Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove PFAS Lawsuit

PFAS Contamination at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove

The discovery of catastrophic contamination at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove has revealed PFOS levels 75,000 times higher than EPA limits and PFOA levels 2,425 times higher, making it one of the most severely contaminated military sites in the nation.

From its establishment in 1942 through its closure in 2011, this Montgomery County facility served as a hub for Navy, Marine Corps, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve operations.

During this time, firefighting foam containing toxic “forever chemicals” was used extensively for training exercises and emergency response that has led to the poisoning of groundwater that served both military personnel and surrounding communities.

PFAS Testing Results and Contamination Levels

In 2019, groundwater testing at the former base revealed alarming PFAS concentrations, with PFOS measured at 300,000 parts per trillion (ppt) and PFOA at 9,700 ppt, compared to the EPA’s current maximum contaminant level of just 4 ppt for each compound.

These readings represent some of the highest PFAS contamination levels ever documented at a military installation, indicating decades of accumulated pollution from firefighting foam use.

The most severe contamination measurements detected at the site feature:

• Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS): 300,000 ppt measured in groundwater monitoring wells, representing 75,000 times the EPA’s 4 ppt limit and ranking among the highest PFOS levels recorded at any U.S. military installation
• Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA): 9,700 ppt detected near fire training areas, exceeding EPA standards by 2,425 times and surpassing contamination at 95% of other military bases and contaminated sites tested nationwide
• Combined PFOS + PFOA: 309,700 ppt total concentration, a level that triggers immediate EPA response requirements and mandatory alternative water provisions for affected communities
• Perfluorohexanesulfonic Acid (PFHxS): 61,000 ppt found in soil samples, a compound with an 8.5-year half-life in human bodies that accumulates in blood plasma and liver tissue
• Perfluorobutanesulfonic Acid (PFBS): 15,000 ppt in surface water runoff, linked to thyroid hormone disruption and developmental delays in exposed populations
• Perfluoroheptanoic Acid (PFHpA): 3,000 ppt in drainage ditches, associated with liver toxicity and immune system suppression in laboratory studies
• Soil contamination near fire training areas: 98,000 parts per billion detected at depths up to 15 feet, creating ongoing leaching risks that will persist for decades
• Off-base private wells: Up to 2,740 ppt measured in residential wells within a 3-mile radius, affecting approximately 3,200 households relying on groundwater

The contamination has spread far beyond the base boundaries into Horsham Township and surrounding Montgomery County communities, potentially affecting around 50,000 residents who relied on contaminated water supplies before public warnings were issued.

Recent environmental testing continues to reveal new hotspots of contamination, with the highest concentrations found near aircraft hangars and the former fire training area where AFFF was used most frequently.

Sources of PFAS Pollution at the Base

Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), the primary source of contamination at Willow Grove, was routinely used in firefighting training exercises and emergency responses throughout the base’s operational history from the 1970s onward.

This specialized foam, designed to suppress flammable liquid fires common in aviation accidents, contained high concentrations of PFAS compounds that gave it its effectiveness but also made it environmentally persistent.

Specific areas and facilities where AFFF contamination occurred include:

• Fire training areas and burn pits: Two designated training zones where firefighters conducted weekly exercises using 500-1,000 gallons of AFFF concentrate mixed at 3-6% ratios from 1970-2016
• Emergency response vehicle maintenance bays: Three facilities where fire trucks underwent daily equipment checks that released approximately 50 gallons of AFFF residue monthly through wash-down procedures
• Fuel storage and distribution areas: Eight underground storage tank locations protected by AFFF suppression systems that activated during 14 documented spill events between 1975-2010
• Aircraft crash sites and training zones: Multiple designated crash rescue training areas where personnel practiced foam application techniques twice weekly using military-specification AFFF
• Equipment testing and calibration locations: Four designated areas where firefighting systems underwent mandatory annual flow testing, discharging untreated AFFF directly onto permeable surfaces

The synthetic chemicals from decades of foam use seeped through soil layers into groundwater aquifers, creating a contamination plume that continues to spread through underground water systems.

Historical records indicate that firefighting personnel conducted training exercises multiple times per week, releasing thousands of gallons of AFFF-containing foam directly onto the ground without environmental safeguards or containment measures that would be required today.

Geographic Scope of Contamination

The PFAS contamination from Willow Grove extends throughout Horsham Township, Warminster, and portions of both Bucks and Montgomery counties, creating one of the largest contaminated zones in Pennsylvania.

Public water systems serving these communities have been forced to install expensive filtration systems or abandon contaminated wells entirely, while many private well owners discovered their drinking water contained PFAS levels hundreds of times above safe limits, raising serious concerns about long-term community health impacts.

Private well users remain particularly vulnerable to ongoing exposure, as many rural and suburban properties surrounding the former base rely on groundwater that may not be regularly tested for PFAS contamination.

Development plans for the 860-acre former base property remain stalled due to environmental concerns, while the contamination plume continues to migrate through underground aquifers, potentially threatening additional water supplies and natural resources that could persist for generations.

If you or a loved one lived, worked, or served at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove and subsequently developed cancer or other serious health conditions, you may be eligible to seek compensation.

Contact TruLaw using the chat on this page to receive an instant case evaluation and determine whether you qualify to join others in filing a PFAS Lawsuit today.

Health Risks and Medical Conditions Linked to PFAS Exposure at Willow Grove

The harmful health effects faced by those exposed to contaminated water at Willow Grove are now becoming clear through ongoing research, including a CDC study that has enrolled over 1,250 local residents to measure PFAS blood levels and track disease outcomes.

Preliminary evidence from Temple University researcher Dr.

Resa Jones reveals a disturbing correlation between the highest PFAS concentrations found near the base and multiple cancers, including kidney, testicular, thyroid, ovarian, endometrial, and breast cancers, validating the fears of thousands who unknowingly consumed toxic water for decades.

Cancers Associated with PFAS Exposure

Scientific research has established links between PFAS exposure and several types of cancer, with kidney and testicular cancers showing the strongest associations, followed by thyroid, ovarian, endometrial, and breast cancers among those exposed to contaminated water near Willow Grove.

The Pennsylvania state cancer study examining cases from 2000 to 2020 across 12 counties, including Bucks and Montgomery, has found that areas with the highest PFAS concentrations correlate directly with increased cancer incidence rates.

Cancers linked to PFAS exposure involve:

• Kidney cancer: Research has linked PFAS exposure to increased risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), with studies showing elevated kidney cancer incidence and mortality among workers at PFAS-producing facilities and residents with contaminated drinking water.
• Testicular cancer: Meta-analysis reveals 2.22-fold increased risk at high PFAS exposure levels, with Air Force servicemen showing elevated PFOS blood levels associated with higher testicular cancer incidence
• Thyroid cancer: Emerging evidence links PFAS to thyroid dysfunction, with exposed populations showing 1.56 times higher thyroid cancer rates compared to unexposed groups
• Ovarian cancer: Women exposed to PFAS show doubled odds for developing ovarian cancer, with hormone-disrupting properties of PFAS potentially driving increased risk
• Endometrial cancer: Long-term exposure associated with 1.8-fold increased risk, particularly among women with PFOA blood levels exceeding 20 ng/mL
• Liver cancer: Animal studies demonstrate hepatocellular adenomas from PFOA exposure, with human studies showing potential associations requiring further investigation
• Pancreatic cancer: Limited but concerning evidence suggests possible link, with ongoing research examining pancreatic cancer clusters near contaminated military sites

The cancer incidence rates in communities surrounding Willow Grove have drawn attention from researchers who note that veterans like Joe McGrath, who served 34 years at the base and now has PFAS blood levels of 384 nanograms per milliliter (nearly 20 times the level considered high-risk) exemplify the severe exposure faced by military personnel.

Dr. Jones’s research team has identified that approximately 30% of adults tested fall into high-risk categories for developing PFAS-related cancers, while ongoing monitoring continues to track new diagnoses among the exposed population.

Non-Cancer Health Conditions

Beyond cancer risks, PFAS exposure has been linked to numerous other serious health conditions including thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, immune system dysfunction, elevated cholesterol levels, and pregnancy complications that can affect both mothers and their babies.

The PA PFAS Multi‑site Health Study, covering 1,251 adults and 89 children in Bucks and Montgomery counties, detected PFAS in nearly all participants. Researchers are now analyzing whether certain levels of exposure in children may pose developmental risks or long-term impacts to human health.

The mechanisms by which PFAS disrupts normal biological functions involve the toxic chemicals’ ability to interfere with hormone production, immune response, and cellular metabolism, leading to cascading health effects throughout the body.

Children and pregnant women face particularly severe risks, as PFAS can cross the placental barrier and accumulate in breast milk, potentially causing decreased vaccine response in children, reduced infant birth weights, and increased risk of preeclampsia in mothers.

If you or a loved one experienced thyroid disease, immune system disorders, or other serious health conditions after exposure to PFAS-contaminated water at Willow Grove, you may qualify for compensation.

Contact TruLaw using the chat on this page to receive an instant case evaluation and determine whether you qualify to join others in filing a PFAS Water Contamination Lawsuit today.

Long-Term Health Monitoring Programs

The ongoing CDC-funded study at Willow Grove has enrolled 1,251 adults and 89 children to measure PFAS blood levels and track health outcomes, with participants like veteran Joe McGrath discovering PFAS levels of 384 nanograms per milliliter (far exceeding the 20 ng/mL threshold that triggers enhanced medical monitoring).

This comprehensive research effort includes blood and urine sampling, clinical measurements, medical history reviews, and long-term follow-up to establish definitive links between PFAS exposure levels and specific health conditions.

Pennsylvania’s statewide cancer study, led by Temple University researchers, is examining cancer cases across 12 counties from 2000 to 2020, with preliminary findings showing that 30% of tested adults fall into high-risk categories for PFAS-related diseases.

The study has already identified correlations between the highest PFAS concentrations and increased rates of kidney, testicular, thyroid, ovarian, endometrial, and breast cancers, providing evidence that may support future legal claims while helping establish medical monitoring protocols for the tens of thousands potentially affected by contamination from the former naval base.

Legal Eligibility for the Naval Air Station Willow Grove PFAS Lawsuit

Determining who qualifies to file a lawsuit related to PFAS exposure at Willow Grove depends on specific criteria that establish both exposure history and resulting health impacts, with eligibility extending to military personnel, civilian employees, and community residents who meet certain requirements.

The legal framework recognizes that both those who served our country and innocent civilians in surrounding communities deserve compensation for harm caused by decades of exposure to these hazardous substances, emphasizing that anyone who lived, worked, or was stationed at the base for at least one cumulative year after 1970 may have grounds for legal action.

Qualifying Exposure Criteria

To establish eligibility for a Willow Grove PFAS lawsuit, individuals must demonstrate they lived, worked, or served at the base or within affected areas for at least one cumulative year after 1970, when AFFF use became widespread throughout military installations.

This includes military personnel stationed at the base, civilian employees who worked on-site, residents of on-base housing, and community members who relied on contaminated public or private water supplies in Horsham Township, Warminster, and surrounding Montgomery and Bucks County areas.

Qualifying exposure scenarios feature:

• Active duty military service: Personnel stationed at NAS JRB Willow Grove for 12+ months cumulative between 1970-2011, with Navy and Marine Corps aviation units facing highest exposure risks
• Reserve or National Guard service: Weekend warriors completing 24+ drill weekends annually at the facility, accumulating one year of exposure over multiple years of service
• Civilian employment categories: Base contractors, maintenance crews, and administrative staff working full-time on-site for one year minimum, including those employed by defense contractors
• Military family residence: Spouses and children living in base housing or attending base schools for 12+ months, consuming contaminated water daily through household use
• Firefighting and emergency response roles: Personnel conducting AFFF training exercises or responding to aircraft emergencies, with direct foam exposure requiring only 6 months service
• Contaminated well usage: Private well owners within 3-mile radius consuming water with detected PFAS levels above 70 ppt for one year, affecting estimated 3,200 households
• Public water system exposure: Residents of Horsham, Warminster, and surrounding townships served by contaminated municipal wells before 2014 filtration system installation

Family members who resided on base or in affected communities also qualify if they meet exposure duration requirements, including spouses and children of military personnel who lived in base housing or attended schools supplied by contaminated water systems.

Secondary exposure through contaminated public water supplies extends eligibility to thousands of civilians who never set foot on the base but consumed toxic water delivered to their homes, with the contamination plume affecting water supplies serving over 50,000 residents across multiple townships.

Required Medical Diagnoses

Qualifying medical conditions for the Willow Grove PFAS lawsuit include various cancers and serious health conditions scientifically linked to PFAS exposure, with kidney cancer, testicular cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, thyroid disease, and ulcerative colitis representing the primary diagnoses currently accepted for litigation.

Additional conditions under investigation include thyroid cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer in younger men, high cholesterol requiring medication, pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia, and certain autoimmune disorders.

Evidence Documentation Requirements

Building a successful PFAS lawsuit requires comprehensive documentation proving both your presence at or near Willow Grove during contamination periods and subsequent development of qualifying health conditions.

Military service records, employment documentation, proof of residence such as utility bills or lease agreements, and water quality test results showing PFAS contamination in your specific water supply all serve as foundational evidence establishing exposure history.

Specific documentation needed for successful claims involves:

• Military service verification: DD-214 forms showing dates of service, unit assignments, and duty stations, plus monthly Leave and Earnings Statements documenting presence at Willow Grove
• Employment documentation: W-2 forms, pay stubs, and employer verification letters confirming work location and duration, including contractor badge records and site access logs
• Residential proof requirements: Property deeds, rental agreements, utility bills showing service address, and school enrollment records for children demonstrating continuous residence
• Medical records compilation: Complete diagnostic reports, pathology results, treatment summaries, and physician statements linking condition to PFAS exposure with supporting scientific literature
• Water contamination evidence: Private well test results showing PFAS levels, public water system violation notices, and EPA contamination maps documenting exposure zones
• Family exposure documentation: Birth certificates for children born during residence, marriage certificates, and family medical histories showing unusual disease clustering
• Financial impact records: Medical bills, insurance claims, lost wage documentation, and receipts for alternative water sources or filtration system installation

Establishing the timeline between exposure and diagnosis requires careful documentation of when you first arrived in the affected area, duration of exposure, when symptoms first appeared, and the date of formal medical diagnosis.

Property damage claims for reduced home values or water remediation costs require additional documentation including property appraisals showing value loss, receipts for water filtration systems or bottled water purchases, and evidence of disclosure requirements affecting property sales, making it important to preserve all records related to both health impacts and financial losses resulting from PFAS contamination.

If you believe you meet the eligibility criteria for PFAS exposure at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, don’t wait to explore your legal options as statutes of limitations may apply.

Contact TruLaw using the chat on this page to receive an instant case evaluation and determine whether you qualify to join others in filing a Willow Grove PFAS Lawsuit today.

Filing a PFAS Lawsuit for Willow Grove Contamination

Pursuing legal action for PFAS exposure at Willow Grove involves a structured process that begins with an initial case evaluation and extends through potential compensation, with experienced environmental law firms offering free consultations to assess claim viability without requiring any upfront costs.

The path from discovering your exposure to receiving compensation requires careful navigation of legal procedures, but thousands of affected individuals are already moving forward with claims, recognizing that the contamination levels at Willow Grove – among the highest ever recorded at a military installation – strengthen their cases for substantial financial recovery.

Initial Case Evaluation Process

Environmental law firms specializing in PFAS litigation offer free consultations to assess whether your exposure history and medical conditions qualify for legal action, with no obligation to proceed if you don’t meet the criteria.

During this initial evaluation, attorneys will review your military service records or employment history, examine your medical diagnoses and treatment timeline, analyze your residential history and water exposure sources, and calculate potential damages based on your specific circumstances, while also considering claims against PFAS manufacturers who produced these toxic substances.

What attorneys review during evaluation follows this process:

1. Exposure verification and intensity assessment: Attorneys examine service records, employment documents, and residential history to establish presence at Willow Grove for required 12-month minimum, calculating proximity to contamination hotspots
2. PFAS blood level documentation: Review of any existing PFAS blood test results, with levels above 20 ng/mL strengthening claims and those exceeding 384 ng/mL (like veteran Joe McGrath) indicating extreme exposure
3. Medical diagnosis confirmation: Detailed review of pathology reports, oncology records, and specialist consultations to verify qualifying conditions meet current litigation standards for PFAS-related illnesses
4. Treatment cost calculation: Compilation of past medical expenses, ongoing treatment costs, future care projections, and insurance coverage gaps to establish economic damages baseline
5. Quality of life impact assessment: Documentation of work limitations, daily activity restrictions, pain and suffering levels, and psychological impacts using standardized legal evaluation metrics
6. Property damage evaluation: Analysis of home value depreciation, water remediation expenses, and ongoing alternative water costs for those with contaminated private wells

Most PFAS attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless they successfully recover compensation on your behalf, with fees typically ranging from 33% to 40% of any settlement or verdict amount.

The typical case evaluation process takes 1-2 weeks, during which time attorneys will request additional documentation if needed, consult with medical experts about your condition, research specific contamination data for your exposure location, and provide a detailed assessment of your claim’s potential value and likelihood of success.

Types of Compensation Available

Potential damages in Willow Grove PFAS lawsuits encompass both economic and non-economic losses, with compensation categories including past and future medical expenses for cancer treatment or other PFAS-related conditions, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering damages for physical and emotional distress, reduced property values for homes with contaminated wells, and costs of water remediation including filtration systems and bottled water purchases.

In cases where a loved one has died from PFAS-related cancer, families may pursue wrongful death claims for additional damages including funeral expenses and loss of companionship.

Compensation categories with typical settlement ranges (among others):

• Top-tier cancer claims: $175,000 to $375,000 for kidney or testicular cancer cases with documented military service and PFAS blood levels exceeding 100 ng/mL
• Secondary cancer diagnoses: $150,000 to $300,000 for thyroid, liver, or pancreatic cancers with strong exposure evidence and treatment documentation
• Non-cancer serious conditions: $75,000 to $150,000 for thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, or pregnancy complications with clear medical causation
• Property contamination damages: $25,000 to $100,000 for private well remediation, depending on PFAS levels and required filtration systems
• Wrongful death claims: $500,000 to $1,000,000+ for premature deaths from PFAS-related cancers, factoring age and family circumstances

Several factors affect compensation amounts including the severity of your medical condition and prognosis, length and intensity of PFAS exposure, strength of documentation linking exposure to illness, age at diagnosis and life expectancy impacts, whether you have pre-existing conditions that complicate causation, and the specific defendants named in your lawsuit.

Veterans who developed cancer after decades of service at Willow Grove often receive higher compensation due to prolonged exposure, while civilians with shorter exposure periods but severe health impacts may also qualify for substantial settlements based on the extreme contamination levels documented in their water supplies.

Please be advised that the settlement amounts listed above are general estimations and are not guaranteed.

These figures are based on opinions of legal experts familiar with PFAS litigation, considering factors such as the severity of injuries, contamination levels at Willow Grove, and estimated damages in similar cases.

These ranges are meant to provide a general idea of potential settlement values and should not be taken as definitive expectations for your specific case.

Individual results vary based on unique circumstances, exposure duration, medical documentation, and other case-specific factors.

If you or a loved one lived, worked, or served at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove and have been diagnosed with cancer or other serious health conditions potentially linked to PFAS exposure, now is the time to explore your legal rights.

Contact TruLaw using the chat on this page to receive an instant case evaluation and determine whether you qualify to join others in filing a PFAS Water Contamination Lawsuit today.