Vieques Health Crisis: Cancer, Contamination, and Colonial Neglect

The people of Vieques are living — and dying — with the consequences of U.S. military colonialism written into their bodies.

The Military Legacy:
From 1941 to 2003, the U.S. Navy used Vieques as a live-fire training ground:
- Over 22,000 acres (two-thirds of the island) were controlled by the Navy
- Millions of pounds of ordnance were dropped — including napalm, depleted uranium, Agent Orange (alleged), and conventional explosives
- Residents lived between two military zones — the bombing range on the east and the ammunition depot on the west
- The civilian population of approximately 9,400 was squeezed into the central third of their own island

The Health Evidence:
Multiple studies have documented health impacts:

1. Cancer rates: Studies by the Puerto Rico Department of Health and academic researchers have found:

   • Cancer incidence in Vieques approximately 27% higher than the Puerto Rican mainland
   • Elevated rates of specific cancers: liver, bladder, kidney, colon, stomach
   • The cancer rate has increased over time — consistent with long-term toxic exposure

2. Heavy metals: Studies of Vieques residents have found elevated levels of:

   • Mercury
   • Lead
   • Arsenic
   • Cadmium
   • These heavy metals are consistent with exposure to military ordnance residue

3. Other health effects:

   • Elevated rates of respiratory illness
   • Skin conditions
   • Reproductive health problems
   • Higher infant mortality rates historically
   • Mental health impacts from living under bombardment and its aftermath

4. Environmental contamination:

   • Soil samples show elevated levels of heavy metals and explosives residue
   • Groundwater contamination has been documented
   • Marine ecosystems show contamination — affecting fishing communities
   • The bombing range is designated a Superfund site — one of the most contaminated in the U.S.

The Superfund Cleanup:
- The former Naval installation was designated a Superfund site by the EPA
- Cleanup has been slow and contested
- Unexploded ordnance (UXO) makes cleanup dangerous and expensive
- The Navy's preferred cleanup methods (open detonation and open burning) release additional contaminants into the air
- Vieques residents have demanded alternative cleanup methods that don't further pollute their environment
- Full cleanup is estimated to take decades — some estimates extend beyond 2040

The Colonial Health Injustice:
The Vieques health crisis demonstrates environmental racism and colonial violence:
1. No consent: Viequenses never consented to military use of their island
2. No protection: The colonial government could not refuse the U.S. military
3. No adequate healthcare: Vieques lacks a hospital — residents must travel by ferry or plane to the Puerto Rican mainland for serious medical care
4. No compensation: Despite documented health impacts, Viequenses have received minimal compensation
5. No accountability: The U.S. Navy has not acknowledged responsibility for health impacts
6. Ongoing harm: The Superfund cleanup itself causes additional contamination — Viequenses cannot escape the consequences

What Justice Requires:
Vieques health advocates demand:
- A comprehensive health registry to track all health outcomes
- A dedicated cancer treatment center on Vieques
- Accelerated, non-polluting Superfund cleanup
- Medical compensation for affected residents
- Formal acknowledgment of the Navy's responsibility
- Environmental restoration of the bombing range to safe, usable land