In 1982, the Marine Corps identified various cancer-causing and/or potentially carcinogenic compounds in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Further investigation confirmed that the contamination occurred between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. Exposure to the chemicals involved can cause cancer, birth defects and other serious health conditions. Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021, certain individuals became entitled to sue and recover damages for harm caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
What Caused the Water Contamination?
The water contamination at Camp Lejeune appears to have been a combination of several toxic chemicals, including oil, industrial wastewater, degreasers, solvents, and more that was dumped into storm drains. This eventually led to a contaminated aquifer, which quickly made the local water unsafe.
The military base was labeled as a “major polluter” by the Environmental Protection Agency. In the 1980s, military reports indicated that the contamination posed a potential threat to the drinking water and the persons exposed to it. This led to water testing and improved disposal techniques; however, the water had already been polluted. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, as many as one million military personnel and their families as well as civilian staff working at the site may have been exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune.
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Are There Negative Side Effects of Being Exposed to the Camp Lejeune Water?
Unfortunately, yes. Beyond short-term health effects, scientific and medical evidence support links between exposure to the contaminated water and the development of potentially fatal diseases and other serious health conditions.
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What Specific Health Issues May be Linked to the Camp Lejeune Contamination?
Individual cases can vary, but the list of presumptive conditions for Camp Lejeune contamination cases has been identified as:
- bladder cancer
- breast cancer
- esophageal cancer
- female infertility
- hepatic steatosis
- kidney cancer
- leukemia
- lung cancer
- miscarriage
- multiple myeloma
- myelodysplastic syndromes
- neurobehavioral effects (such as Parkinson’s disease, but which may also include brain impairments such as dementia and other neurobehavioral conditions)
- non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- renal toxicity
- scleroderma.
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What if I Have Been Exposed?
Even short-term exposure to water contaminants at Camp Lejeune could result in potentially adverse health effects. If you were exposed to drinking or other water at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days and have serious health conditions, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Fortunately, there is something that can be done for the victims of water contamination at Camp Lejeune. In June of 2022, Congress passed the “Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021” to provide relief for Camp Lejeune water contamination victims.
Attorneys at Morris Bart are ready to assist persons who have suffered adverse health consequences from exposure to harmful chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune. Our highly experienced attorneys can help ensure that victims recover the maximum compensation to which they may be entitled.
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Can I Receive Disability and/or Health Care Benefits in Addition to Camp Lejeune Damages?
If you served at either Camp Lejeune or the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) in New River, North Carolina between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 and have a presumptive condition, you may be eligible for government disability and/or health care benefits, which are in addition to tort damages that may be recoverable under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. Attorneys at Morris Bart are available to advise whether you or your loved one are eligible to assert a tort claim and how doing so may relate to VA disability and healthcare benefits. For a free case evaluation or to learn more about the legal options available to victims of the Camp Lejeune contamination, call us at (800)537-8185. The experienced mass tort attorneys at Morris Bart are ready to assist you. Contact us today!
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