By Jordan Cade for TLS. The U.S. military has a long history of using volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for routine operations, including vehicle and equipment cleaning and maintenance, where powerful solvents are frequently applied by personnel. These toxic chemicals are also involved in fueling and refueling with organic-based combustibles, industrial adhesives, and disinfectants, tasks which are frequently carried out by the military in their daily operations.

Currently available research links several VOCs with various serious conditions, including chronic respiratory illness, acute and chronic neurological effects, and cancer. However, to receive compensation, veterans who have been exposed to these toxins still carry the burden of having to prove a causal link between their illness and being exposed to these toxins, as presumptive laws only cover a limited number of VOCs.

Since 2022, with the implementation of the Honoring our PACT Act, veterans suffering from any of the conditions listed in the bill, presumably caused by a strict and finite list of toxic agents, now receive automatic compensation, without facing the hurdles of proving causality. Some of these toxic agents include specific categories, such as the pesticide Agent Orange, toxic chemicals from burning pits, and exposure to radiation.

By 2024, the Department for Veterans Affairs (VA) granted over 1.7 million claims under the PACT Act to veterans and their families, totaling $6.8 billion. Compared to previous years before the enactment of this legislation, this represents a 75% increase in processed claims, potentially adding intense financial pressure to the VA. In this context, although the VA is continually expanding the presumptive conditions list, this process is carried out in isolation, focusing only on individual toxic agents and specific causal conditions. Presumption is thus considered only when there is a substantial body of evidence confirming causal links. Nonetheless, for certain categories of VOCs, this clear scientific evidence should be sufficient to warrant inclusion under the PACT Act.

Lakewood Township Veterans and VOCs Exposure

As a coastal state of strategic military importance, New Jersey has a significant number of veterans, totaling 350.358, and Lakewood Township is the home of 1,800 of them. Across the state and county, the use of VOCs in Navy and Air Force installations is prevalent in paints, solvents, and adhesives used for vehicle maintenance and facility upkeep. Several hubs for shipbuilding and repairs also use VOC-containing materials in surface preparation and equipment cleaning, activities regulated under local air quality rules. The most prominent example is the Trenton Naval Air Warfare Center. The base was closed, but an investigation from 2018 detected VOC contamination in wells as deep as 200 and 221 feet around the base. Currently, there is an ongoing effort to clean the site, and the latest military report states that from January to April 2025, 168 pounds of VOCs were removed from the area. Another relevant example is the Picatinny Arsenal, where an EPA report lists a long list of VOC contaminants in large quantities in the soil, air, and groundwater.

Veterans who served at these installations and many others across the U.S. carried out routine tasks involving VOCs and are now more likely to develop chronic conditions linked to exposure to these substances. However, these people are still left without the protections offered to others under the PACT Act. This oversight not only creates a gap in care for thousands of veterans in Lakewood Township, New Jersey, and beyond, but also contradicts the intent of the PACT Act to provide compensation and access to health care for those who now suffer as a result of exposure during service.

VOCs Must be Urgently Included in the PACT Act

DoD holds the records of VOC contamination sites in the military, and the exposure consequences are linked to life-threatening illnesses of our veterans. The lawmakers need to act now and honor their rights and dignity.

Including VOCs in the PACT Act would ensure that affected service members receive early screenings, appropriate diagnoses, and treatment through the Department of Veterans Affairs. It would also lead to better data collection and research, helping the VA develop targeted care programs and protocols. Ultimately, this inclusion would not only validate the health struggles of veterans but also reduce the long-term financial burden of veterans by addressing their illnesses before they become critical. It is a necessary and morally justified step toward justice and improved care for those who served.

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About the Author:
Jordan Cade is a legal advocate at Environmental Litigation Group P.C., a Birmingham-based law firm specializing in toxic exposure and environmental harm. His work centers on representing individuals impacted by dangerous chemicals, and he is also involved in civil rights litigation.