Little Rock Air Force Base

Little Rock Air Force Base is an active United States Air Force installation located near Jacksonville, Arkansas, just northeast of the city of Little Rock. The base was established on August 1, 1955, on land that had previously been part of the Arkansas Ordnance Plant, and it originally served Strategic Air Command, first as a bomber base and later as a host for Titan II intercontinental ballistic missiles during the 1960s. In 1970 the installation transferred to Tactical Air Command, and the first C-130 Hercules aircraft arrived that same year, beginning the airlift role that continues today. The base is now home to the 19th Airlift Wing, one of the largest C-130 units in the Air Force, and the 314th Airlift Wing, which conducts C-130 flight training for the Department of Defense.

As with many long established military airfields, environmental testing at and around Little Rock Air Force Base has raised concerns about potential exposure to certain chemicals, particularly those linked to decades of firefighting and aircraft operations. The contaminants of greatest concern are a group of fluorinated compounds associated with firefighting foam.

1. AFFF: Aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF, is a fire suppressant that was used for decades at the base during training exercises, fuel fire response, and emergency drills. This foam is the primary documented source of the fluorinated chemical contamination identified at the installation, and it has been associated with the release of these substances into soil and groundwater.
2. PFAS: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known collectively as PFAS, are a large family of synthetic chemicals that resist heat, water, and grease and are often called forever chemicals because they break down very slowly in the environment. PFAS were a key ingredient in the AFFF used at the base. Some studies in humans suggest that certain PFAS may be associated with health concerns, although health authorities note the overall evidence remains inconclusive.
3. PFOS: Perfluorooctane sulfonate, or PFOS, is one of the most studied PFAS compounds and was a major component of legacy firefighting foam. According to an analysis of Department of Defense records by the Environmental Working Group, Little Rock Air Force Base recorded one of the highest PFAS groundwater detections among dozens of military sites reviewed in 2021, far above the Environmental Protection Agency 2024 drinking water limit of 4 parts per trillion. PFOS has been associated in some research with effects on cholesterol levels and the immune system.
4. PFOA: Perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, is another widely studied member of the PFAS family that was present in older AFFF formulations. It was measured alongside PFOS in the elevated readings recorded at the base. Some studies have associated PFOA exposure with concerns including changes in liver function and certain cancers, though the science continues to develop.

Little Rock Air Force Base is not listed as a National Priorities List Superfund site. Investigation and response to the contamination have proceeded through the Department of Defense and Air Force PFAS assessment process. In addition, the Arkansas Attorney General filed a lawsuit on June 5, 2023, against PFAS manufacturers including 3M and DuPont, citing contamination at Little Rock Air Force Base along with Eaker Air Force Base and Ebbing Air National Guard Base.

Veterans who served at Little Rock Air Force Base and who have questions about possible exposure are encouraged to stay informed as testing and cleanup continue. Anyone concerned about their health may wish to speak with a health care provider or a VA Environmental Health Coordinator and to ask about resources and disability claims, which the VA evaluates on a case by case basis.