Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is a major Marine Corps installation in northern San Diego County, California, stretching along the Pacific coast between Oceanside and San Clemente. Established in 1942 on the historic Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores to train Marines for World War II, it was formally dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 25, 1942, and named for Major General Joseph Henry Pendleton, a longtime advocate of a West Coast training base. Declared a permanent installation in 1944, Camp Pendleton remains the Marine Corps' premier West Coast expeditionary training base and is home to the I Marine Expeditionary Force and the 1st Marine Division.

There are concerns about potential carcinogenic health hazards at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, stemming from possible exposure to several environmental contaminants documented on the installation:

1. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances): A large family of man-made chemicals sometimes called "forever chemicals" because they break down very slowly. At Camp Pendleton, PFAS contamination is tied primarily to historic firefighting foam use, and Navy sampling and California regulators have reported PFAS detections in base wells and drinking water systems. Exposure to certain PFAS has been associated with potential health effects, including some cancers.
2. PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate): One of the most studied PFAS compounds and a key ingredient in older firefighting foams. PFOS has been detected in water sampling at Camp Pendleton, in some cases above federal health advisory benchmarks, and PFOS exposure has been studied for possible links to certain cancers and other health conditions.
3. PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid): A related PFAS compound also reported in water sampling at the base. PFOA has been the subject of ongoing research into potential associations with kidney and testicular cancer, among other health concerns.
4. AFFF (aqueous film forming foam): A firefighting foam containing PFAS that was used for decades at fire training areas and in emergency response across the base. Historic AFFF use is considered the primary source of the PFAS found in Camp Pendleton's water, and the base has since installed carbon filtration treatment for its drinking water.
5. TCE (trichloroethylene): An industrial solvent used to degrease vehicles and other military equipment. TCE has been found at Installation Restoration Program sites on the base, including a former firefighting drill field where contaminated soil was excavated and removed in the 1990s. TCE exposure has been associated with an elevated risk of certain cancers.
6. Solvents and other industrial wastes: Decades of maintenance of trucks, tanks, and aircraft, along with landfills, scrap yards, and waste disposal areas, generated waste solvents, fuels, and pesticides. Past disposal practices contributed to soil and groundwater contamination at some sites, and exposure to certain of these substances may potentially be linked to adverse health effects.

The EPA placed Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton on the Superfund National Priorities List on November 15, 1989, after a herbicide was detected in base production wells and to investigate contamination from past waste disposal practices. Investigations have been conducted at all 57 Installation Restoration Program sites; most have been closed, while cleanup or further investigation continues at the remaining sites, including a 28-acre landfill cap completed in 2002 and ongoing groundwater monitoring.

While there are concerns about potential exposure to these substances, establishing a definitive connection between service at Camp Pendleton and any individual's illness can be complex, and research into these contaminants is still evolving. Veterans and family members who lived or worked at Camp Pendleton are encouraged to stay informed about ongoing cleanup efforts, keep records of their time on base, and speak with the VA or a qualified healthcare provider about any health concerns and potential benefits.