Camp Lejeune Water

For decades, hundreds of thousands of dedicated service members, their families, and civilian workers living and working at North Carolina's U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune were exposed to dangerous, cancer-causing chemicals in their drinking water. Camp Lejeune water contamination resulted in countless cases of cancer, Parkinson's disease, reproductive problems and other serious illnesses.

Families harmed by toxicants in Camp Lejeune water have a right to be outraged. If you or a loved one has suffered from serious illness or lost a loved one as a result of Camp Lejeune water contamination, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act will allow you to finally seek the compensation you need and deserve for this grave injustice. This page provides complete Camp Lejeune water contamination information from attorneys filing claims on behalf of Veterans and their family members.

Toxicants Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune

Camp Lejeune water contamination took place between 1953 and 1987, exposing hundreds of thousands of people to a risk for cancer and other serious illnesses. Two main water distribution systems, Hadna Point and Tarawa Terrace, provided contaminated water to Camp Lejeune's main base, barracks, family housing and temporary housing areas, as well as facilities such as daycares, hospitals and schools. U.S. Marine Corps members, their families, civilian workers and other on-base personnel were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

"For too long, veterans and their families have lived with devastating illnesses caused by exposure to toxic chemicals at Camp Lejeune. This legislation does right by those who served." - Senator Richard Burr

Contaminated water at Camp Lejeune contained industrial solvents, benzene and other harmful and cancer-causing chemicals at levels ranging from 240 to 3400 times the allowable limit. Several volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, were detected in high levels in the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, including PCE (perchloroethylene), a dry-cleaning solvent, and TCE (tricholoroethylene), an industrial degreaser. More than seventy harmful chemicals in all were found in contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

Sources of Camp Lejeune Water Contaminants

Three different potential sources have been identified for the harmful and cancer-causing chemicals found in Camp Lejeune's contaminated drinking water: The first was an off-base dry cleaning facility near Camp Lejeune, which is thought to have dumped chemicals unsafely which then entered the groundwater. The second likely source of Camp Lejeune water contamination were on-base units that cleaned military equipment. The third major source of harmful chemicals in Camp Lejeune water were verified fuel leaks from underground fuel storage tanks. Benzene, PCE, TCE and other harmful toxicants leached through the soil, contaminating well water at Camp Lejeune.

Illnesses from Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

Benzene, PCE, TCE and other harmful chemicals were found in high levels in contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. These toxic chemicals have been found to cause cancer and a number of other health problems. Marines stationed at Camp Lejeune had a 10% higher risk of dying of cancer than Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton at the same time. There is a correlation between Camp Lejeune water contamination and cancer. Marines at Camp Lejeune had a 35% higher risk of kidney cancer, 42% higher risk of liver cancer, 47% higher risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma, and a 68% higher risk of multiple myeloma. Esophageal cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, and leukemia have all been linked to drinking water contamination at Camp Lejeune.

In addition to cancer, Camp Lejeune water contamination caused ALS, myelodysplastic syndromes, renal toxicity, hepatic steatosis, female infertility, miscarriage, scleroderma, and neurobehaviorial effects. Up to 750,000 people qualify for free medical care through the Department of Veterans Affairs for fifteen different illnesses and syndromes linked to Camp Lejeune water toxicants.

If you are already receiving medical benefits or other compensation from the V.A. for Camp Lejeune water, you still qualify for filing a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.

Justice for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Victims

The drinking water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated over the course of four decades, from 1953 to 1987. Botched testing, reporting and investigation prolonged the length of time the hazardous wells were still in use by several years, resulting in many more people with cancer and other illnesses than would otherwise have occurred. Between 1982 and 1985, several attempts were made to alert base officials of the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune but no immediate action was taken.

For decades, persons harmed by water contamination at Camp Lejeune have been prevented from seeking justice for the illness and loss, bound by North Carolina law. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in March 2022 is a major step toward bringing justice to families harmed by cancer or other illnesses from Camp Lejeune water.

A bipartisan bill, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, is also under consideration in the U.S. Senate. Brought forth by Senators Thomas Tillis and Richard Burr (Rep - NC) as well as Richard Blumenthal (Dem - CT) and Gary Peters (Dem - MI), this important legislation would allow Veterans and family members to be present evidence of injuries suffered from contaminated water at Camp Lejeune in a court of law for the first time. Anyone who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune (including in utero) for at least 30 days because August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987, may qualify to file a Camp Lejeune water contamination claim.

Let Our Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyers Help You

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Camp Lejeune Water Lawsuits

Filing a lawsuit will allow you to hold the U.S. Marines accountable for damage from Camp Lejeune water toxicants to you or a loved one, while also providing real compensation for your medical expenses, suffering and loss. Contact us today for a free consultation.