fbpx

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

We help families with Camp Lejeune lawsuits 

For more than 30 years, military members and their families drank, bathed in and cooked with Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water in North Carolina. The federal government knew about the contamination, but failed to act for years.

Investigators discovered the Camp Lejeune water was contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and more than 70 other highly toxic substances. Exposure to these dangerous chemicals have been linked to serious health problems, including anemia, leukemia, and other cancers. The neurobehavioral effects of Camp Lejeune water are still being investigated, but the contaminated water can cause neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease.

Get justice for your Camp Lejeune water exposure.
Contact an attorney who can fight for you.
Contact us today.

Who suffered Camp Lejeune exposure?  

Although the exact number of Camp Lejeune exposure victims isn’t known, it is estimated that more than a million people were exposed and more than 500,000 people may have devastating health problems.

What caused Camp Lejeune water contamination?

Camp Lejeune water contamination has been traced back to two of eight water treatment plants on the base. The oldest of the two plants, Hadnot Point, was contaminated after discarded oil and other chemicals seeped into the ground and into the water. The plant also had an underground storage tank that leaked, sending even more chemicals into the water supply. The second plant, Tarawa Terrace, was contaminated by solvents improperly discarded by the nearby, off-base dry cleaning business.

What kinds of chemicals could be found in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune? 

Victims, including marines, their family members and workers at Camp Lejeune, ingested several types of toxins in the water known as volatile organic compounds, including trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), benzene and vinyl chloride. TCE and PCE are chemicals that are used in dry cleaning and in cleaning metal parts of machines.

Some industries use benzene to make other chemicals that are used to make plastics, resins, nylon and synthetic fibers. Benzene also is used to make some types of rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs and pesticides. Natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires. Benzene is also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke. It is known to cause cancer in humans.

Vinyl chloride is a manufactured substance that does not occur naturally. It can be formed when other substances such as TCE and PCE are broken down. It is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is used to make a variety of plastic products, including pipes, wire and cable coatings and packaging materials.

Some of the chemicals found in Camp Lejeune water:

  • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
  • Trichloroethylene (TCE)
  • Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
  • Benzene
  • Vinyl chloride
  • Polyvinyl chlorides (PVC)

What are the health effects of drinking Camp Lejeune water

The toxins found in Camp Lejeune water are known to cause many different diseases and conditions, including cancers, birth defects and neurological disorders. The following are a few Camp Lejeune illnesses and conditions connected to the water contamination:

  • Adult leukemia
  • Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
  • Bladder cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • All cancers
  • Heart-related birth defects
  • Multiple myeloma (a cancer of plasma cells)
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  • And more

Did the U.S. government know about the Camp Lejeune water contamination? 

For years, government officials failed to publicly acknowledge that Camp Lejeune water was poisoned.

Records show the Marines dumped oil and industrial wastewater in storm drains. Potentially radioactive materials were buried, including carcasses of dogs used in testing. The base even located a daycare in a former malaria control shop where pesticides were mixed and stored. A significant source of water contamination was a nearby dry cleaning business that for years dumped chemicals into drains.

A regulation on the books at Camp Lejeune as early as 1974 shows the Marine Corps knew the danger the organic solvents posed as the rule detailed how to safely dispose of such hazardous waste and warned they could contaminate drinking water. Tests of the Camp Lejeune water and report after report starting in 1980 and beyond confirmed contamination, but nothing was done. When the lies and denials began unraveling, the government relied on legal loopholes to avoid consequences.

What is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021 (also known as the PACT Act 2022)

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021, also known as the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 is aimed at providing relief to veterans and families who have suffered as a result of the contamination. It also delivers comprehensive benefits to all generations of veterans who have suffered from Camp Lejeune exposure. This includes veterans, their families and workers at Camp Lejeune.

The legislation allows people who have been harmed to bring a claim. We can help you seek a settlement for these injustices.

Who can file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit?  

New federal legislation, which is expected to be signed into law, will allow anyone who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987, to file a claim. They must have worked on the base for at least 30 days, have been exposed to Camp Lejeune contaminated water and suffered injuries. Without this legislation, people suffering from horrific health issues after living or working on the base would not be compensated due to a North Carolina law that prevents lawsuits beyond a 10-year statute of limitations.

We help victims of Camp Lejeune Water Contamination 

People who suffered serious health conditions due to Camp Lejeune water contamination deserve justice. This military base in North Carolina is the largest Marine Corps base on the East Coast. It also happens to be home to one of the worst public water contamination disasters in history. People who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune may have been exposed to contaminated water and suffered serious health consequences. We are a leader in toxic exposure litigation and our Camp Lejeune attorneys have the expertise and determination to see that justice is served. Find out why Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel is the right law firm for you.

Chris Johnson Named to AAJ Board of Governors

March 18, 2024 Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel is proud to announce that firm partner Chris Johnson has been elected to represent trial lawyers in Texas on the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice (AAJ). The appointment to national leadership…

Toxic Exposure Part of Life for Residents Near Chemical Plants

March 13, 2024 Across the country, communities located near manufacturing and industrial sites face elevated risks of toxic exposure, putting nearby residents in greater danger for developing cancer and other serious health complications. Recent assessments by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and city…

Chris Johnson Named to AAJ Board of Governors

March 18, 2024 Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel is proud to announce that firm partner Chris Johnson has been elected to represent trial lawyers in Texas on the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice (AAJ). The appointment to national leadership within the largest association of trial lawyers reflects a career-long commitment by Johnson to promoting professionalism and the highest standards within the legal profession. What is the American Association for Justice? Formed in 1946 and based in Washington, D.C., the AAJ’s mission is to promote justice and fairness for injured individuals and safeguard the constitutional right to a trial by…
Chris Johnson, Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel Attorney

What are my chances?

That’s the first question everyone asks. The truth is it’s impossible to know. But we can tell you this. Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel has what it takes to fight against big corporate interests and win. That’s why we’ve taken more mesothelioma trials to verdict than any other firm. And that’s why we’ve recovered more than $1.3 billion for clients like you. Do you think you have a case? Contact us now to speak with an attorney.

Call 800.226.9880