Camp Lejeune’s Contaminated Water:
What Was in the Water?
You may have heard about the contaminated water at U.S. Marine Corps Camp Lejeune, but it can be hard to find the important details. What exactly was in the water, and what did it do to people?
Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
In 1982, the Department of Defense discovered that runoff from leaking underground chemical tanks, waste disposal, and a nearby dry cleaning business had contaminated several drinking water sources for the base at Camp Lejeune. The water contained high levels of “volatile organic compounds,” or VOCs. The VOCs and other chemicals found in the water at Camp Lejeune included:
- Vinyl chloride
- Benzene,
- Tetrachloroethylene,
- Trichloroethylene (TCE), and
- Perchloroethylene (PCE).
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the people most likely affected by the contaminated water were those on base between August 1953 and February 1985. The government estimates that as many as one million people were exposed to VOCs in the contaminated water.
How Can VOCs Harm Me?
Volatile Organic Compounds are chemicals in solid or liquid form that evaporate into gases in our environment or runoff or seep into the water. VOCs are a significant source of pollution and often end up in groundwater near industrial businesses, including local gas stations and dry cleaners. Many VOCs can increase your risk of developing cancer if inhaled or ingested in water.Short and long-term exposure to VOCs can cause many chronic health conditions. Just a few of them include:
- Kidney or liver damage,
- Lung, kidney, or liver cancer
- Bladder cancer,
- Adult leukemia,
- Multiple myeloma,
- In utero health conditions,
- Infertility issues,
- Hyperactivity,
- Chronic learning deficits,
- Seizures,
- Neurologic dysfunction,
- Reduced attention span,
- Personality changes,
- Asthma,
- Allergic skin reactions,
- Hearing loss, and
- Parkinson’s disease.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has eight presumptive health conditions linked to Camp Lejeune’s water contamination, including:
- Liver cancer
- Adult leukemia,
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Multiple myeloma
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
Hire an Experienced Attorney
If you or a loved one were exposed to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water and have a related, chronic health condition, you may be able to seek recovery for your damages and health care costs. However, time is limited.
You only have until August 10, 2024,
to file your claim in this complex water toxicity case. You’ll also need a skilled lawyer well-versed in handling nationwide tort claims. Having an experienced lawyer on your side can also help if the VA denies your initial claim.At the Madeksho Law Firm, we’ve been helping people like you since 1972. Call us at 1-888-910-6376 or contact us online. The call is free, and there's no charge unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Let us help you through the complex claims process and ensure you get the compensation you and your family deserve.
