Aside from oil and grease, Subic has 14 known
Long-term exposure to minute concentrations of these toxic substances may have significant health effects. For instance, asbestos cause cancers and fatal lung diseases. Many of the industrial solvents used at the base are suspected of causing cancer, as well as damaging the liver, kidneys and other organs.
However, the decisive data about quantity and impact of such toxic have not been come out due to no comprehensive assessment. Even if quantity is identified, it is difficult to determine if and how much have been exposed to over a period of time in the past. Moreover, it needs long time to find out some symptoms such as birth defects
Source: " ICE Case Studies" Retrieved November 8, 2008 from http://www.american.edu/TED/ice/subic.htm
Asbestos fiber
Oil
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
Greases
contaminated and 12 potentially contaminated sites. The Pentagon documents revealed that;
1. The U.S. Navy allowed impoverished "scavengers" to pay for removing barrels of hazardous materials from the waste dump to sell at a public market.
2. Benzene and other toxic chemicals in soil and water around rice farmlands and irrigation streams were observed as a result of releases from the 42-mile pipeline connecting Clark and Subic.
3. The Naval facility did not have a complete sanitary sewage system and treatment facility. Instead, sewage and waste waters from the navel base and air station industrial complexes were discharged directly into Subic bay.
4. Lead and heavy metals from the ship repair facility's sandblasting site drained directly into the bay or were buried in the landfill.
5. Power plants in the Subic Bay Navy Facility contained unknown amounts of PCB and emitted untreated pollutants directly into the air.
6. To have an idea of the extent of cleanup costs at Subic, it is useful to cite one case that the U.S. government spent some $1.2 billion for cleanup the 3,760-acre McCleliam Air Force Base in California. The Subic is much bigger than this Air Force Base and handled much more operation. Although the characteristics and quantity of toxic waste are different from the ones in the Air Force base, the cleanup cost at Subic is estimated, at least, higher than this $1.2 billion.
Source: " ICE Case Studies" Retrieved November 8, 2008 from http://www.american.edu/TED/ice/subic.htm
Toxic waste found at military bases around the world have often spread to the surrounding communities and threatened the public health as well as the environment of the affected areas. Subic, the largest U.S. Naval base outside the U.S., is such a case that needs cleanup because of past :
Dumping of hazardous waste
Leaking underground storage tanks
Toxic spills
and other environmental harmful practices. However, exactly who is responsible for this clean up remains unclear. And as such, comprehensive clean up has even not begun.
Source: " ICE Case Studies" Retrieved November 8, 2008 from http://www.american.edu/TED/ice/subic.htm
Toxic waste has been generated through military activities such as the production, testing, cleaning, maintenance and use of weapons, explosives, aircraft, and naval vessels as well as storage, and distribution of petroleum, oil and lubricant.
These toxic substances can spread in numerous ways through air, soil and water
Toxic waste includes
Toxic solvents Mercury
Oil Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
Greases Dioxin
Sledges Pesticides
Acids Cyanide
Alkalis Unexploded ordnance
Fuels Nuclear waste
Nitrates Asbestos
Source: " ICE Case Studies" Retrieved November 8, 2008 from http://www.american.edu/TED/ice/subic.htm
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