Toxic chemicals streamed through the tap water at Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987. However, it wasn’t until 1982 that the Marine Corps discovered the presence of contaminants.
What were these toxins? Investigations revealed the base’s water supply had been heavily contaminated with volatile organic compounds and carcinogenic chemicals. Marines, their families, and others drank, cooked with, bathed in, mixed baby formula, and otherwise used the polluted water for three decades.
The contaminated water has resulted in chronic diseases and deaths for countless victims. If you or a loved one were exposed to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune and later suffered associated health problems, you may qualify for financial compensation.
Water Contaminants at Camp Lejeune
The government identified toxic industrial chemicals at unacceptable levels in the water at Camp Lejeune, including the following chemicals known as volatile organic compounds.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
EPA’s database of VOCs explains these compounds are a group of industrial chemicals that can dissolve in water. They are often components of petroleum fuels, hydraulic fluids, and paint thinners. Some VOCs, such as PCE and TCE, described below, are often used in dry cleaning operations to help dissolve greases, oils, and waxes. VOCs are common groundwater contaminants. Many have short- and long-term adverse health effects.
On-site testing in the early 1980s revealed the following specific VOCs had polluted the water at Camp Lejeune at dangerously high levels from 1953 to 1987:
- Perchloroethylene (PCE)
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Benzene
- Vinyl Chloride
- Methylene Chloride
- Toluene
Perchloroethylene (PCE)
Perchloroethylene is a colorless liquid used primarily in industrial settings for dry cleaning, degreasing and cleaning metals and machinery, and in lubricants, adhesives, and sealants. PCE is known to raise the risk of several cancers.
Trichloroethylene (TCE)
Trichloroethylene is an industrial metal degreasing solvent used in dry cleaning and cleaning metal machinery. It is also a cleaning agent found in paint removers and carpet cleaners. TCE is known to raise the risk of several cancers, including kidney cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and possibly liver cancer.
Benzene
Benzene is a highly flammable liquid chemical found in crude oil. Benzene evaporates quickly, and the vapor is heavy and may sink into the ground. It dissolves slightly in water. Manufacturers use benzene to make other chemicals in plastics, resins, nylon, synthetic fibers, pesticides, and other chemicals. It is also a fuel additive. The EPA has classified benzene as a human carcinogen. It has been linked to leukemia and other illnesses, including multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Vinyl Chloride
Vinyl chloride is a colorless gas used chiefly to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Vinyl chloride can leak into soil and groundwater following improper disposal of chemical wastes such as TCE and PCE. A known human carcinogen, vinyl chloride is associated with the development of certain cancers, including liver cancer, angiosarcoma, and lung cancer.
Methylene Chloride
Also called dichloromethane, methylene chloride is a colorless, volatile, practically nonflammable liquid. It is used in various industries and applications, such as adhesives, paint and coating products, pharmaceuticals, automotive and metal cleaning, chemical processing, and aerosols. The EPA has determined that methylene chloride is a probable cancer-causing agent in humans.
Toluene
Toluene is a colorless liquid with a sweet, pungent odor. It is used in diverse industries, including paints, dyes, solvents, fingernail polish, and gasoline. Research shows exposure to toluene likely increases the risk of lung, breast, esophagus, stomach, colon, lymph system, and rectum cancer. Additionally, continued exposure is known to cause confusion, muscle fatigue, insomnia, nerve damage, inflammation of the skin, and liver and kidney damage.
How did Camp Lejeune’s water become contaminated?
These chemicals got into the drinking water at Camp Lejeune through wells that pumped groundwater into the drinking water systems for the base. Two of Camp Lejeune’s water treatment plants (WTP) were highly contaminated: Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point.
According to the CDC Fact Sheet, causes of marine base pollution are attributed to sources both on and off base.
- Tarawa Terrace: TCE, PCE, and vinyl chloride were the primary contaminants of the water from Camp Lejeune’s Tarawa Terrace water treatment plant. The source was a nearby, off-base dry cleaner, ABC One-Hour Cleaners, which improperly disposed of its chemical waste. Exposure to these chemicals increases the risks of cancers, birth defects, and other health-related problems.
- Hadnot Point: Leaking underground storage tanks, industrial area spills, and waste disposal sites were to blame for on-base sources of pollution to the Hadnot Point water treatment plant. TCE and vinyl chloride in drinking water from the Hadnot Point WTP were high enough to increase the risks of cancer and other illnesses not related to cancer.
Contaminated water plants supplied water to the base hospital, barracks, family housing, administrative offices, recreational areas, schools, and other areas.
How a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyer Can Help
The following points explain the benefits of hiring us to assist you with developing your case so that you receive maximum compensation under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA).
We urge you to contact our Camp Lejeune lawyers for a free consultation and learn more about these important benefits.
Help you gather evidence
Our attorneys will locate and assemble substantiating medical and service documentation to support your case. We need to prove that your illness is due to exposure to the Camp Lejeune water contaminants. First, we will talk with you to understand your time at the marine base. We want to know how much exposure you had to the water at Camp Lejeune and how it has impacted your life. Our attorneys will then establish the subsequent harm done and how the toxic exposure has affected your health, including diagnosis and treatment.
Navigate the application process
The first step is to file your Camp Lejeune administrative claim for damages with the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy’s Tort Claims Unit. Your lawyer will accurately complete and file the appropriate paperwork, including the Questionnaire for Camp Lejeune Claimants. We anticipate all possible questions, including how your claim might interact with veterans’ disability compensation, Social Security Disability benefits, or Medicaid benefits. We will ensure every deadline is met.
Keep you updated on any changes in legislation
Claims under the CLJA are in the early stages. Many cases will be complex, and medical and legislative updates may surface as the process evolves and claims increase. Our law firm commits to keep you updated regularly and promptly as to the progress of your case.
Take legal action on your behalf
Our attorneys will present your case to government counsel and pursue a settlement for maximum compensation. We will file suit on your behalf and fully represent your case at trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
We are immediately available to advise you of your rights and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
