01. Asbestos Use at Army Bases
How Was Asbestos Used at Army Barracks and Bases?
The U.S. military often used asbestos in buildings and equipment found at bases. The dangerous mineral was found in many construction products before the 1980s. Bases built more recently are less likely to contain asbestos materials.
Many buildings at Army bases incorporated asbestos as fireproofing and insulation. Some buildings that contained asbestos include:
- Ammunition storage facilities
- Barracks and other housing
- Dining halls
- Garages
- Healthcare facilities
- Office buildings
- Other work areas
Over time, the asbestos products in these buildings could become worn and damaged. If an asbestos product crumbles or breaks, it can release asbestos fibers. As a result, anyone working nearby could be exposed to asbestos. People who used or maintained these products were likely exposed and are at risk of developing asbestos illnesses.
Like the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy, many of the U.S. Army installations were built before the 1980s. During this period, the use of asbestos was not regulated.
In 1942, the Army Corps of Engineers had its highest level of construction ever. That same year, the United States consumed nearly 60% of the world’s produced asbestos.
New regulations in the late 1970s forced the Army to find safer options for asbestos materials. But many older bases still have asbestos products that can pose health risks.
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02. Notable Army Bases
Notable Army Bases That Used Asbestos
Many U.S. Army facilities were built during peak asbestos use, and some may still have the mineral. These asbestos materials can pose a danger. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has added many military bases to its Superfund list.
Superfund sites are areas with hazardous waste, like asbestos, that pose serious risks to human health. One Army installation on the EPA’s National Priorities List (NPL) is the Alabama Army Ammunition Plant near Childersburg.
The Alabama Army Ammunition Plant covers more than 5,000 acres of land. The EPA added it to the NPL in 1987 after finding contaminants in the groundwater and asbestos in the soil. The EPA has been cleaning the area since the early 1990s.
Other Army facilities have documented asbestos problems, some of which are ongoing.
Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell opened in 1942 during the Army’s build-up for World War II. The base is known for housing some of the U.S. nuclear arsenal in the 1950s.
In August 2024, a Fort Campbell environmental handbook noted asbestos could be found in any building on the base. Asbestos-containing materials include floor tiles, adhesives, safes and gloves.
The Army began to demolish the buildings originally built in 1942. Base commanders stated the buildings were never meant to be permanent. Before demolition, the buildings were inspected, and asbestos was removed.
Fort Campbell has more than 30,000 active-duty soldiers and 6,000 civilians. The base is home to over 240,000 people.
Fort Cavazos (Formerly Fort Hood)
The Army began constructing Fort Hood in the 1940s during the build-up to World War II. In 2023, the facility changed its name to Fort Cavazos after the first Hispanic four-star general.
In 2023, Army Times published a report detailing the Army’s failures to protect residents. Fort Cavazos was listed as one of the bases in the report. The report claimed the Army did not properly oversee safety inspections on residences built before 1978. This failure meant that some military housing exposed occupants to asbestos.
Fort Cavazos personnel began demolishing World War II-era buildings in 2012. These buildings were not meant to last as long as they did. The work included tearing down more than 150 buildings. These demolition activities likely involved asbestos handling and disposal at some point.
Fort Cavazos has more than 33,000 active-duty personnel and 11,000 civilian contractors. The population of family members and retired personnel at this base numbers over 500,000.
Fort Liberty (Formerly Fort Bragg)
Fort Bragg opened in 1919 near Fayetteville, North Carolina. In 2023, the base was renamed Fort Liberty after Congress voted to give new names to all bases that were named after Confederate generals. Fort Liberty is one of the largest military installations in the world.
Fort Liberty has had serious asbestos issues over the years, including:
- Hazardous housing: In 2022, Fort Liberty base commanders began moving soldiers into new barracks. Roughly 1,200 soldiers had been living in Army barracks built in the 1970s. According to occupants, these older buildings had asbestos, which put the soldiers at risk of mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses.
- Improper removal of asbestos tiles: In 2008, soldiers were directed to demolish and dispose of floor tiles. The sergeant in charge did not have the floor tested before ordering this work. The soldiers worked with broken asbestos tiles for more than a week without protective equipment. They now undergo yearly monitoring for asbestos illnesses.
Currently, Fort Liberty has more than 53,000 troops and 14,000 civilian employees. The base’s total population is 260,000 with family members, reserve units and retired military.
Other Army Bases That Caused Exposure
Many other Army bases may have exposed people to asbestos. The following list contains currently active Army bases. A mesothelioma lawyer can help you identify other asbestos jobsites not on this list.
- Alabama
- Fort Novosel
- Redstone Arsenal
- Alaska
- Fort Wainwright
- Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
- Arizona
- Fort Huachuca
- Yuma Proving Ground
- California
- Fort Irwin
- Presidio of Monterey
- Colorado
- Fort Carson
- Florida
- United States Southern Command
- Georgia
- Fort Eisenhower (Formerly Fort Gordon)
- Fort Moore (Formerly Fort Benning)
- Fort Stewart
- Hawaii
- Fort Shafter
- Schofield Barracks
- Kansas
- Fort Leavenworth
- Fort Riley
- Kentucky
- Fort Campbell
- Fort Knox
- Louisiana
- Fort Johnson (Formerly Fort Polk)
- Maryland
- Aberdeen Proving Ground
- Fort Detrick
- Fort George G. Meade
- Massachusetts
- Fort Devens
- Missouri
- Fort Leonard Wood
- New Jersey
- Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
- New York
- Fort Drum
- Fort Hamilton
- United States Military Academy, West Point
- North Carolina
- Fort Liberty (Formerly Fort Bragg)
- Oklahoma
- Fort Sill
- Pennsylvania
- Carlisle Barracks
- South Carolina
- Fort Jackson
- Texas
- Fort Bliss
- Fort Cavazos (Formerly Fort Hood)
- Joint Base San Antonio
- Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis
- Utah
- Dugway Proving Ground
- Virginia
- Fort Belvoir
- Fort Gregg-Adams (Formerly Fort Lee)
- Fort Story
- Joint Base Langley-Eustis
- Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall
- Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story
- Washington
- Joint Base Lewis-McChord
- Wisconsin
- Fort McCoy
03. Who Is at Risk?
Who Is at Risk of Exposure at Army Bases and Barracks?
Anyone who lived or worked on Army bases may have come in contact with asbestos. Army bases had several asbestos occupations, and many military jobs are considered high risk for exposure. This may include active-duty personnel, veterans, civilian contractors and others.
Asbestos was used throughout many of the buildings constructed before the 1980s. The asbestos-containing products could become dangerous as these buildings age. Additionally, equipment used on the bases could have exposed people.
People who worked on these bases may have brought asbestos fibers home on their clothes. Family members who come in contact with the mineral can suffer from secondary exposure. This type of exposure can lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos diseases.
04. Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos Lawsuits, VA Benefits and Compensation
Service members with a mesothelioma diagnosis or other asbestos-related disease may qualify for benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These benefits include health care and compensation.
Additionally, Army veterans may be able to file mesothelioma lawsuits. Mesothelioma lawsuits are not filed against the Army but the asbestos companies that supplied the materials.
Asbestos victims may also be eligible to file a claim with an asbestos trust. Companies that go bankrupt set up these asbestos trust funds to compensate victims of asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma patients can use this compensation for lost income, medical bills and other expenses.
A mesothelioma lawyer can help determine the best legal option for military veterans and their families. They can handle the entire process. Asbestos law firms have the experience and resources to handle the complex nature of asbestos cases.
05. Common Questions
Common Questions About Asbestos and Army Bases
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What military bases had asbestos?
- Many military bases had asbestos in different locations. The Army built many barracks in the lead-up to World War II. At this time, asbestos was popular in construction materials. Some of the bases still have asbestos. For example, a 2024 handbook for Fort Campbell lists asbestos products still in areas of the base, including asbestos floor tiles and mastics.
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What military equipment contains asbestos on Army bases?
- On U.S. Army bases, asbestos was commonly found in equipment like brakes, clutch panels, and protective gloves. It was also used for insulation and fireproofing in buildings. Some Army bases also had machinery, ships and planes with asbestos components. These all pose health risks to veterans.