You should be able to think that the water you drink is safe when you live in the United States. Unfortunately, this is not always a safe assumption, as many former members of the military and their families have discovered after ingesting contaminated water. For decades, military members, families, and civilians were unwittingly drinking poisonous water in Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. They suffered death, illness, and serious health conditions, all stemming from the contaminated water supply at the base.
If you or a loved one lived at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1957 and December 1987 and were diagnosed with:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP is here to help – once and for all®. Contact us today so we can discuss your rights. We are investigating claims involving these diagnoses, and cases involving death as a result of these conditions.
History of Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune
The U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp in Lejeune, North Carolina was established in 1942. 40 years later, the Marine Corps discovered specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the drinking water provided by two of the water treatment plants on base. Eight water distribution systems had supplied water to family housing and other facilities on the base. Specifically, the water distribution plants at Hadnot Point, Tarawa Terrace, and Holcomb Boulevard, which supplied most of the water to family housing units, were contaminated with VOCs. The CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registration estimates that up to one million military members, civilian staff, and their families may have been exposed to the contaminated water.
The source of the contamination was linked to the waste disposal practices of nearby businesses, leaking underground storage tanks, and industrial area spills. The recognized period of contamination extended from 1953 to 1987.
Known contaminants of the water supply include:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
- Vinyl chloride
- Methylene chloride
- Benzene
According to the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registration, the water contamination at the base likely increased the risk of cancers and other adverse health effects of people who lived on base, including infants, children, military members, and civilian workers.
Health Conditions Caused by Contaminated Water
When a community is exposed to contaminated water, the health effects can be extreme. Members of the community use contaminated water every day to drink, cook with, and bathe in. Over time, members of the community may suffer from serious diseases. The chemicals found in the Camp Lejeune water supply have been linked to various diseases, including:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
If you lived at Camp Lejeune during the exposure period and have suffered any of the medical conditions listed above, contact our water contamination lawyers today for a free consultation.
Your Right to Financial Compensation
In recognition of the water crisis in Camp Lejeune, the United States Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act on August 2, 2022. President Biden is expected to sign the bill into law within the next month. This law provides former residents at the base the right to file suit to seek compensation from the U.S. government for the adverse health conditions they suffered due to the water contamination.
If you were stationed, lived at, or worked on the Camp Lejeune base at any time between August 1957 and December 1987, for 30 or more days, and have been diagnosed with one of the conditions listed above (or if you have a loved one who was diagnosed with one of these conditions who later died as a result), contact us today. You may be able to recover financial compensation for past, current, and future medical care, lost wages, and lost quality of life.
Contact Our Attorneys for Help with Your Claim
If you or a loved one were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, the water contamination lawyers at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP can help. We can investigate your claim and explain your legal options. Our firm has recovered billions of dollars in lawsuits and claims for injured clients throughout the country. Call us today at (310) 477-1700 or contact us online to set up a free consultation. We are available 24/7.