US military veterans carry elevated blood concentrations of PFAS, according to peer-reviewed research published in Environmental Health Perspectives. The study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and found that former service members have significantly higher serum levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances compared to civilians who never served.
PFAS chemicals persist indefinitely in the human body and environment, earning the nickname "forever chemicals." The military has used aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) containing PFAS at bases across the country for decades to suppress petroleum fires and train personnel in firefighting techniques. This practice has left contamination in soil, groundwater, and surface water at installations nationwide.
The exposure pathway is direct. Service members stationed at bases where AFFF was deployed inhaled vapors during training exercises, ingested contaminated water, and absorbed chemicals through skin contact with firefighting gear and contaminated surfaces. Groundwater plumes beneath military installations now rank among the most severely PFAS-polluted sites in the United States. The Department of Defense has acknowledged contamination at hundreds of military facilities but remediation efforts remain incomplete.
Veterans face persistent health risks from this occupational exposure. PFAS accumulates in blood serum and organs, particularly the liver and kidneys. Epidemiological evidence links PFAS exposure to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and liver dysfunction. The Environmental Protection Agency has set lifetime health advisory levels for PFOA and PFOS at 0.004 parts per trillion in drinking water, the lowest standards for any contaminant. Many veterans exceed these thresholds substantially.
The veteran population serves as a sentinelto broader PFAS contamination. Beyond military bases, PFAS has entered the general water supply near airports, firefighter training facilities, and manufacturing plants. The EPA estimated in 2022 that PFAS affects drinking water for up to 200 million Americans. However, veterans represent an identifiable cohort with documented exposure timing and location, making epidemiological study feasible.
The study implications extend to active-duty personnel and civilian workers at military installations. Families living on or near bases face secondary exposure through contaminated water supplies and soil. Military spouses and children may experience similar health consequences. The Department of Veterans Affairs has not yet designated PFAS exposure as a service-connected condition, limiting disability compensation and healthcare access for affected veterans.
Remediation timelines stretch for decades. The military has begun installing activated carbon filtration at some installations and closing contaminated wells, but groundwater treatment moves slowly given the scale of pollution. Some bases have replaced AFFF with fluorine-free alternatives, but decades of accumulated contamination persists.
Advocacy groups and veteran organizations have pressed Congress for legislation recognizing PFAS exposure as an occupational hazard. Proposed bills would expand VA healthcare coverage and establish presumptive conditions for service-connected illnesses linked to PFAS exposure. The research data strengthens the case for policy action, providing quantified evidence that military service elevated chemical body burdens above civilian levels.