According to a new ATSDR study released in January 2024, increased Camp Lejeune cancer risks are likely to be the case for many people who lived and worked on the marine base between 1953 and 1987.
The federal study shows that the cancer risks for contaminated water victims are even greater than previously reported. The results disclose higher rates for several types of cancer already expected to be linked to the contamination, as well as certain other cancers not officially associated with the water.
The study comes from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a sub-agency of the CDC. The new data is well-timed for marines, families, and civilian workers exposed to the polluted drinking water on the base.
Almost 1,500 plaintiffs have filed lawsuits in the Eastern District of North Carolina Federal Court and about 164,136 administrative claims with the Department of Navy, thanks to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA), passed by Congress in 2022. The CLJA allows military and non-military injury victims to sue the U.S. government for reparations for harm caused by the toxic water.
Compensation is available to anyone who suffered cancer or other illness from exposure to the marine base’s water supply between 1953 and 1987 — but only if your claim is filed before the August 10, 2024 deadline.
Does this Breakthrough Study Affect You?
New government data upholding increased Camp Lejeune cancer risks may be a leap forward for hundreds or thousands of people affected by the base’s toxic water supply.
If you or a family member developed cancer or other illness after living or working at Marine Base Camp Lejeune, we urge you to contact Marc Whitehead & Associates today. We may be able to help you seek justice in a Camp Lejeune lawsuit for maximum compensation regarding your specific case.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 562-9830
What Did the ATSDR Study Look At?
The Camp Lejeune study reveals that certain workers and residents were likely at even greater risk of developing cancers or health issues than previously reported – as much as 20 percent greater – due to exposure to Camp Lejeune contaminated water.
The ATSDR study adds significant support to various cancer claims made on behalf of military personnel, their families, and civilians who worked and lived on the marine base and have suffered illness or death as a result.
The title of the study is,
Evaluation of Cancer Incidence Among Marines and Navy Personnel and Civilian Workers Exposed to Contaminated Drinking Water at USMC Base Camp Lejeune: A Cohort Study.
A cohort study is an observational study that follows a group of participants over a period of time. Cohort studies examine how factors, such as exposure to contaminants, affect health outcomes.
The study examined two marine bases, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Camp Pendleton, California. Both bases were similar in population, social and economic status, training operations, and civilian worker occupations. However, unlike Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton’s drinking water was not known to be contaminated between 1972 and 1985.
The extensive study examined:
- Marines/Navy personnel stationed at Camp Lejeune between 1975 and 1985, and Camp Pendleton between 1975 and 1985, and
- Civilian workers employed at Camp Lejeune or Camp Pendleton between October 1972 and December 1985.
Increased Camp Lejeune Cancer Risks – Not a Surprise
The higher risks for cancer for past Camp Lejeune military personnel, families, and civilian employees had long been suspected. This new research contributes robust evidence of a link between exposure to toxic water and adverse health conditions.
The paper also found that “families living in base housing that received contaminated drinking water may have had exposure durations longer than most Marines and Navy personnel on base.”
What Higher Cancer Risks Are Reported?
- Among Marines/Navy personnel, rates increased for the following:
- Acute myeloid leukemia
- All myeloid cancers (including polycythemia vera)
- Myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative syndromes
- Cancers of the esophagus
- Cancers of the larynx
- Soft tissue cancers
- Thyroid cancer
- Among civilian workers, increased Camp Lejeune cancer risks were observed for:
- All myeloid cancers, including polycythemia vera
- Squamous cell lung cancer
- Female ductal breast cancer
The ATSDR calls this “one of the largest cancer incidence cohort studies ever conducted in the U.S.” Research used data from cancer registries in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the Pacific Islands, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
New Cancers Not Previously Linked to Camp Lejeune
The ATSDR paper reports certain cancers not officially linked to the contaminated water by past studies. These added conditions include breast cancer and esophageal cancer, occurring more frequently among former Camp Lejeune veterans and residents.
Questions about Peer Review Status for the Cohort Study
Pending rigorous peer review, the data supporting increased Camp Lejeune cancer risks could result in an extended list of cancers and diseases for which those who lived and worked on the base can receive government compensation.
In addition to scientific review at CDC/ATSDR, the study has been externally peer-reviewed as part of standard manuscript preparation at CDC/ATSDR. The paper has also been submitted for publishing in a peer-reviewed publication.
2022 to 2024 Summary of Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Camp Lejeune was built in the 1940s in Jacksonville, NC. Its drinking water was contaminated with industrial solvents from the 1950s to the 1980s. Causes included poorly maintained fuel depots, improper waste disposal on the base, and contamination from an off-base dry cleaner. The pollution was not detected until the early 1980s.
Camp Lejeune’s water systems were contaminated with over 70 chemicals. The main chemicals involved were:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE) – used as a degreaser for metal parts
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) – used for dry cleaning and metal degreasing
- Benzene – used to make industrial chemicals and is a component in fuel
- Vinyl Chloride – an industrial chemical used to produce polyvinyl (PVC) plastic
The relevant water distribution systems included Hadnot Point, Holcomb Boulevard, and Tarawa Terrace.
Before the affected wells were shut down, water polluted with carcinogenic chemicals was channeled to barracks, family housing, schools, offices, and the base’s hospital. Military
personnel, their families, and civilian workers who lived and worked on the base during these years drank, cooked, and bathed in the contaminated water.
The Navy and DOD knew the base’s tap water was polluted and failed to act, resulting in devastating sickness and suffering that should have never happened.
In 2022, legislation called the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) was passed, allowing veterans, reservists, guardsmen, family members, non-military (civilian) workers, contractors, and any other person who lived or worked at or near the base to file claims to recover damages for harm from exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.
Are Issues Holding Up CLJA Claims?
As of February 2024, pretrial procedural delays and pivotal questions are still being sorted out.
Perhaps the main issue is the recent ruling by the government to disallow jury trials under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. On February 6, 2024, the Court granted the government’s motion to strike all plaintiffs’ demands for a jury trial.
The Court’s Order would prohibit you from having your case heard and decided by a jury. If the Order is left to stand, all trials will be “bench trials,” where a federal judge will rule on your case and determine any monetary award to you.
The Plaintiffs’ Leadership Group (PLG), established by the Court, has begun to appeal the court’s order while pursuing trials as swiftly as possible. Our Camp Lejeune attorneys are monitoring this motion and will update you on this and other vital issues.
The Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Filing Deadline Is Fast Approaching!
Research indicating increased Camp Lejeune cancer risks adds scope and weight to contaminated water lawsuits filed against the U.S. government. We are proactively watching how these findings shape litigation proceedings and strategies.
If you believe your cancer or illness was caused by exposure to Camp Lejeune toxic water, contact Marc Whitehead & Associates now to ensure your rights are protected. You may be entitled to compensation in a Camp Lejeune cancer lawsuit, and we are here to represent you through the entire process.
We are immediately available to advise you of your rights and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Further Reading:
- Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 – H.R.6482
- ATSDR’s Summary, Cancer Incidence Study Results
Sources:
- https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.01.27.24301873v1?ct=
- https://camplejeunecourtinfo.com/ – This website, In Re: Camp Lejeune Water Litigation, is established by the Plaintiffs’ Leadership Group.
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