Camp Lejeune is a United States Marine Corps base located in North Carolina. The base was established in 1941 and has been home to many Marines and their families over the years. Unfortunately, the base has also been the site of many environmental contamination scandals.
The environmental contamination at Camp Lejeune has had a devastating effect on the health of many Marines and their families. Some of the common health problems associated with the contamination include cancer, liver damage, kidney damage, and birth defects.
In this article we’ll talk more about the Camp Lejeune water contamination symptoms, the health effects of the contamination, and what you can do if you or a loved one has been affected.
What Was In The Water?
The water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with several chemicals, most notably TCE, PCE, and Benzene.
TCE is a carcinogenic chemical that is used in industrial degreasing. The chemical can enter the body through inhalation, skin contact, or ingestion. TCE has been linked to cancer, liver damage, kidney damage, and birth defects. The TCE contamination was discovered in 1982. The wells were immediately shut down, but it is estimated that over 10,000 people were exposed to the contaminated water.
In 1997, another scandal came to light when it was discovered that the base’s drinking water was contaminated with perchloroethylene (PCE).
PCE is a dry-cleaning solvent that is also used in industrial settings. Like TCE, PCE can enter the body through inhalation, skin contact, or ingestion. PCE has been linked to cancer, liver damage, kidney damage, and birth defects.
The contamination of the water at Camp Lejeune is believed to have occurred when an off-base dry-cleaning facility dumped PCE into the water supply. The TCE contamination is believed to have come from an on-base degreasing facility.
Benzene was also found in the water at Camp Lejeune. Benzene is a known carcinogen that is used in the petroleum industry. It is unclear how benzene entered the water at Camp Lejeune, but it is believed to have come from an off-base gas station.
The water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated for over 30 years, from 1953 to 1987. During that time, many Marines and their families were exposed to the contaminated water.
Who Is Affected?
Anyone who was stationed at Camp Lejeune or lived on the base between 1953 and 1987 may have been exposed to the contaminated water. This includes Marines, sailors, civilian employees, and their families.
Children who were born to parents who were stationed at Camp Lejeune during the time of the contamination may also be at risk. It is estimated that over 1 million people were exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
Health Effects Of The Contamination
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, service members and their families stationed at Camp Lejeune for 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987 may have been exposed to contaminated water containing PCE, TCE, benzene, and other chemicals. Various serious health issues have been linked to drinking this polluted water with high levels of these chemicals, including:
Adult Leukemia
Bladder Cancer
Kidney Cancer
Liver Cancer
Multiple Myeloma
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Breast Cancer
Esophageal Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer
Testicular Cancer
Birth Defects
These health effects can take years or even decades to develop. Many of the Marines and their families who were exposed to the contaminated water are just now starting to see the effects.
What’s Being Done to Help?
Water issues at Camp Lejeune were first acknowledged in the 1980s. For many victims and their families, proving their case and obtaining compensation was far more difficult.
The US government and its inspectors initially only identified a small list of chemicals in the water. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) was compelled to withdraw its previous 1997 research demonstrating that cancer-causing effects from the polluted groundwater were improbable. Due to significant fuel leaks, the ATSDR was forced to acknowledge that benzene, a known carcinogen, was likely to have been in the groundwater as well.
In 2012, the United States government finally acknowledged that the water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated and that it had caused health problems for service members and their families. The government has set up a fund to help those affected by the contamination.
