Do you believe there is a "cancer cluster" at Guantanamo Bay?

2015-07-28T12:21:34-04:00

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/28/us-usa-navy-cancer-idUSKCN0Q129H20150728

Is this just a ploy or stunt to add another item to the list of reasons Guantanamo should be closed or do you think there actually is a cancer cluster in the courtroom there?

U.S. Navy investigates report of cancer cluster at Guantanamo

The U.S. Navy is investigating a complaint that seeks the evacuation of civilian and military lawyers from parts of the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, following reports of cancer cases among personnel working on the trials of detainees there.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 28 at 2015 12:24 PM

2015-07-28T12:24:21-04:00

Interesting. Makes you wonder what exactly is cause the cancer outbreaks. Definitely need to look into this.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jul 28 at 2015 12:59 PM

2015-07-28T12:59:20-04:00

Given the history at Camp Lejuene, at Fort McClellan, in Vietnam, etc, how is this surprising?

What is surprising to me is that we don't have more issues like this on military bases...

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Jul 31 at 2015 12:42 PM

2015-07-31T12:42:35-04:00

Anywhere you have an industrial area that uses toxic chemicals that aren't disposed of properly, you leech substances into the groundwater that can end up in your drinking water.

At NAS Pensacola, that was an issue and the chemicals that were poured out on the ground are still leeching into the ocean. When I found out Escambia County had high cancer rates and that the base had areas that were toxic because chemicals used in aircraft maintenance were improperly disposed of (way back when...), I quit fishing there and quit eating the crabs I was catching. Crabs especially are bottom feeders, and they will be the first to pick up all the toxins leeching out into the ocean from land.

At GTMO, they get their water from the Desalination Plant, which also powers the base. The Desalination Plant takes ocean water and turns it into drinking water. Unlike NAS Pensacola, GTMO has deep water and I'm reasonably sure the level of industrial activity at GTMO was less than at Pensacola. While I believe there may be some truth to the cancer risk, I believe the currents there are enough to carry away and dilute any groundwater mixing with the ocean water to levels that are relatively low and "safe".

The Desalination Plant is VERY expensive to operate and I believe money is the primary reason the government wants to close GTMO. It's a huge drain on the Navy's budget. Additionally, I think Obama has political reasons and wants to close the base so he can go out of office saying he accomplished something... [not that it will even come close to undoing all the fiscal damage and damage to our international security and national honor he has done!!!]

Response by SFC Melker Johansson made Aug 12 at 2015 3:40 PM

2015-08-12T15:40:45-04:00

Yes, I do believe in the possibility of a "cancer cluster" at Guantanamo Bay. I have worked in those buildings myself and I wasn't impressed by the office areas. Those buildings need to be gutted and completely renovated.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 16 at 2015 2:38 AM

2015-08-16T02:38:22-04:00

How many times before has the Military Used a Chemical that we later found out was Carcinogenic. Not surprised in the Least. My Original Pea-Coat was dipped in DDT. I was stationed in Adak, AK where they buried a lot of crap after WWII and I lived in Navy Housing in Jackson Park, Bremerton WA a Ammo Dump in WWII where they just buried everything after the war.