The water at Camp Lejeune had been very contaminated from 1953 to 1987. That means that for thirty-four years, people were exposed to seriously toxic and damaging chemicals every day; these people include Marines, veterans, workers, relatives, and visitors. What’s more, many have noted that the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune caused female infertility.
Did the Water At Camp Lejeune Cause Infertility?
Studies have confirmed that there is a connection between the water contamination at Camp Lejeune and female infertility. Furthermore, many of the women who had been living there between 1953 and 1987 reported that they were infertile. Later, it was confirmed that the chemicals found in the water were the cause. Accordingly, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) says that these toxic substances can also cause, in addition to infertility in women, the following:
- Miscarriages
- Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs)
In other words, if the water exposure did not lead to complete infertility, a pregnant woman who was exposed to the contamination was at a much higher risk of miscarrying than someone who was not. In addition, the risk for APOs was much higher as well. APOs include:
- Gestational diabetes
- Gestational hypertension
- Preterm birth
- Fetal growth restriction
- Preeclampsia
- Other disorders of pregnancy
In addition to the infant, the pregnant woman was put in grave danger. So, victims who were exposed in utero can also file a claim for the Camp Lejeune lawsuit under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022.
Consequences of Water Contamination
The water contamination at Camp Lejeune led to drastic consequences for many. Thus, over one million people were exposed to the tainted water. Also, action was taken by officials when it was much too late. Consequently, many people have died, and others have lived with serious conditions as a result. Some of the main conditions caused by the contaminated water include:
- Female infertility
- Scleroderma
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Leukemia
- Lung cancer
- Multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer)
- Myelodysplastic syndrome
- Hepatic steatosis
- ALS
- Miscarriage
- Birth defects
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Renal toxicity
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Lastly, settlement amounts for most cases are estimated to be very high. Also, a lot of firms believe that cases of female infertility will also have high payouts. This is especially the situation since the number of people reporting female infertility in Camp Lejeune’s population is abnormally high. However, the exact settlement amount is still unclear.