The Water Contamination Culprit At Camp Lejeune

Between 1953 and 1987, US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina had two contaminated water supply systems. Over 1 million people were exposed to toxic chemicals, which can cause cancer, birth defects, and other serious health conditions. The contamination appears to have been caused by a nearby dry-cleaning business that dumped wastewater filled with volatile organic compounds and other contaminants into the drains. The USMC leaders were accused of concealing knowledge of the problem and failing to act to resolve it or notify former residents. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 allows those affected by the contaminated water to seek justice and pursue benefits such as healthcare and compensation.

The US government and USMC leaders were aware of the contamination

The contamination was primarily caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), which were dumped into the water supply by a nearby dry-cleaning business and through improper waste disposal by the military and base officials. Records indicate that the USMC was aware of the presence of these toxic chemicals and failed to notify residents for 17 years.

In 1986, an EPA official, Arthur Linton, recounted a meeting with Corps officials in a letter, stating that the Corps knew about the contamination by unidentified pollutants as early as 1983 or 1984. Additionally, regulations from 1974 show that the Corps had knowledge of the dangers posed by organic solvents, and testing in 1980-1982 detected trace levels of these contaminants in the water. Despite this, Camp Lejeune failed to act or investigate the source of the contamination.

The National Research Council's 2009 report confirmed the water taint but did not establish a link to health problems. However, a 2010 letter from the Director of the government agency studying health effects at Camp Lejeune acknowledged the hazards associated with drinking the contaminated water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) later found that the contaminated water significantly increased the risk of multiple diseases.

As a result of the contamination, thousands of military veterans and their family members have suffered illnesses, health issues, and even death. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 finally allowed victims and their families to seek justice and compensation for their hardships. This federal law enables those affected to sue the US government and pursue benefits such as healthcare and financial relief.

Contaminants included PCE, TCE, benzene, vinyl chloride, and more

The water contamination at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina is considered by many scientists to be the worst water contamination event in US history. From 1953 to 1987, United States Marine Corps (USMC) personnel and their families, as well as international assignees, were exposed to contaminated water. The contamination appears to have affected two of the eight water wells on the base.

Other contaminants found in the water at Camp Lejeune included benzene and vinyl chloride, as well as more than 70 other chemicals. The exact number and nature of the contaminants is still being investigated. The contamination levels of PCE and TCE were found to be between 240 and 3,400 times the current safe levels, posing a significant health risk to those exposed.

The contamination was caused by multiple factors, including industrial area spills, waste disposal sites, and leaking underground storage tanks. Local records indicate that military and base officials dumped industrial wastewater and oil into storm drains, which eventually contaminated the water supply. The Marine Corps has been accused of concealing knowledge of the problem and failing to act appropriately to resolve it or notify former residents.

Contaminated water caused health issues, including cancer and ALS

From 1953 to 1987, the water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina was contaminated with harmful chemicals. The main chemicals involved were volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE). PCE is a dry-cleaning solvent, while TCE is a degreaser. More than 70 chemicals have been identified as contaminants, and the contamination levels were 240 to 3,400 times higher than the current safe levels.

As a result, an undetermined number of former residents, including military veterans and their family members, developed serious health issues. These include cancer, ALS, fatty liver disease, infertility, Parkinson's disease, and birth defects in children born at the base. The contaminated water was also linked to an increased risk of multiple diseases. In 2011, retired Marine Joel P. Shriberg filed a lawsuit against the US government, claiming that the contaminated water caused his breast cancer.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 allows veterans, survivors, and families to seek relief and file for compensation and other benefits for harm caused by the contaminated water. This includes disability and health care benefits for those who served at Camp Lejeune during the contamination period. The 2012 Camp Lejeune healthcare law also provides cost-free health care for certain conditions to veterans who served at least 30 days of active duty during the contamination period.

The contamination of the water at Camp Lejeune was caused by multiple factors, including industrial area spills, waste disposal sites, and leaking underground storage tanks. Local records indicate that military and base officials dumped industrial wastewater and oil into storm drains, which eventually contaminated the water supply wells. A nearby dry cleaning business also dumped wastewater filled with VOCs and other contaminants into drains, contributing to the water contamination.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 allows victims to seek compensation

The Camp Lejeune water contamination is considered the worst water contamination event in US history, affecting thousands of military veterans and their families. From 1953 to 1987, the tap water system at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina was contaminated with harmful chemicals, exposing over 1 million people to toxic substances. The main chemicals involved were volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), which were present at concentrations 240 to 3,400 times higher than the permitted safe levels. Other contaminants included benzene, vinyl chloride, and tetrachloroethylene.

The contamination was caused by multiple factors, including industrial area spills, waste disposal sites, leaking underground storage tanks, and the improper disposal of industrial wastewater and oil by military and base officials. The toxic water has been linked to various health issues, including cancer, ALS, fatty liver disease, infertility, Parkinson's disease, miscarriages, birth defects, and other serious illnesses.

For over 30 years, residents of Camp Lejeune unknowingly used contaminated water for drinking, bathing, and cooking. In 2009, the US federal government initiated investigations into the allegations of water contamination and the failure of the US Marine Corps to address the issue. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 finally allows victims to seek compensation for their injuries and hardships.

The Act is a part of the larger PACT Act (The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act), which aims to improve healthcare and disability benefits for veterans exposed to toxic chemicals during their military service. Specifically, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act enables veterans, their family members, and civilian workers who were exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune to file lawsuits for financial compensation. Prior to the Act, victims were not allowed to sue for medical issues linked to the contamination. Now, those who spent more than 30 days at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, may be eligible to pursue legal action and recover damages.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has clarified that it will not assert an offset over EO payments under the Medicare fee-for-service program related to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act claims. However, claimants should be cautious of potential fraudulent activity, as there have been reports of unscrupulous people and companies attempting to obtain personal information or monetary payments from claimants.

Nearby businesses and the USMC contributed to the contamination

The water contamination at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, is considered by many scientists to be the worst water contamination event in US history. From 1953 to 1987, United States Marine Corps (USMC) personnel and their families, as well as international assignees, were exposed to contaminated water with harmful chemicals at concentrations 240 to 3,400 times higher than the permitted safe levels.

The contamination was caused by multiple factors, including industrial area spills, waste disposal sites, and leaking underground storage tanks. Local records show that military and base officials dumped industrial wastewater and oil into storm drains, which eventually seeped into the water supply.

One significant contributor to the contamination was a nearby dry-cleaning business. For years, this business improperly disposed of wastewater filled with volatile organic compounds and other contaminants, such as dry-cleaning chemicals, into drains. The main chemical disposed of was tetrachloroethylene (PCE), a suspected carcinogen and industrial product. PCE was also used by the Marines for cleaning purposes, leading to toxic exposure for residents.

Another factor was the presence of trichloroethylene (TCE), a degreaser and suspected carcinogen. TCE was found at extremely high levels, with concentrations up to 280 times higher than what is currently considered safe by the EPA.

The contamination was first discovered in October 1980 when military chemists detected trace levels of organic compounds in the treated water. However, Camp Lejeune failed to act on these findings and did not investigate the source of the contamination. The most contaminated wells were eventually shut down in 1985, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has been assessing health risks at the base since the late 1980s.

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