To all ex-Titan II Launch Crew Members, PTS, Security, and Maintenance personnel:

First, I want to assure you this letter is sent with the utmost respect for all my fellow Air Force Titan II Missile System service members. I would like to ask all of you to please participate in a small survey of your health and wellness. I started this mission of gathering information in 2003.

Background on myself:

I served as a MFT in the 390th Missile Wing in both the 571 and 570 squadrons from 1975-1979 at Davis Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona. I was also on the 48 hour Titan II Alert test program during the years of 1977-1978 at Titan II missile site 571-4. Being in this test program did expose me (by 9.3 times) way beyond the allowed 1995 NIOSH Time Weighted Average (TWA) limits for the Titan II fuels based on the DM AFB Bioengineering tests done in 1982-1983. To see your overexposure use the following link:CALCULATING YOUR EXPOSURE TO TOXIC CHEMICALS AT TITAN II MISSILE SITES

I used the GI Bill to attend the University of Arizona and graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. I am now 69-70 years of age in 2023-2024.

In 2003 I had a routine x-ray of the lungs which revealed a small calcified tumor. I was sent to have a CT scan of the lungs which went beyond the lungs to include kidneys which revealed a benign non-fatty, non typical tumor on one of my adrenal glands. I was put through several more timed contrast IV washout MRI’s to try to exclude cancer. The MRI's did not rule out cancer. For five years I underwent contrast  IV CT/MRI scans where no tumor growth was noted and therefore excluded cancer. Four years later I was sent to have an abdomen/pelvic MRI for pain which revealed two bone tumors, one benign intraosseous lipoma of the acetabulum and one benign bone island of the leg femur head. Included with these benign tumors, the radiologist noted a fatty liver and liver/spleen cysts (all associated with exposure to hydrazine in animal tests). I have a multitude of other ailments (fibromyalgia, small fiber peripheral neuropathy in my arms and legs, Osteopenia, back disc degeneration).

2024 Sept 27 Update: The biopsies of the three polyps (Tublar Adenomas) removed during your colonoscopy demonstrated pre-cancerous type polyps in your colon. This is the second time I have had the same tubuar adenomas removed. First time was seven years ago. 

Pathology of my colon polyps: show elongated and distorted glands with mucin depletion and cytologic atypia of epithelial cells consisting of nuclear stratification, hyperchromasia, and scattered mitoses." 

"The changes you described in colon polyps, including dysplasia and atypical features, can be associated with genetic mutations, particularly in cases of colorectal cancer. UDMH causes genetic mutations!

2024 Feb update: Basal cell skin cancer on my face. Removed by mohs procedure. Hopefully that is it. 

2023 June update:  I had a stroke two weeks ago. Got to the hospital within the 5 hour window to get the clot buster drug. MRI showed a temporal right side ischemic event. I have recovered almost fully. Being monitored for afib. However, there is medical research evidence that this can be caused by the Arachnoid web crushing my spinal cord at T5. Spinal cord injury has been shown to affect the heart electrical signals. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2957384/

2023 March update: A new tumor in my lower back was found and surgically removed. Just more evidence this is no random medical issues that effects normal civilian citizens as many times as it has effected me.

2022 November update. The arachnoid spinal web growth has returned already and I must now have another surgery of my spinal cord. I was to have a second spine operation at Columbia University in November however, I have postponed  the surgery until more neurological symptoms appear as a second opinion from a neurosurgeon advised. He believes there is more going on. My ANA auto-antibody level has now increased to 160:1.

 2021 Dec  update: Diagnosed with an extremely rare spinal cord Arachnoid web which is also considered Arachnoiditis . This growth is inside my spinal column causing compression of my Thoracic spinal cord starting at T4-T8 (see MRI images below  as the black colored spinal cord should be round not squashed). This can be caused by chemical exposure to the meninges lining of the spinal tissue. This now may explain more of my pain symptoms and numbness. 

2020 -Pineal gland  cyst, Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas branch ducts, 2021 02 27 Shoulder joint destroyed and replaced then infected with Propionibacterium by surgeon. implant removed and infected again at Mayo Clinic - morons- antibiotics for life.  SPA people prone to infection,  2020 10 31 Diagnosed with Seronegative spondyloarthropathy (SpA) by Mayo Clinic Rheumatology- Bridging of T4-T5, T-7-T8, T8-T9 and starting at L2-L3 on the anterior side.  

 2018-Diagnosed with Seronegative spondyloarthropathy most likely - Ankylosing  Spondylitis by Mayo Clinic Rheumatology (detected by anterior vertebrae bridging only seen on CT spine scan not MRI I have bridging on T4-5, T8-9 and starting at L2-3... this is an immune related disease which formaldehyde(a breakdown chemical of UDMH) has been implicated in immune related medical issues) and more medical issues that are fully listed below in update and in the health survey section under autoimmune. The most notable ailment is my back scapula muscle pain and spasms at the T5  vertebra that started at the end of my Titan II duty in 1979 and is still aggravating me on and off  35 plus years later.  

As of April 2016 I have now been diagnosed with Asthma by a pulmonary function Methacholine challenge test to add to my ailments. I now know from my coughing episodes for decades physicians never diagnosed the problem until now. In  my Service medical are more than 10 records showing upper respiratory problems with some question marks next to the physicians notes as they did not have a clue. Formaldehyde (a break down component of Aerozine 50... UDMH and hydrazine) exposure as called out in the ASTDR causes the medical ailment of Asthma.

 SI joint inflammation, epicondylitis bilaterial, haulux ridigidus large toes bilaterial, plantar fasciitis bilaterial, prostatitis. Bilateral CMC thumb joints destroyed in a 7 yr period (2010-2017)  MCP thumb joints bilaterial hyperextension (hypermobility), it maybe peripheral Seronegative spondyloarthropathy.  Positive Saccharomyces Cerevisiae antibody (ASCA) it is associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Crohn’s (colonoscopy has found nothing yet but one adenoma polyp) diagnosis is now IBS instead related to SpA.  Strong positive Anti-histone antibody (3.6 U) (Cause thought to be drug induced Lupus but Physician now says no as it has been a one and one half years after minocycline antibiotic stopped and the same 3.6 U high blood test). Autoimmune Urticaria (positive IgE Antibody (anti-IgE IgG). Asthma 2016 using a methacoline challenge test, ANA low titer of 80:1 ( as of 2022 now is 160;1) , Scapula muscle (myalgia), injected many times since 1979, lipid (fat) poor adrenal tumor, fatty liver, liver cysts, spleen lesion, small lung calcified granuloma mass, osteopenia in bones and spine (2012), Small fiber peripheral neuropathy confirmed by Neuro 2012, degenerative changes throughout joints and lumbar spine noted on nuclear bone scan, nasal rhinitis, benign stable bone tumor (intraosseous lipoma in the acetabulum),  benign bone island tumors in the femur head and scattered though pelvic region.  Home missile site was 571- 4 MFT at DM (48 hour alert test program) 1975-1979. T.N.

The statistical probability of having just the three odd benign (non-cancer) type tumors without one related medical cause is 1 in 143,000. NOT INCLUDING THE RARE SPINE ARACHNOID WEB NOW FOUND IN  DEC 2021 or a new back tumor in 2023.

 So, I started thinking of what job I had performed that may have exposed me to something that would explain why I ended up with these tumors. The only field I have worked in which could have exposed me to chemicals that may have caused these tumors was the Titan II missile fuels. So, I started to look into the possibility this may have been the cause.

 My research has revealed some facts about the Titan II fuels and some other information: 

 1.     Fuel Exposure Limits.(see the fuels link on the menu for all other breakdown oxidizer and fuel components).

    a.     During the Titan II years 1960-1985

              i.      UDMH  TLV (PEL) of 0.5 ppm, parts per million or (500 ppb, parts per billion).

              ii.      Nitrogen tetroxide 3.0 ppm.

    b.      1995 Fuel Exposure Limits  - Present (reference: NASA)

             i.      American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists(ACGIH): TLV-TWA of 0.01 ppm (10  ppb) for all  MMH , UDMH, Hydrazine and nitrogen Tetroxide. NASA and the Air Force have  adopted the ACGIH the exposure limits for all Hydrazines.

                     ii.      National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: Oxidizer  Ceiling (120 min TWA) 1 ppm  nitrogen tetroxide. NASA  and the Air force have adopted this exposure limit.

                     iii.      NDMA exposure limits. MMH and UDMH decompose to known carcinogens (NDMA’s) None is allowed.

                      iv.      NASA training center slides on NASA’s web site: All of the hydrazine fuels are toxic to humans.   " Be aware long term low level exposure is also bad".

2.     Space and Missile Systems Center’s (SMC) Acquisition Health and Safety Department: US Air Force was represented in meetings to discuss technical needs for monitoring the new lower level requirements of hydrazine vapors. It should be noted that these documents are no longer available online at the Los Angles AFB website.  It may have been their mistake that the documents were online in the first place in 2005. (see the medical ailments tab for a copies of the documents)

A.     Technical needs 419, under Need Description, states “Such inadvertent release of the hydrazine’s to the  environment are extremely hazardous due to their mutagenic nature, whereby tumor growth can be induced in  humans years after even a low level exposure.”

  B.      I was able to contact Dr. Gary Loper from the Aerospace Corporation, in El Segundo, CA (310-336-5000). He is the technical contributor on Document 419,402, and 413,  from the Headquarters Space and missile systems Center Directorate of Systems Acquisition, Acquisition Health and Safety (AXZ). Dr. Gary Loper claims this information came from Wright Patterson Air Force Base studies.

C.      Technical needs 402, under Need Description, states “Reliable dosimeters are needed to protect the health of launch site workers and to document allowable personal exposure conditions to protect the government and  contractors from future litigation”.

D.      Technical needs 413, under Current Cost of Process, states “Possible unfavorable legal judgments against the  government due to adverse health impact to launch-site personnel unknowingly exposed to hazardous  levels of hydrazines could be even higher (tens of millions of dollars)”.

 3.     The Mine Safety Appliance Company (MSA) equipment vapor detection system had a poor life expectancy with exposure to Hydrazine, as noted in the declassified document, thereby rendering the system a flawed toxic chemical detection system. Further, it is now known that the accuracy of the MSA was only plus or minus 25 percent as revealed by one of MSA's co-managers in a 1964 article (click here to read more). There was no detection for NDMA, FDH, HYDROGEN CYANIDE OR ANY OF THE BREAKDOWN CHEMICALS LISTED ON THIS WEBSITE of the decomposition of UDMH/HYDRAZINE. The inferior ionization detection system (MSA) allowed launch crew members and others who worked in the Titan II missile silo area of the complex to be exposed to higher levels of these chemicals. According to a MSA calibration tech, no sample of 0.5 ppm was ever put into the system to see if it would respond. The Tech also stated that if the MSA detection system registered a leak of 10 ppm in the launch duct, by the time that amount got to the level six MSA through the tubes, the amount actually leaking in the launch duct was 100 times that. So, the OSHA requirement of TWA-TLV of .5ppm for eight hours exposure during the Titan II time period was never complied with by the USAF.

 4.     I have had a toxicologist look over all my medical records along with my research articles. Here is a quote from his email I received: “After looking at the materials you sent me, I think your case is worth a formal review complete with an exposure assessment and causation analysis.”

 My goal here is to see whether there is other ex Titan II workers that are experiencing similar medical oddities or, to at least let you know to watch for these oddities in the future as you may get CT scans for other ailments.

 I sent this email to 300 ex-Titan people whose email links were still active on the Titan II deactivation website. Of those about 200 + have responded to a health survey. 

 Thanks for your time. I am proud to have served my country in the Titan II Missile system.

 Sincerely,

 Terry N.