Helena Joyce
Vieques, a small inhabited island off the east coast of Puerto Rico, has been the centre of a public health crisis. For over 60 years, the U.S. Navy used Vieques as a bombing range and site for military training exercises. The Navy admitted to using heavy metals and toxic chemicals like depleted uranium and Agent Orange on the island. Thousands of residents have filed lawsuits alleging that the military's activities caused illnesses, with the island exhibiting some of the highest sickness rates in the Caribbean.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Vieques, Puerto Rico |
| Population | 9,000-10,000 |
| Pollution Sources | Military bombing range, military-training exercises, toxic chemicals, heavy metals |
| Health Issues | High sickness rates, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes |
| Environmental Impact | Potential impacts on fisheries, seafood safety concerns |
| Studies | Analysis of vegetation, forage samples, crabs, lagoons, and food sources; tissue analysis of marine species |
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What You'll Learn
The US Navy's use of Vieques as a bombing range and site for military training exercises
The US Navy first established itself in Vieques in 1941, taking control of around 26,000 acres of the 33,000-acre island. The island was used as a bombing range and site for military training exercises, with the eastern end of the island used for live training exercises, ship-to-shore gunfire, air-to-ground bombing, and US Marine amphibious landings. Within this area was a 900-acre Live Impact Area (LIA) for targeting live ordnance, located away from the civilian population. The former Vieques Naval Training Range (VNTR), comprising approximately 14,573 acres, provided ground warfare and amphibious training for Marines, naval gunfire support training, and air-to-ground training.
The US Navy's presence in Vieques was met with opposition from locals, who protested the environmental damage and potential health consequences of using the area for ordnance practice. These protests gained national attention during the Navy-Vieques protests in 1999, sparked by the death of a security guard working at the Naval Training Center after a military plane dropped a bomb during a failed military practice. In 2000, a coalition of Puerto Rican church leaders, organised by the Archbishop of San Juan, Roberto González Nieves, also gained international attention.
In January 2000, President Clinton and the then Governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Rosselló, called for a referendum on Vieques, which was rescheduled for January 2002. However, the Navy resumed operations in April 2001, leading to further protests. In June 2001, the George W. Bush administration ordered the end of military training operations by May 2003. The Navy suspended operations in 2001 and fully departed from Vieques in 2003, leaving a lasting impact on the health, environment, and future of Vieques residents.
The island of Vieques has some of the highest sickness rates in the Caribbean, with residents alleging that the military's activities caused illnesses. Studies have found high concentrations of heavy metals and toxic chemicals throughout the island, with these toxins also detected in the hair samples of residents and in the dust of their homes. The Navy conceded to using heavy metals and toxic chemicals but denied any link between their presence and the health conditions of the locals. The cleanup process has been ongoing, with costs among the most expensive for decommissioned sites being cleaned up by the military. However, the landscape remains heavily contaminated, and the full cleanup is not expected to be completed until 2032.
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High sickness rates in Vieques
The small island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, has some of the highest sickness rates in the Caribbean. For over 60 years, the US Navy used Vieques as a bombing range and site for military training exercises. Soon after, the island saw a surge in illnesses among its residents.
With a population of around 9,000, people in Vieques are eight times more likely to die of cardiovascular disease and seven times more likely to die of diabetes than others in Puerto Rico, where the prevalence of those diseases is already high. Cancer rates on the island are also disproportionately higher than in the rest of Puerto Rico. A 2009 study by a former Puerto Rico health minister found cancer rates on Vieques were 27% higher than on the main island. The study also detected a higher prevalence of other illnesses, including diabetes, asthma, and epilepsy.
The Navy conceded to using heavy metals and toxic chemicals like depleted uranium and Agent Orange on the island but denied any link between their presence and the health conditions of the island's residents. The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) also released reports finding no causal link between the high rates of sickness and decades of weapons use on the island. However, the ATSDR has been criticised for not conducting any direct epidemiological studies on Vieques's population and relying solely on soil samples.
The health crisis in Vieques is further exacerbated by the lack of adequate healthcare facilities on the island. Vieques's old hospital has been closed since 2017, and the only operating health centre has limited facilities, including one emergency room and no pharmacy. Patients requiring specialised treatment, such as dialysis or chemotherapy, must travel 80 miles to San Juan, creating a challenging situation for those in need of urgent medical attention.
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High levels of toxins and toxic chemicals in Vieques
Vieques, a small island off the east coast of Puerto Rico, has some of the highest sickness rates in the Caribbean. For over 60 years, the U.S. Navy used the island as a bombing range and site for military training exercises. The Navy admitted to using heavy metals and toxic chemicals like depleted uranium, Agent Orange, and trioctyl phosphate (a chemical compound known to cause cancer in animals) on the island.
Independent medical studies have found that the community of Vieques has a cancer rate 27-30% higher than that of Puerto Rico's main island. According to Cruz María Nazario, an epidemiologist at the University of Puerto Rico’s Graduate School of Public Health, people who live in Vieques are eight times more likely to die of cardiovascular disease and seven times more likely to die of diabetes than others in Puerto Rico.
Arturo Massol Deyá, a professor of microbiology and ecology at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, has spent 17 years conducting research on Vieques. His research has found high concentrations of heavy metals throughout the island in vegetation, forage samples, crabs, lagoons, and other food sources.
The federal Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) has studied the potential health impacts of the Navy's activities on Vieques. In 2003, ATSDR reported finding no negative effect on health from the Navy’s presence on the island. However, this verdict has been disputed by the scientific community, as independent studies indicate that island residents have been exposed to excessive levels of lead, mercury, cadmium, and aluminum. ATSDR has also evaluated exposures to various sources of drinking water on Vieques, deriving exposure doses and comparing them against health-based guidelines.
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The potential impact of pollution on fisheries
Vieques, a small island off the east coast of Puerto Rico, has been the centre of a public health crisis. For over 60 years, the US Navy used the island as a bombing range and site for military training exercises. The island exhibits high sickness rates, with residents alleging that the military's activities have caused illnesses. The Navy conceded to using heavy metals and toxic chemicals like depleted uranium and Agent Orange but denied any link between their presence and the health of the residents.
The findings from these studies are essential for understanding the extent of pollution's impact on fisheries and developing strategies to mitigate any adverse effects. The results will be presented to the community of Vieques and relevant management agencies, such as the PRDNER, USEPA, USFWS, and DoD. By involving these organisations, the community can take informed steps to protect their fisheries and the health of their ecosystem.
Additionally, the high levels of pollution in Vieques have also raised concerns about seafood safety. With the presence of heavy metals and other toxic substances, there is a risk that consuming seafood from the area could be detrimental to human health. This further highlights the urgency in addressing the pollution issue and its potential impact on both the environment and human well-being.
Overall, the potential impact of pollution on fisheries in Vieques is a complex and pressing issue that requires the collaboration of scientists, government agencies, and the local community to ensure the health and sustainability of the ecosystem and the well-being of those who depend on it.
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Cancer rates in Vieques
Cancer is a serious problem on the island of Vieques, located eight miles off the coast of Puerto Rico. The island was used as a military practice range by the US Navy for six decades, during which time the Navy bombed, stored, and burned weapons, and dropped 5 million pounds of ordnance each year.
The Navy admitted to using toxic substances, including heavy metals, chemicals, and industrial waste, and even depleted uranium—a carcinogen that remains radioactive for 4.5 billion years. However, they deny that their activities have affected the health of Vieques residents.
Several studies have found that the cancer rates in Vieques are significantly higher than in Puerto Rico. A study by the Puerto Rico Health Department in 2003 found that residents of Vieques were 27% more likely than other Puerto Ricans to have some form of cancer. The study involved an 18-month house-to-house census across Vieques, determining an island cancer rate of 341 cases for every 10,000 residents, compared to 270 cases per 10,000 on the main island.
Another study published in Global Security: Health, Science, and Policy found that Vieques women had 280% higher lung or bronchus cancer rates than other Puerto Rican women, while men had a 200% higher rate. A 2020 study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found higher levels of heavy metals such as aluminum, lead, and arsenic in Viequenses' urine samples compared to main islanders.
The high cancer rates in Vieques are attributed by many to the contamination from military activities. However, it has been challenging to pinpoint the exact cause of the health issues on the island.
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Frequently asked questions
Vieques is a small island off the east coast of Puerto Rico.
Vieques has a population of around 9,000-10,000 people.
The island was used as a military bombing range and site for military training exercises by the U.S. Navy for over 60 years.
The residents of Vieques have some of the highest sickness rates in the Caribbean and a cancer rate 27-30% higher than the rest of Puerto Rico.
In 2014, a project team including the USEPA, USFWS, and the US Navy met with local fishermen to discuss potential target species and areas impacted by pollution. The NCCOS lab in Charleston, SC, is also analyzing data to determine the presence of pollutants in marine resources.
