Overview
From 1953 until 1987, the water supply at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina was heavily contaminated with an array of hazardous substances. These substances have been linked to a number of very serious health issues. We will be discussing the Camp Lejeune health issues in detail, as well as which ones qualify for compensation and benefits.
The toxic chemicals found in the water have led to many diseases and even deaths. The waste that had been dumped into the water in that area for years had turned the water into poison. Naturally, this made the water very harmful to humans. Over a million people were exposed to this water. This means that there are a vast number of people who have been harmed by Camp Lejeune.
Causes of Camp Lejeune Health Issues
Although there is now a lot of evidence linking the Camp Lejeune water to some major health problems, there are still some things that are unclear. For instance, how does contaminated water cause such severe problems? And what are the confirmed Camp Lejeune health issues? Let us start by answering the first of these two questions. Two of the main sources of water on the base were found to have vinyl chloride, benzene, TCE, and PCE in them when tested. These are known to be extremely toxic to humans and can cause severe symptoms if someone is exposed.
There is no doubt that exposure to chemicals has caused many of the health issues at Camp Lejeune, in most cases. It is important to know that these are the only chemicals that have been confirmed to be in toxic water. There were certainly many other compounds in the water. Since we now know the cause was chemical exposure, let’s look at the effects.
Effects of Camp Lejeune Contaminants
Vinyl chloride, for instance, is known to increase the risk of liver cancer, brain cancer, lung cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma. In addition to hepatocellular carcinoma, it specifically causes hepatic angiosarcoma, a rare type of liver cancer. Benzene is also very dangerous in cases of prolonged exposure. It causes cell damage in general. As an example, it can cause anemia by damaging the bone marrow, which produces red blood cells. In another instance, it can ruin the immune system of the human body. It can do this by altering the level of blood antibodies, which results in fewer white blood cells being produced. Trichloroethylene, known as TCE, can cause skin irritation, dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, headaches, confusion, unconsciousness, and more. In more serious cases, it can cause liver damage and even lead to death.
Lastly, tetrachloroethylene exposure can cause a number of risks. Tetrachloroethylene, or PCE, can cause damage to the nervous system of the body. Other than a poor nervous system, it can also cause headaches, muscle problems, and more. Worse, one can be exposed to it by simply breathing it in. Needless to say, it is very dangerous to come into contact with this substance or with any of the other toxic compounds mentioned.
Why This Matters
As it were, considering that the chemicals were being dumped into the water supply for years, it is no wonder that the degree of toxicity was high. Sadly, this greatly increased the chance of people being harmed by it. It also meant that there were more people in harm’s way; higher exposure also means greater risk. So someone who lived at Camp Lejeune longer is also at a greater risk than someone who was only stationed there for a short time. Eventually, the faulty sources of water were shut down as soon as the contamination was confirmed. However, it was too little, too late because the damage was already done.
Main Camp Lejeune Health Issues
Camp Lejeune Cancer
The Camp Lejeune health issues are not limited to cancers, but many of the cases are related to them. As it were, the toxic chemicals that were found in the Camp Lejeune water can cause all of the following:
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Leukemia
- Lung cancer
- Multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer)
- Myelodysplastic syndrome
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
The contaminated water at Camp Lejeune can also cause other cancers. It is to be noted that the highest rates of diseases linked to Camp Lejeune are kidney cancer, prostate and rectal cancer, leukemia, and Parkinson’s disease. The more someone is exposed to the water at Camp Lejeune, the more serious the risk is. High rates of colon cancer, or colorectal cancer, have also been reported.
It goes without saying that all of the conditions mentioned above make you more than eligible to file for Camp Lejeune lawsuits. As the most extreme result of the Camp Lejeune water contamination was premature death, mostly caused by cancer, the expected settlement payout amounts are very high. The federal government set aside $6.7 billion for all the people who were exposed and harmed.
Other Camp Lejeune Health Issues
Aside from cancer, the contaminants in the water have been linked to a variety of other medical conditions. The main diseases and injuries are listed here.
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis
- ALS
- Miscarriage
- Birth defects
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
As mentioned above, many of the women who were exposed to Camp Lejeune water became infertile. The number of women was too high to be just a coincidence. In addition, way too many pregnant women who were exposed either experienced miscarriage or gave birth to infants who had birth defects. This is because the chemicals in the water affected the reproductive systems of those women. Victims in utero who had also been exposed were four times more likely to have birth defects. This increased their chances of developing neural tubes birth defects like spina bifida and anencephaly.
Many victims of Camp Lejeune have experienced hepatic steatosis. This also leads to liver damage and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases. Others have suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. This health condition affects neurons that control the movement of muscles. Renal toxicity, another condition caused by the toxic water at Camp Lejeune, can result in renal and pot-renal azotemia. This is because the chemicals have damaging effects on the kidneys. Yet another condition is scleroderma or systemic sclerosis. This is caused by the immune system when it attacks the tissue underneath the skin or around organs and vessels. As can be seen, there are a lot of health conditions that the Lejeune water has caused.
Neurobehavioral Disorders
There are many other health conditions that can be caused by contaminated water. This includes neurobehavioral disorders. Besides the health issues mentioned so far, one of the most common conditions caused by the water at Camp Lejeune is Parkinson’s disease. It is essentially a brain disorder. The symptoms include fatigue, uncontrollable movements, stiffness, trouble with coordination or balance, and shaking. In more serious cases, it could even lead to trouble walking or talking.
At present, it has been proven that the toxic water at Camp Lejeune can damage the body’s nervous system. This means that it can cause problems in behavior or learning. It can even cause emotional issues for some people.
The neurobehavioral problems include the following:
- Memory problems
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Trouble concentrating
- Dementia
- Anxiety
- Parkinson’s disease
People can also file for compensation because of emotional distress or trauma (PTSD) caused by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune. People who have been hurt by these health problems at Camp Lejeune need to go to court as soon as possible.