Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune Caused Serious Health Problems 

 Posted on August 19, 2022 in Personal Injury

On August 10th, President Joe Biden signed a bill called the PACT Act, making it law. The PACT Act, or The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxic Act, expands benefits for veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during their military service. This includes burn pit victims from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, veterans harmed by Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, and servicemembers, their families, and employees of Camp Lejeune who were seriously harmed by the toxic drinking water that was present there for several decades. 

Camp Lejeune Water Contaminated by Dry Cleaning Chemicals

Located in Jacksonville Carolina, Camp Lejeune is a Marine Corps base camp that was established in 1942. In 1982, Camp Lejeune realized that volatile organic compounds existed in the potable water from two of the base’s eight water treatment plants that exceeded the maximum safe levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency. These chemicals came from a nearby dry cleaning facility that was improperly disposing of waste chemicals. Despite the discovery happening in 1982, the contaminated sources of water were not shut down for another three years. 

Which Chemicals Were In Camp Lejeune Water?

Several dangerous chemical contaminants were discovered in the water, including: 

• PCE

• Benzene

• TCE and TCE degradation products

• Vinyl chloride 

The storage tanks containing these chemicals leaked, and in addition to chemical spills and poor waste disposal practices, the water was contaminated to dangerous levels. 

What Health Effects Did Camp Lejeune Employees Suffer? 

Servicemembers, their families, and Camp Lejeune employees were all exposed to the contaminated drinking water. While not everyone who was exposed was exposed to such a degree that they developed health problems, countless people were. The symptoms and diseases caused by the chemicals in the water include, but are not limited to: 

• Kidney cancer

• Bladder cancer

• Liver cancer

• Multiple myeloma

• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

• Leukemia

• End-stage renal disease

• Parkinson disease

• Cardiac defects

• Birth defects 

The PACT Act now makes it easier for victims of Camp Lejeune’s drinking water to take action, including receiving expanded benefits and medical coverage, and getting fair compensation for serious adverse health outcomes like cancer. 

Meet with an Experienced Illinois Camp Lejeune Water Attorney

If you or a family member lived, served, or worked at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base Camp between 1950 and 1987, you may be able to recover compensation for the serious diseases you suffered as a result of being exposed to toxic substances in the water. To learn more about how you can prove your injuries are from Camp Lejeune, contact an Illinois Camp Lejeune water lawyer with Schwartz Injury Law. We will conduct a thorough investigation of you or your loved one’s symptoms and illnesses and do our best to establish a link to the contaminated water. Even if you have had a claim denied in the past, the PACT Act may make it possible for you to recover damages. Call us today at 708-888-2160 to schedule your free consultation. 

Sources: 

https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/camp-lejeune-water-contamination/

https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/background.html

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/burn-pits/2022/08/04/now-that-the-pact-act-passed-how-soon-will-veterans-see-their-benefits/

https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/tce_pce.html