Millions of Military Members and Families Exposed to Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune

Camp Lejeune was home to thousands of families and civilians when the Marine Corps discovered specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the Base’s drinking water in 1982. Prior to this discovery, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) predicts one million servicemen, their families, and civilians were exposed to toxic water.  Scientific and medical evidence has shown an association between exposure to these contaminants during and development of certain diseases and birth defects.

The pollution of the drinking water began in the early 1950’s and contaminated 3 water-distribution plants at Camp Lejeune. These plants supplied most family houses at the Base with “finished water” until approximately February 1985.

After decades of research, the US government now acknowledges that these harmful chemicals may have caused military members and their families to develop serious medical conditions. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows these victims to potentially recover damages due to exposure. As of June 16, 2022, the bill is currently awaiting the president’s signature.

Rikard & Protopapas is now investigating and reviewing potential Camp Lejeune claims from veterans and families. If you or someone you know suffered severe illnesses after being on the Base from 1950 to 1985, please contact us today. We will help guide you through this process and work to secure the compensation you deserve.

Known Health Effects From Exposure

The ATSDR has conducted numerous studies on the health risks from the chemicals at Camp Lejeune since the 1980’s. Exposure to these chemicals is associated with several cancers and chronic conditions.

Individuals who spent at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune have been diagnosed with the following illnesses:

Cancer

Kidney cancerNon-Hodgkin lymphomaBladder cancerLeukemiasLiver cancerMultiple myelomaBreast cancerEsophageal cancerLung cancerMyelodysplastic syndromes

Other Serious Illnesses

Cardiac defectsEnd-stage renal diseaseParkinson diseaseSclerodermaBirth defectsMiscarriageFemale InfertilityNeurobehavioral effectsMajor malformationsImpaired immune system functions

Please note this is not an exhaustive list of the health effects from exposure to the chemicals. The ATSDR is still studying the relationships between the chemicals and their health effects. Additionally, the effects of exposure to any chemical depends on several factors. For more information on the evidence and studies, visit the ATSDR website here.

Chemicals In Camp Lejeune Water

According to the ATSDR, the contaminated water’s toxicity level was 400 times what safety regulations allowed. The chemicals are colorless and went undetected for over 30 years. Meanwhile, military members and civilian staff along with their families living on base drank and bathed in the toxic water.

Sampling from the Camp Lejeune water supply show that trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), vinyl chloride (VC) and benzene polluted drinking water at the Base. Some of the uses for these chemicals include cleaning metal parts, dry cleaning, metal degreasing, and to create other chemicals found in plastics, resins, nylon fibers, and synthetic fibers.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), EPA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies TCE, PCE, VC, and benzene as carcinogenic to humans.

Studies show that these chemicals cause numerous birth defects as well. Exposure during fetal development has caused decreased body weight, heart defects, delayed bone formation, and bone marrow damage. Miscarriages and female infertility have also been linked to exposure to these chemicals.

 The ATSDR notes that many factors including the amount, length, and method of exposure effect the types and severity of illnesses people are diagnosed with.

Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022

A new law will give veterans and families an opportunity to file a claim against Camp Lejeune for suffering resulting from living and working on the Base. To be eligible for compensation, you must have been present on the Marine Base for at least 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987.

As of June 16, 2022, the bill has passed the House of Representatives and Senate, so it now awaits a signature from President Biden. Once it is signed, victims can begin filing claims.

Even if you are not sure if you meet the criteria, we recommend contacting our attorneys. If you wait, you may miss out on the compensation you deserve.

Contact Rikard & Protopapas

Rikard & Protopapas is now investigating and reviewing potential claims against Camp Lejeune. It will not cost you anything to speak to one of our talented professionals to see if we can help, so please contact us now to begin an investigation into your claim.

Unfortunately, many of our clients seek our services when the unimaginable has happened to them and their families. Because of that, we are keenly aware that our clients depend on us and need support during these challenging times. That is why we immediately formulate personalized approaches to every case and make ourselves available every step of the way.

We also know that injuries or the loss of a loved one leave families in turmoil, so we are here to navigate these situations with our clients, take on their burdens, and secure meaningful futures for those who have been wronged. Our attorneys provide the support you need and experience you can depend on.  

Call us today at 803-978-6111 or fill out the form to schedule a free consultation.*

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Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Linked to Birth Defects

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, water pollution at Camp Lejeune military base in North Carolina has been linked to an increased risk of birth defects and childhood cancers. 

It is believed that a leaking underground fuel tank caused the  chemical contamination of wells used for drinking water at Camp Lejeune. This underground tank may have leaked more than a million gallons of fuel over the years, as well as toxins from a nearby dry cleaning business, and other chemicals that were used for military operations on the base. 

In 2013, a study by the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) found vinyl chloride, trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE – used in dry cleaning and as a degreaser), and benzene (a fuel component) in the well water at Camp Lejeune. The concentration of the chemicals in the water reached levels that were exponentially higher than what regulators consider to be safe today. Experts say it was some of the most highly contaminated drinking water ever discovered in the United States.

Study Links Water Pollution & Birth Defects

The ATSDR conducted a study on birth defects and childhood cancer to examine if exposure to the contaminants in the drinking water increased the risk of certain health conditions and birth defects. Their research included surveying mothers who were on base during any part of their pregnancy.  

The study found that the water pollution at Camp Lejeune has been linked to birth defects and childhood cancers. It also confirmed a long-suspected link between chemical contaminants in tap water at the Marine Corps base and serious birth defects such as spina bifida and cleft palates. Evidence also showed a slightly elevated risk of childhood cancers including leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. 

Contaminants in Camp Lejeune Water

According to CBS News, records reviewed by The Associated Press show military authorities continued to rely on the wells for years after testing suggested the water was contaminated. The most highly contaminated wells were closed in 1984 and 1985 after a round of more extensive testing found dangerous concentrations of toxins associated with degreasing solvents and gasoline. 

A prior CDC study cited a February 1985 level for trichloroethylene of 18,900 parts per billion in one Lejeune drinking water well — nearly 4,000 times today’s maximum allowed health limit of 5 ppb. Testing also found high levels of benzene, a fuel additive. 

On June 16, 2022, the United States Senate voted to pass the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. The bill enables servicemen, their families, and civilians who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune to file claims against the US government. It is expected to be signed into law by President Biden in the coming days. 

From 1953 to 1987, drinking water at Camp Lejeune was heavily contaminated with harmful chemicals exposing millions to carcinogens. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows anyone who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune to seek reparations for toxic water exposure.  

We encourage anyone who was at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 to contact an attorney now. Do not wait and possibly miss out on the compensation you deserve.  

Please contact us now to begin an investigation into your claim so that we can determine if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. 

Toxic Water Contamination Lawyers

Rikard & Protopapas is currently reviewing potential claims against Camp Lejeune. We are prepared to file claims on behalf of victims as soon as the bill becomes a law. Please contact our attorneys at 803-978-6111 or fill out our contact form to setup a free consultation.* 

Helping to secure a meaningful future for those who have been injured or taken advantage of is what we do, and we do it well. Camp Lejeune victims and their families deserve compensation for their suffering, and our legal team is ready to fight for our clients.  

Our personal injury attorneys combine decades of experience and diverse backgrounds to create a trusted, well-rounded law practice. In times of uncertainty, you need support you can depend on. Let us put our experience to work for you. 

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