Tobyhanna Army Depot PFAS Lawsuit

PFAS Contamination at Tobyhanna Army Depot

Testing at Tobyhanna Army Depot, the region’s largest industrial employer with over 5,000 workers serving as the Army’s Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for electronic systems, has revealed PFAS contamination levels that far exceed safety standards.

Environmental Working Group PFAS testing from 2020-2021 documented PFOS levels in groundwater at 1,300 parts per trillion (ppt) and PFOA at 630 ppt, representing 325 times and 157.5 times the EPA’s 2024 Maximum Contaminant Levels of 4 ppt respectively.

These toxic “forever chemicals” have contaminated the 20,000-acre installation in northeastern Pennsylvania’s Monroe County, where military operations have continued since 1953, exposing thousands of military personnel, civilian employees, and their families to serious health consequences through contaminated drinking water and occupational contact.

Sources of PFAS Exposure at the Facility

The primary source of known PFAS contamination at Tobyhanna Army Depot stems from decades of aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) use in fire training exercises and emergency response operations throughout the installation.

AFFF containing high concentrations of toxic PFAS chemicals was routinely sprayed at aircraft hangars, maintenance facilities, and designated fire training areas from the 1970s through recent years, allowing these persistent chemicals to seep into soil and groundwater systems.

Additional contamination sources include fuel storage areas, chemical storage facilities, and industrial operations supporting the depot’s electronics and avionics repair mission.

Primary PFAS contamination sources have been identified at the following locations:

• Fire Training Areas: Designated zones where AFFF was routinely discharged during live-fire exercises and emergency response training
• Aircraft Maintenance Hangars: Facilities equipped with AFFF suppression systems for aviation fire protection
• Fuel Storage and Dispensing Facilities: Areas where petroleum products were stored and distributed, requiring AFFF systems designed to resist heat for fire suppression
• Emergency Response Vehicle Storage Buildings: Structures housing fire trucks and emergency equipment with AFFF foam reserves
• Former Landfill Operations (1963-1979): Inactive waste disposal sites that received AFFF-contaminated materials during operational years
• Industrial Wastewater Treatment Areas: Facilities that processed AFFF-laden runoff and firefighting wastewater
• Chemical Storage and Disposal Sites: Locations where AFFF concentrates and empty containers were stored or discarded

Beyond these primary sources, PFAS contamination has spread through surface water runoff and groundwater migration, creating extensive contamination plumes that extend beyond the installation boundaries.

The depot’s location in the Pocono Mountains watershed has allowed PFAS to travel through natural drainage patterns, potentially affecting private wells and municipal water supplies in surrounding communities.

Environmental investigations have documented PFBS (perfluorobutane sulfonic acid) at 880 ppt in groundwater, adding another toxic PFAS compound to the contamination profile at levels 220 times above health advisory limits.

Timeline of Contamination Discovery and EPA Actions

Initial environmental concerns at Tobyhanna Army Depot emerged in the late 1980s when industrial contamination from electronics repair operations prompted regulatory scrutiny, leading to the site’s proposal for the National Priorities List (NPL) in July 1989.

The Environmental Protection Agency officially designated Tobyhanna as a Superfund site in August 1990, initiating comprehensive environmental assessments that focused initially on traditional contaminants like solvents and metals.

Two Records of Decision (RODs) were signed in 1996 addressing known contamination areas, and the Army achieved “construction complete” status in September 2000 for initial remediation efforts.

Milestones in Tobyhanna’s environmental history include:

1. 1989 – NPL Proposal: The site was proposed for the National Priorities List after discovery of industrial contamination in soil and groundwater systems
2. 1990 – Superfund Designation: The EPA officially designated Tobyhanna as a Superfund site, triggering federal cleanup requirements and oversight
3. 1996 – Initial RODs Signed: Two Records of Decision were executed to address contamination in specific operational areas identified during site investigations
4. 2000 – Initial Cleanup Completion: Construction complete status was achieved for the first phase of remediation activities outlined in the 1996 RODs
5. 2016 – PFAS Health Advisory: The EPA issued a lifetime health advisory establishing 70 parts per trillion as the recommended limit for PFAS in drinking water
6. 2020-2021 – PFAS Discovery: Comprehensive testing revealed PFAS contamination at levels far exceeding health advisory standards throughout the installation
7. 2024 – Enforceable Standards: The EPA established legally enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water

The discovery of PFAS contamination represents a second wave of environmental challenges at Tobyhanna, as these toxic chemicals were not included in original Superfund investigations.

Current Army Environmental Command efforts include comprehensive site-wide PFAS assessments, groundwater monitoring well installation, and evaluation of potential exposure pathways.

Despite achieving construction complete status for earlier contamination, the PFAS crisis has reignited environmental concerns and prompted new investigations into the full extent of chemical migration and human health exposure risks throughout the depot’s operational history.

Who Is at Risk for PFAS Exposure

Military personnel who served at Tobyhanna Army Depot for one cumulative year or longer between 1970 and the present face the highest risk of PFAS exposure through contaminated drinking water systems and occupational contact during firefighting training or aircraft maintenance operations.

The depot’s role as a major electronics repair facility has employed thousands of civilian workers who may have unknowingly consumed PFAS-contaminated water during their employment, with exposure risks particularly elevated for those working near fire training areas, hangars, or fuel storage facilities.

Military families residing in on-base housing consumed the same contaminated water supply for drinking, cooking, and bathing, creating multi-generational exposure scenarios.

Populations at highest risk for PFAS exposure include (but are not limited to):

• Active Duty Military Personnel: Service members stationed at Tobyhanna face ongoing exposure through contaminated drinking water systems and occupational contact with AFFF
• Civilian Depot Employees and Contractors: Workers who maintain aircraft, vehicles, and fire suppression systems encounter PFAS through direct handling and contaminated work environments
• Military Families in Base Housing: Dependents living on-base receive contaminated water through residential plumbing systems connected to affected water supplies
• Firefighters and Emergency Response Personnel: First responders experience direct skin contact and inhalation exposure during AFFF deployment in training exercises and actual emergencies
• Aircraft and Vehicle Maintenance Workers: Technicians working in hangars and maintenance bays face exposure through AFFF system testing and accidental discharges
• Environmental Remediation Crews: Cleanup workers encounter concentrated PFAS while excavating contaminated soil and treating groundwater at identified hot spots
• Private Well Users Near Installation: Residents drawing water from wells downgradient of the depot may consume PFAS that migrated beyond installation boundaries

Beyond direct occupational and residential exposure, communities surrounding Tobyhanna Army Depot may have experienced PFAS contamination through groundwater migration into private wells and local water systems.

The depot’s location in the environmentally sensitive Pocono Mountains region means contamination can travel through fractured bedrock aquifers and surface water connections.

Pregnant women, children, and individuals with compromised immune systems face heightened vulnerability to PFAS health effects, making exposure assessment and medical monitoring particularly important for these populations who may have lived, worked, or received services at the installation during peak contamination periods.

If you or a loved one served, worked, or lived at Tobyhanna Army Depot and subsequently developed kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, or other serious health problems linked to PFAS exposure, 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 Tobyhanna Army Depot PFAS lawsuit today.

Health Conditions Linked to Tobyhanna Army Depot PFAS Exposure

Scientific evidence from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine confirms that PFAS chemicals accumulate in human blood and organs over decades, causing cellular damage that leads to multiple forms of cancer and serious health conditions.

These toxic substances bind to blood proteins and concentrate in the liver, kidneys, and thyroid, disrupting normal cellular function even at parts-per-trillion exposure levels.

While PFAS exposure affects multiple body systems including immune function, cardiovascular health, and reproductive organs, only specific diagnoses currently qualify for compensation through ongoing litigation against manufacturers who knowingly produced PFAS containing products.

Qualifying Cancer Diagnoses

The National Cancer Institute and multiple peer-reviewed studies have established that kidney cancer and testicular cancer show the strongest scientific correlation to PFAS exposure, with exposed populations experiencing elevated cancer rates compared to unexposed groups.

A 2021 nested case-control study within the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial found that individuals in the highest PFOA exposure category had elevated odds ratios for kidney cancer, with strong exposure-response trends that remained consistent even after adjusting for kidney function.

Recent epidemiological evidence also suggests increased breast cancer risk, particularly estrogen receptor-positive tumors in women exposed to PFOS, adding to the growing body of evidence linking PFAS to hormone-sensitive cancers.

Cancers scientifically linked to PFAS exposure include:

• Kidney Cancer (Renal Cell Carcinoma): Studies demonstrate sufficient evidence linking PFAS exposure to increased kidney cancer risk, particularly in occupational settings with high exposure levels
• Testicular Cancer: Research shows limited but suggestive evidence connecting PFAS blood levels to testicular cancer development, especially in younger male populations
• Liver Cancer: Biological plausibility supports the connection between PFAS accumulation in liver tissue and hepatocellular carcinoma development
• Thyroid Cancer: PFAS compounds disrupt thyroid hormone production and regulation, contributing to increased thyroid cancer risk in exposed populations
• Breast Cancer: Emerging research links PFAS exposure to hormone-receptor positive breast cancers through endocrine disruption mechanisms
• Bladder Cancer: Ongoing investigations examine potential connections between PFAS exposure and bladder cancer incidence in contaminated communities
• Prostate Cancer: Elevated prostate cancer rates appear in populations with documented high-level PFAS exposure, particularly among firefighters and military personnel

The mechanisms by which PFAS cause cancer involve disruption of cellular signaling pathways, interference with hormone regulation, and activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors that promote tumor growth.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified PFOA as possibly carcinogenic to humans, while ongoing research continues to strengthen the evidence linking various PFAS compounds to cancer development.

Veterans and civilians exposed at Tobyhanna face particular risk due to the extreme contamination levels documented at the facility, with PFOS and PFOA levels hundreds of times above safe exposure limits creating conditions for bio-accumulation over years of service or employment.

Other Qualifying Health Conditions

Beyond cancer diagnoses, PFAS exposure causes serious non-cancer health conditions through endocrine disruption, immune suppression, and metabolic interference, with ulcerative colitis and thyroid disease showing particularly strong associations in exposed populations.

The C-8 Science Panel’s landmark studies identified ulcerative colitis as having a probable link to PFOA exposure, with odds ratios of 1.60 per unit increase in log PFOA levels, while thyroid disease affects exposed individuals through PFAS interference with thyroid hormone production and regulation.

Additional qualifying conditions stem from PFAS’s ability to disrupt cholesterol metabolism, interfere with immune antibody response, and cause pregnancy complications including low birth weight through placental transfer of these persistent chemicals.

Additional health conditions linked to PFAS exposure include (but are not limited to):

• Ulcerative Colitis: Limited but suggestive evidence connects PFAS exposure to inflammatory bowel disease, with higher rates observed in communities with contaminated water supplies
• Thyroid Disease: PFAS disrupts thyroid hormone production, leading to both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, with stronger associations found at higher exposure levels
• High Cholesterol (Dyslipidemia): Sufficient evidence demonstrates PFAS exposure increases total cholesterol and LDL levels, creating cardiovascular disease risks
• Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension: Pregnant women exposed to PFAS face increased risks of developing high blood pressure and preeclampsia during pregnancy
• Decreased Vaccine Response: PFAS exposure reduces antibody production following routine vaccinations, potentially compromising immune protection in children and adults
• Liver Damage: PFAS accumulation in liver tissue causes elevated liver enzymes, fatty liver disease, and impaired liver function over time
• Reproductive Health Issues: PFAS exposure decreases fertility in both men and women, affecting sperm quality, menstrual cycles, and time to pregnancy

The Veterans Administration has begun recognizing certain PFAS-related conditions for disability benefits, though current lawsuit eligibility extends beyond VA-recognized conditions to include any diagnosis scientifically linked to PFAS exposure.

Medical research continues to expand understanding of PFAS-related health consequences, with ongoing studies investigating connections to autoimmune disorders, immune system dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, and developmental delays in children exposed in utero.

Veterans, civilian employees, and family members who developed these conditions after Tobyhanna exposure should document their medical history carefully, as the cumulative evidence supporting PFAS-disease connections strengthens with each published study, potentially expanding compensation eligibility as litigation progresses.

How Can A PFAS Contamination Attorney from TruLaw Help You?

Our PFAS Contamination attorney at TruLaw is dedicated to supporting clients through the process of filing a PFAS Contamination lawsuit.

With extensive experience in chemical exposure cases, Jessica Paluch-Hoerman and our partner law firms work with litigation leaders to prove how toxic PFAS chemicals in water supplies caused you harm.

TruLaw’s legal team focuses on securing compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, property damage, lost income, and ongoing health monitoring resulting from your PFAS exposure.

We strongly encourage consultation because we know the impacts of PFAS exposure on your life and provide the personalized guidance you need when seeking justice.

Meet the Lead PFAS Contamination Attorney at TruLaw

Meet our lead PFAS Contamination attorney:

• Jessica Paluch-Hoerman: As founder and managing attorney of TruLaw, Jessica brings her experience in product liability and personal injury litigation to her client-centered approach by prioritizing open communication and personalized attention with her clients. Through TruLaw and partner law firms, Jessica has helped collect over $3 billion dollars on behalf of injured individuals across all 50 states through verdicts and negotiated settlements.

How much does hiring a PFAS Contamination lawyer from TruLaw cost?

At TruLaw, we believe financial concerns should never stand in the way of justice and offer a free consultation to discuss your case.

That’s why we operate on a contingency fee basis—with this approach, you only pay legal fees after you’ve been awarded compensation for your injuries.

If you or a loved one experienced health complications from exposure to PFAS-contaminated water that include forms of cancer, immune disorders, liver damage, or thyroid disease, 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 Contamination Lawsuit today.

TruLaw: Accepting Clients for the PFAS Contamination Lawsuit

PFAS contamination lawsuits are being filed by individuals nationwide who experienced health problems from exposure to PFAS chemicals in drinking water.

TruLaw is currently accepting clients for the PFAS contamination lawsuit.

A few reasons to choose TruLaw for your PFAS contamination lawsuit include:

• If We Don’t Win, You Don’t Pay: The PFAS contamination lawyers at TruLaw and our partner firms operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid if you win.
• Expertise: We have decades of experience handling toxic exposure claims similar to the PFAS contamination lawsuit.
• Successful Track Record: TruLaw and our partner law firms have helped our clients recover billions of dollars in compensation through verdicts and negotiated settlements.

If you or a loved one suffered health problems related to PFAS-contaminated water, you may be eligible to seek compensation.

Contact TruLaw using the chat on this page to receive an instant case evaluation that can determine if you qualify for the PFAS Contamination Lawsuit today.