Air Force Plant 85

Air Force Plant 85 is a former 420-acre government-owned aircraft manufacturing and testing facility located along Alum Creek Drive in Columbus, Ohio. The plant was constructed in 1941 by the Defense Plant Corporation and, during World War II, employed more than 24,000 workers building naval aircraft. Over the following decades it produced a range of military aircraft and components under operators including Curtiss-Wright, North American Aviation, Rockwell International and McDonnell Douglas, and oversight transitioned from the Navy to the Air Force in 1982. Daily operations at the plant involved machining, metal finishing, electroplating, forming, painting, coating and assembly. Production activity at the site declined through the 1990s, and the Air Force sold the plant to a local investment group in 1997.

Because of the industrial processes and chemical use over many years, environmental investigations have documented contamination of soil, groundwater, surface water and sediment at the site. The following contaminants have been associated with past operations at the plant, and there have been concerns about potential exposure for workers and others connected to the facility.

1. Trichloroethylene (TCE): TCE is a volatile organic compound (VOC) historically used as an industrial solvent for degreasing metal parts, a common need given the machining and metal finishing carried out at the plant. VOCs including TCE were detected in groundwater and soil at the site. Exposure to TCE has been associated in some studies with effects on the kidneys, liver and immune system.
2. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): PCBs are a group of manufactured chemicals once used in electrical equipment such as transformers and in various industrial applications. PCB-containing transformers and PCB-contaminated soil were identified and removed during cleanup at the plant. PCBs persist in the environment, and concerns have been raised about their potential long-term health effects.
3. Solvents and other volatile organic compounds: Beyond TCE, a broader mix of solvents and VOCs was used in degreasing, painting and coating operations. These compounds were among the contaminants affecting groundwater at the facility. Exposure to certain VOCs has been associated with a range of health concerns depending on the chemical and level of contact.
4. Heavy metals: Metals were associated with electroplating and metal finishing activities at the plant and were detected in soil, sediment and water. Some heavy metals can accumulate in the body, and there have been concerns about potential exposure at industrial sites of this kind.
5. Petroleum hydrocarbons (including jet fuel): Petroleum products and jet fuel were used and stored at the facility, and petroleum hydrocarbons were identified among the documented contaminants, including at former underground storage tank locations. Concerns about potential exposure to fuel-related compounds have been noted at many former military aviation sites.

The Department of Defense began investigating the plant under its Installation Restoration Program in 1987, eventually identifying more than 100 areas of potential concern. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed Air Force Plant 85 for the National Priorities List on January 18, 1994. After the 1997 sale, the Air Force retained proceeds to help fund environmental investigations and cleanup, which has continued under federal facility oversight. According to EPA, a smaller number of areas, including former underground storage tank sites, process areas and Turkey Run, remained for additional investigation and cleanup, and site cleanup is ongoing.

Veterans, civilian workers and family members who spent time at or near Air Force Plant 85 may wish to stay informed about the site and its cleanup progress. Anyone with questions about possible exposure and related health matters is encouraged to speak with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a personal health care provider, who can offer guidance based on individual circumstances.