Fort Dix Asbestos Exposure

Fort Dix and Mesothelioma Risks

For more than a century, Fort Dix has trained soldiers and supported military operations in Burlington, New Jersey. Founded in 1917 during World War I, it quickly became one of the Army’s largest training centers, preparing thousands of soldiers to serve.

The installation grew during World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War, notably expanding to include a major prison in 1972. During much of that time, asbestos was widely used on Army bases like Fort Dix because it resisted heat, fire, and wear.

U.S. Army personnel who were exposed to asbestos at Fort Dix didn’t realize it at the time, but they were being put at risk of mesothelioma and other serious illnesses. Many exposed decades ago are just being diagnosed today.

Fort Dix Asbestos Quick Facts

Also known as: Camp Dix, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
Asbestos products: Cement, electrical panels, HVAC systems, and insulation
Health risks: Mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and more
Who was at risk: Army service members and loved ones

If you or a U.S. Army veteran you love developed mesothelioma after serving at Fort Dix decades ago, we’re ready to support you. Get our Free Veterans Packet to learn about pursuing military benefits, treatments, and compensation.

Why Was Asbestos Used at Fort Dix?

For much of the 20th century, asbestos was found in military bases across the United States. The military relied on asbestos because it was affordable, durable, and resistant to extreme temperatures.

At Fort Dix, asbestos-containing products may have been used in both buildings and mechanical systems.

Asbestos products used at Fort Dix included:

Boiler rooms
Ceiling materials
Floor tiles
Gaskets
Heating systems
Mechanical equipment
Pipe insulation
Roofing materials
Steam pipes
Wall insulation

Structures throughout the fort were built with asbestos, including barracks, hospitals, classrooms, warehouses, maintenance shops, and administrative buildings.

Did you know?

Fort Dix’s landfill was placed on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund list in 1987, and major cleanup efforts helped decontaminate other areas of the base that were polluted by asbestos, radon, and other toxins.

The U.S. military and service members didn’t know that asbestos was dangerous. Manufacturers of asbestos-containing products hid the dangers for decades to keep their profits high.

High-Risk Jobs for Fort Dix Asbestos Exposure

Those at the greatest risk of Fort Dix asbestos exposure had to handle asbestos-containing materials on an everyday basis. Building, repairing, renovating, or otherwise manipulating asbestos products could release fibers and dust into the air.

Breathing in or swallowing the fibers could trap them in the body, contributing to mesothelioma or other serious illnesses 10-50 years after the fact.

Jobs at high risk of asbestos exposure at Fort Dix included:

Boiler mechanics
Civilian contractors
Construction crews
Electricians
Engineers
HVAC technicians
Maintenance workers
Plumbers
Utility workers

“Many of the buildings that were produced from the 1930s to the 1980s contained asbestos in insulation, fireproofing, soundproofing. So people who were involved in the construction of those buildings could have been exposed to asbestos.”

– Major Jonathan Nelson (Ret), VA-accredited attorney & Marine Corps veteran

Since it takes decades for mesothelioma to form, some U.S. Army personnel may not remember exactly when, where, or how they were exposed. In these cases, the Mesothelioma Veterans Center may be able to help pinpoint your exposure and pursue the benefits you deserve.

Call (877) 450-8973 now to get help determining your asbestos exposure and pursuing benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other resources after a diagnosis.

Secondary Fort Dix Asbestos Exposure

It wasn’t just Army personnel who risked exposure to asbestos at Fort Dix. Families could be in danger through secondary exposure. Asbestos dust could collect on the uniforms, boots, or equipment of service members before being carried home to families living on base housing.

As a result, wives, children, or other relatives could have been put in danger of everyday exposure, increasing their chances of developing mesothelioma even though they never directly worked with asbestos.

Modern-Day Fort Dix Asbestos Risks

Though major remediation efforts were undertaken after the public learned asbestos was dangerous, it wasn’t practical to remove all of it. As a result, some older buildings at Fort Dix and other military bases still have asbestos-containing products even today.

Did you know?

Military base housing units 5851 and 5703 had to undergo asbestos remediation and demolition efforts in part due to aging materials like floor tiles as recently as 2024.

Because of safety precautions, the risk of exposure during renovations is minimal. However, families should be aware that asbestos may still be present within aging Fort Dix structures.

Health Risks from Fort Dix Asbestos Exposure

Former Army service members or loved ones who lived at Fort Dix decades ago could now be in danger of serious asbestos-related diseases.

Some of the most significant asbestos-related diseases are:

Mesothelioma: This is a rare and aggressive cancer that develops in the linings of organs after asbestos exposure. U.S. veterans account for 33% of diagnoses nationwide.
Lung cancer: Veterans could develop lung cancer after asbestos exposure, with higher risk among smokers.
Asbestosis: This is an illness in which the lungs become stiff due to long-term damage from asbestos fibers, leading to death in severe cases.

If you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos at Fort Dix, there was no way to know that you could get sick. Companies that made asbestos-containing products hid the dangers from service members like you for decades — just to keep their profits high.

VA Benefits for Fort Dix Asbestos Exposure

For U.S. Army veterans facing asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma, VA benefits can help them access treatment and receive monthly payouts to make the diagnosis easier to bear.

Mesothelioma is typically considered a 100% disability by the VA. As a result, U.S. veterans are eligible to receive maximum disability compensation and have minimal health care copays.

Key mesothelioma benefits for veterans may include:

Disability compensation worth $4,158.17 a month for those who are married
Health care services, such as treatment from VA mesothelioma doctors
Aid & Attendance (A&A) and housebound benefits, which are awarded in addition to VA disability compensation
Survivor benefits for loved ones if a veteran dies

While filing a mesothelioma VA claim can be stressful, we’re here to make the process easier.

Major Nelson is a VA-accredited attorney who can guide you through filing for VA benefits at no cost to you. Get started with his help right now.

Compensation for Fort Dix Asbestos Exposure

Army veterans impacted by mesothelioma after Fort Dix asbestos exposure may be eligible for compensation through different legal options.

Mesothelioma legal payouts can award significantly more than monthly VA disability payouts can. Additionally, veterans filing can still access VA benefits. The military and government aren’t sued.

Key Fort Dix asbestos compensation options include:

Mesothelioma lawsuits: These lawsuits may award $1 million or more, with the majority of cases reaching out-of-court settlements.
Asbestos trust funds: There’s over $30 billion available through trusts today. Veterans may be eligible to access trust fund compensation without a lawsuit.
Wrongful death lawsuits: If a veteran dies from mesothelioma, their loved ones could pursue wrongful death claims typically valued at $1 million.

The Mesothelioma Veterans Center has partnered with two skilled asbestos law firms to help veterans file claims. Sokolove Law and Simmons Hanly Conroy have fellow U.S. veterans and VA-accredited attorneys on staff, giving them a deep understanding of how this cancer impacts veterans.

While there are no guarantees, many veterans and families have started to receive compensation within 90 days of working with our legal partners — and there are no upfront fees.

Get a free case review now to find out if you or a loved one qualifies for mesothelioma legal compensation.

Find Help After Fort Dix Asbestos Exposure

U.S. Army veterans serving at Fort Dix or other military bases didn’t know their health was being put at risk due to asbestos exposure. Today, veterans from across the country have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related health issues as a result of their military service.

The Mesothelioma Veterans Center supports U.S. veterans and their families in the aftermath of a mesothelioma diagnosis.

We’re ready to help you:

File for mesothelioma VA benefits
Locate doctors and cancer centers near you
Pursue asbestos compensation

Call (877) 450-8973 or get a Free Veterans Packet now to learn more about how we can help veterans and loved ones.

Fort Dix Asbestos Risk FAQs

What military bases have asbestos?

Fort Dix was just one of over 100 U.S. Army bases that relied on asbestos-containing products. Asbestos was seen as essential for use across structures on military bases across the country.

Just a few other Army bases that used asbestos included:

Fort Benning
Fort Bragg
Fort Campbell
Fort Hood
Fort Knox
Fort Lewis

Even if you don’t see your base listed above, you still could have been put at risk of military asbestos exposure if you served between the 1930s and early 1980s.

Call (877) 450-8973 for help determining if your military service played a role in your mesothelioma diagnosis and to pursue VA benefits, treatments, and compensation.

Is Fort Dix a Superfund site?

Yes. Portions of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst have been designated as a Superfund site and are included on the National Priorities List.

Cleanup efforts have addressed groundwater, asbestos, soil, and other environmental contamination under the oversight of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

How do you prove asbestos exposure in the military?

You can prove military asbestos exposure by using a variety of documents and records to show how you came into contact with this toxic material and how it impacted your health.

Evidence to help prove military asbestos exposure may include:

Military service records
Lists of asbestos materials you may have worked with
Medical documents related to your mesothelioma diagnosis
A medical nexus letter linking your exposure to your diagnosis

Even if you aren’t sure that you were exposed to asbestos-containing products during your military service, we encourage you to contact us if you’re facing mesothelioma.

Our team can conduct research to determine when, where, and how you may have been exposed to asbestos and help you file for the VA benefits you need.

Were other environmental hazards reported at Fort Dix?

Asbestos is only one environmental concern associated with Fort Dix. The installation has also been included in cleanup efforts involving groundwater and drinking water contamination.

Environmental investigations have examined:

Benzene
Mercury
PFAS due to firefighting foam
Radon
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Not every veteran or employee experienced these exposures. The level of risk depended on where someone worked, when they served, and the duties they performed.