Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water Lawsuits

U.S. Veterans, their family members and contractors may have been exposed to contaminated drinking water between 1953 and 1987 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and developed cancer or other serious health issues years later. Some of these servicemen, families or others present at the base have been deemed ineligible or had their claims denied by the Veterans Administration, but a new law may allow them compensation.

The Marine Corps training base at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina has been the subject of multiple studies of the drinking water, due to the high rates of cancer among those exposed to it. From 1953 through 1987 the drinking water was corrupted with high levels of the solvents perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) thousands of times above the maximum safe levels. Additionally, tetrachloroethylene, benzene, and vinyl chloride were present in the water.

Consequently, nearly 1 million people were exposed to the contaminated water between 1953 and 1987, including Marine Corps personnel, their families, and civilian employees. Many of these people have suffered from diseases that did not become apparent until long after they had left Camp Lejeune.

Water Contamination Linked to Cancers and Other Health Problems

By the time the government publicly acknowledged the situation, the statute of limitations had expired, meaning that people who were affected couldn’t obtain relief. However, Congress has just passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act which now makes it possible for those affected to seek reparations for illness, injury, and death from exposure to the contaminated water.

If you have patients who have been diagnosed with multiple myeloma due to exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during the years of 1953 to 1987, they may be eligible for compensation. Health conditions arising from exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejune may include:

• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Female infertility
• Hepatic steatosis
• Kidney cancer
• Leukemia
• Lung cancer
• Miscarriage
• Multiple myeloma
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Neurobehavioral effects
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Renal toxicity
• Scleroderma
• Parkinson’s disease
• Other health conditions