Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base

Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base is a military installation located at Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport, about three miles north of Mansfield in north-central Ohio, roughly midway between Cleveland and Columbus. The site has hosted Ohio Air National Guard flying units since 1948, when the 164th Fighter Squadron was formed at what was then the municipal airport. On October 11, 1995, the local organization was elevated to the 179th Airlift Wing, which for decades flew cargo and personnel airlift missions and supported disaster relief and domestic emergencies. In September 2023 the unit was redesignated the 179th Cyberspace Wing, becoming the first cyberspace wing in the Air National Guard. The base shares the airfield with the regional airport, and much of the affected land is owned by the City of Mansfield.

As at many airfields where aircraft fire response was a core function, the use of firefighting foam at Mansfield Lahm has raised concerns about potential exposure to a group of long-lasting chemicals. Environmental investigations identified these substances in groundwater, surface water, and soil on the Air National Guard property.

1. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large family of synthetic chemicals valued for their resistance to heat, water, and oil. At Mansfield Lahm, PFAS compounds reached the environment primarily through firefighting foam used by the 179th's fire crews. PFAS have been associated in some studies with effects on cholesterol, the immune system, and certain other health outcomes, and they persist for long periods in the environment and the human body.
2. PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) was a primary ingredient in older firefighting foams used at military airfields. It was among the PFAS compounds detected at the base. PFOS has been the subject of concerns about potential effects on the liver, thyroid, and immune function, though findings continue to be studied.
3. PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) is a related compound that was identified in the contamination documented at the installation. PFOA has been associated in some research with changes in cholesterol levels and other health concerns, and like other PFAS it breaks down very slowly.
4. AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) is the firefighting agent that served as the source of the PFAS found at Mansfield Lahm. AFFF was used to control and extinguish fuel fires at sites such as military bases and airports, and its repeated use in training and emergencies is widely regarded as a leading pathway for PFAS entering soil and water.

Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base is not listed on the National Priorities List of Superfund sites. A soil and groundwater site investigation was conducted from September 2017 through January 2020, and the City of Mansfield was notified of the findings in October 2020. A draft final report from the National Guard Bureau characterized the 179th's site as relatively low risk, citing soil conditions and the distance to drinking water sources, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency concurred with the report's recommendations. In January 2023 the City of Mansfield filed suit against more than 30 PFAS manufacturers over the alleged contamination, and oversight of the site has continued under federal and state environmental review.

Veterans, Guard members, and civilian personnel who served or worked at Mansfield Lahm may wish to stay informed as monitoring and investigation continue. Anyone with questions about possible exposure is encouraged to keep records of their service and to speak with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs about current guidance, screening, and any benefits for which they may be eligible.