest chemical weapons storage and destruction sites, has contaminated the surrounding environment with VX nerve agent and other lethal chemicals. The residents have suffered from high cancer and other disease rates, but the government has been hesitant to treat the contamination and provide adequate healthcare.

The Chemicals of Death

While TCE and PCE are two of the most famous toxins, hardly an exhaustive list. The military industrial complex has given rise to a toxic potpourri of chemicals that have devastated American communities across the country. They include:

- Sarin Gas: A chemical that induces spasms, collapse of the respiratory system, and death. Minimal exposure causes irreparable brain damage.

- Mustard Gas: Blistering agent which causes severe burns, respiratory disease, and cancer.

- VX Nerve Agent: One of the deadliest chemical substances ever man-made, VX disables the nervous system and kills within minutes after exposure.

- Hexavalent Chromium: Well-known from the Erin Brockovich film, the chemical causes lung cancer, kidney issues, and other severe health effects.

- Perchlorate: A component of rocket fuel that contaminates water sources and disrupts thyroid function, particularly in children.

- Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): Applied in electrical equipment, PCBs are persistent organic pollutants that are carcinogenic, cause immune disorders, and reproductive disorders.

- Dioxins: Industrial waste products, dioxins are among the world's most toxic chemicals, leading to cancer, birth defects, and immune disorders.

- Radium-226: Radioactive material used in glowing paint and medical treatment, radium-226 causes bone cancer and other radiation diseases.

- Mercury: Heavy metal that damages the nervous system, kidneys, and brain, particularly in the developing fetus and small children.

- Arsenic: Naturally occurring substance that contaminates water sources and causes cancer, skin disease, and heart disease.

The Human Cost

The human cost of this poisoning is incalculable. Families have been shattered by sickness and death. Babies have been born with birth defects and developmental impairments. Communities have been left to fend for themselves, abandoned by the same institutions which poisoned them.

The government response has been denial, delay, and deflection. Compensation programs are bureaucratic and underfunded, and most victims do not have the healthcare or financial support that they need. Cleanup is slow and often substandard, and contaminated sites are permitted to spread their filth for decades. And by the time the truth finally comes out, it is often too late for those already affected.

A Future of Despair

There is no rosy future for Cancerville USA. The toxic legacy of war and industrial pollution will shadow us for generations, maybe millennia. The toxins and radioactive elements deposited in the soil, water, and air don't go away. They percolate into the ground water, become incorporated into the food chain, and take up permanent residence in the bodies of those who live, work, and play where these environments have been poisoned. All of us are Downwinders.

The government response has been denial, delay, and deflection. Compensation programs are underfunded and bureaucratic, and victims are often denied the medical care or financial recovery they need. Cleanup is delayed and often insufficient, and toxic sites are left in that state for decades. And when the truth finally comes out, it is often too late for victims already exposed.

 Cancerville USA: The Government-Corporate-Military Carcinogenic Complex

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Sources:

These sites are still cancer clusters and probably always will be.

Article 31: (Oct 6, 2012) Stratocratic Venom Stings Self -- Military Pollution I

Article 30: (Oct 8, 2012) Stratocratic Venom Stings Self -- Military Pollution II

Article 29: (Oct 16, 2012) Stratocratic Venom Stings Self -- Military Pollution III

Article 25: (Oct 24, 2012) Stratocratic Venom Stings Self -- Military Pollution IV

Article 19: (Nov 5, 2012) Stratocratic Venom Stings Self -- Military Pollution - V