Veterans and Toxic Water: How Can You Know if it Caused or Worsened Your Injuries?
In the United States, we talk a big game about honoring our veterans and taking care of service members when they get sick. If our military service members face injuries at war or during training, we ensure they get the medical coverage and support they need for years. But what happens when a service member's injuries aren't so obviously related to deployment, battle, or training? Many veterans and families face this problem after exposure to contaminated water at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.If you were exposed to toxic water as a service member, it may be challenging to know if your current chronic health condition is related. Even if Camp Lejeune's contaminated water didn't cause your injuries, could it have exacerbated an existing health condition?
Symptoms of Exposure
In 1982, the U.S. Marine Corps discovered that the drinking water from two of the eight water treatment plants supplying Camp Lejeune contained perchloroethylene (PCE) and tetrachloroethylene (TCE). They believe that the contaminants in the water came from leaking storage tanks, industrial spills in the area, waste disposal sites, and an off-base dry cleaning firm.Some of the symptoms of exposure to toxic or contaminated water include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Confusion
- Memory Loss
- Restricted breathing
- Wheezing
- Skin irritation
- Fatigue
- Visual disorders
- Eye infections
- Respiratory tract infections
- Respiratory irritation
Even if you have symptoms, it can be hard to know if your symptoms are being caused by exposure to toxic water. Long-term medical conditions from exposure to toxic water can include:
- Allergic skin reactions
- Asthma
- Hyperactivity
- Reduced attention span
- Chronic learning deficits
- Seizures
- Hearing loss
- Personality changes
- Neurologic dysfunction
- Kidney and liver damage
- Parkinson's disease
- Multiple myeloma
- Bladder cancer
- Adult leukemia
- Lung cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis
- Miscarriage
- Multiple myeloma
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
The VA has more than 40 health conditions on its list of medical conditions that qualify for funds related to Camp Lejeune's contaminated water issues.
You Need a Skilled Lawyer Fighting for You
If you have a chronic health condition or injuries you believe may be related to exposure to Camp Lejeune's contaminated water, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Call the Madeksho Law Firm at 1-888-910-6376 or contact us online. There is never a charge unless we secure compensation for you, and we will help you.
