Bradley Air National Guard Base

Bradley Air National Guard Base is a Connecticut Air National Guard installation located at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, in the greater Hartford area. The base is home to the 103rd Airlift Wing, known as the "Flying Yankees," one of the oldest flying units in the Air National Guard, with a lineage tracing back through World War II era fighter groups and an allotment to the National Guard in 1946. For many years the wing has supported airlift operations, and it currently flies the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. Like many military airfields, the installation has a long history of aircraft operations, fire response, and emergency readiness training that placed firefighting foams in regular use over the course of decades.

As with numerous current and former military airfields across the country, the base has drawn attention because of concerns about substances detected in groundwater. Environmental sampling has identified per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in groundwater associated with the site, with reported concentrations measured up to 10,580 parts per trillion. The following contaminants have been documented in connection with the installation.

1. PFAS: PFAS is a large family of synthetic "forever chemicals" valued for their resistance to heat, water, and oil, which also makes them slow to break down in the environment. At Bradley, PFAS in groundwater has been attributed largely to historical use of firefighting foam during training and emergency response. These compounds have been associated in scientific literature with concerns about potential effects on the immune system, cholesterol, and certain cancers, though findings continue to be studied.
2. PFOS: PFOS is one of the most studied individual PFAS compounds and was a common ingredient in older firefighting foam formulations. It is among the substances of concern in groundwater investigations at the base. PFOS has been associated with concerns about potential health effects, and it tends to persist in both the environment and the human body.
3. PFOA: PFOA is another individual PFAS compound historically linked to foam products and industrial uses. It is included among the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances examined in connection with the site. Research has associated PFOA exposure with potential health concerns, and regulatory agencies have moved to set low advisory levels for it in drinking water.
4. AFFF: AFFF, or aqueous film-forming foam, is the firefighting agent used for decades at airfields to suppress fuel fires. At Bradley, AFFF use during firefighting training and operations is understood to be the principal source of the PFAS detected in groundwater. Because legacy AFFF formulations contained PFOS and PFOA, its repeated historical use has been associated with the contamination concerns now under investigation.

The site appears in the EPA Superfund site inventory as a federal facility in EPA Region 1, but it is not listed on the National Priorities List. Cleanup and investigation activity has been characterized as a state-lead effort in coordination with the Department of Defense, consistent with the broader military PFAS assessment program that has moved many installations through preliminary assessment and site inspection toward further investigation under the federal CERCLA process. Timelines have been subject to revision, and residents and veterans may wish to follow updates from EPA, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Air National Guard.

Veterans, family members, and others who lived or worked at Bradley Air National Guard Base may find it helpful to stay informed as monitoring and cleanup continue. Anyone with questions about possible exposure and their health is encouraged to speak with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a personal medical provider, who can offer guidance based on individual circumstances.