Environmental Concerns Drive Some Camp Lejeune Water Lawsuits
State governments are filing lawsuits to force the makers of firefighting foam to clean up their mess
Friday, December 16, 2022 - On the one hand, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was designed to help cancer victims and the surviving loved ones of those who have died from cancer, the ability to file a Camp Lejeune Justice Act Claim against the federal government for the personal injury or wrongful death they suffered. More than one million people including US service members, civilian employees, and others regularly drank the water at Camp Lejeune that was contaminated with toxic volatile organic compounds. Water contamination occurred from the runoff from unlined waste disposal sites, the chemicals used to clean and degrease military weapons and equipment, and other sources including a local dry cleaner that has been accused of dumping their toxic dry cleaning solvents into a nearby storm drain. The VOCs confirmed to have contaminated Camp Lejeune water include the following: Trichloroethylene (TCE), a solvent that is used to remove metal parts and has been linked to liver and kidney cancer. Perchloroethylene (PCE), is an industrial cleaner classified as a "likely carcinogen" by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Benzene, a known carcinogen and has been linked to high rates of leukemia and blood-based cancers. Toluene, an ingredient in some degreasers, has been associated with certain cancers and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to ChatOpenAi. Vinyl chloride, a gas used to make PVC, has been linked to an increased risk of hepatic angiosarcoma and other types of cancer including lymphoma, lung cancer, brain cancer, leukemia, and other recently discovered chemicals.
The water contamination problem appeared to have been solved in 1987 when health officials closed the final water treatment facility that was allegedly contaminated. Since then, however, the Camp Lejeune drinking water problem may have only begun. Recent water testing revealed that Camp Lejeune and nearby water supplies are contaminated with PFAS forever chemicals from firefighting foam used on the base. Hundreds of other military sites around the nation are being tested with similar results. PFAS forever chemicals are believed to be even more deadly than VOCs because as their name implies, PFAS chemicals bioaccumulate in the human body for a lifetime. The North Carolina State Attorney General has filed two PFAS forever chemical lawsuits alleging that firefighting foam manufacturers 3M, DuPont, and dozens of other companies knew about the dangers their product would cause to human health and the environment. The State lawsuit seeks millions of dollars to clean up the area's water, soils, and air, an effort that may be futile. The extent of the environmental damage that has already occurred is staggering.
3M is one of a dozen or so manufacturers of products that contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals. PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been used in a wide range of products and the sources of PFAS chemicals seem to grow every day. While runoff from firefighting foam near military bases seems to be the greatest source of contamination, landfills throughout the world are a graveyard of products that contain PFAS forever chemicals. Those products include Teflon, non-stick cookware, Scotchgard brand stain-resistant fabrics, and Gortex waterproof clothing. These remain persistent in the environment for hundreds of years and ingesting them can cause them to accumulate in the human body and lead to cancer or other diseases.
OnderLaw, LLC and The Overholt Law Firm, PC -