Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuits have been filed on behalf of individuals who have suffered serious health consequences after drinking water contaminated with harmful chemicals. It is important to keep in mind that anyone who worked or lived at Camp Lejeune during the period 1953-1987 and became ill may be entitled to compensation.
Depending on how you were affected by the Camp Lejeune contamination problem, compensation can be obtained as a result of past, present, and future medical bills, loss of wages, or diminished quality of life.
Factors Contributing to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
In the early 1980s, contaminants were found in the water supply at Camp Lejeune, a US Marine Corps base in North Carolina. The water was contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE), a chemical used in degreasing and cleaning operations, and perchloroethylene (PCE), a dry-cleaning chemical. The contamination occurred when TCE and PCE leaked from two on-base dry cleaning businesses and an off-base fuel depot into the base’s water supply wells.
The U.S. Marine Corps did not notify residents of the contamination until 1997, and it is estimated that as many as one million people were exposed to the contaminated water.
If you or a loved one were exposed to Camp Lejeune water contamination, you may be eligible for benefits and compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Health Effects of Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Those exposed to Camp Lejeune water contamination may experience a number of symptoms. In some cases, these symptoms can even be life-threatening. They can range from mild to severe.
- Liver cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Lung cancer
- Liver disease
- Miscarriages
- Prostate cancer
- Leukemia
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Cervical cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Breast cancer
- Birth defects
Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, a division of the Centers for Disease Control, published the results of a study started in 2003 in 2013. Birth defects such as spina bifida are four times more likely to be born to mothers whose water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune. Leukemia was also slightly more likely to develop in these babies.
If you have been exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. The sooner you are diagnosed and treated, the better your chances of recovery will be.
Camp Lejeune Justice Act 2022 Update
A new law passed by the U.S. government in August 2022 was called the Camp Lejeune Justice Act 2022, part of the Protecting American Communities from Toxic Exposure Act (PACT). Veterans who were exposed to toxic materials during their service are the focus of the Honoring Our PACT Act.
After so many years of being denied justice, it is now possible for those who were exposed to these levels of radiation to seek compensation for their injuries through the filing of a Camp Lejeune lawsuit as a result of this new law.
Final Verdict
Residents and workers living or working at Camp Lejeune who developed one of the following illnesses during the period 1953 to 1987 as a result of Camp Lejeune Water contamination may be eligible for compensation under the Camp Lejeune Act 2022. Veterans, reservists, guardsmen, civilians, and family members are all included in this category. During that time period, people who were pregnant may also qualify. It is still possible to seek legal advice even if you haven’t developed the above-mentioned illnesses.