The U.S. dropped millions of pounds of bombs on Vieques Island for over 60 years; Decades later, residents face a 26% higher cancer risk

Lying roughly seven miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico sits its smaller sister island Vieques. This tropical paradise attracts tourists and wealthy individuals who scoop up land to build palatial getaways on prime real estate.

However, there is a darker side to what seems like an idyllic place. Much of the island was used as a training ground by the U.S. Navy for over sixty years, where live ammunition was employed.

Vast quantities of bombs and explosives that failed to detonate now litter the island. Furthermore, residents of Vieques suffer from a higher rate of cancer than their counterparts on the main island, a condition which they blame on the Navy’s six decades of activities there.

Toxic munitions blamed for higher cancer risk on Vieques

The U.S. Navy purchased or simply expropriated large swaths of Vieques in 1941 as war was raging in Europe, acquiring over 70 percent of the island. It became a training ground for live fire exercises to prepare U.S. troops. The Navy continued these activities, training with depleted uranium ammunition, napalm, and agent orange along with a range of high explosives, up until 2003 when large protests forced the bases closure.

However, the Navy left behind a lasting legacy of toxic chemicals and heavy carcinogenic metals in the soil and water as well as unexploded munitions. Efforts are under way to clean up the former military base, some of which involves “open detonation,” basically blowing up old bombs.

But this is of concern to residents who say the pollution from these explosions and those over the previous decades is to blame for the high rate of cancer and kidney disease experienced by the island’s inhabitants. Nearly everyone on Vieques knows someone who is seriously ill or has died from a severe ailment.

The Navy claims that the toxic chemicals used on Vieques have had no negative impact on residents based on a controversial government study. However, another 2009 study that tracked the incidence of and death rate from cancer on Vieques between 1990 and 2004 found that residents on the island had a 26% higher risk of cancer than those on the main island.

Tests performed on more than 200 residents to see what their exposure has been to metals present in high explosives found that with the exception of arsenic, 33% had levels of mercury, aluminum, cadmium, and lead exceeding what the EPA considers safe. Residents also had uranium in their systems.

“We have no industry here,” Vieques resident, activist, and cancer survivor Myrna told investigative reporter Dena Takruri. “So where could all the contamination come from?”

“I believe, as do most of the people here believe, that is because of the military practices, the bombing, and the fact that they were experimenting here with non-conventional weapons,” she concluded.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.