Living in a military city like Tucson it saddens me to report that between the years of 1953 to 1987, the drinking water at the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina may have been contaminated. During that time, nearly a million civilian workers, military service members, and their families were potentially exposed to dangerous chemicals that can cause cancer and other serious health issues.
The U.S. Marine Corps discovered dangerous chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the drinking water at the Camp Lejeune base in North Carolina in 1982. From the information available the actual contamination began in 1953 and went unabated until 1987. This means that for 34 years base and service workers, military service members along with families were exposed to toxic chemicals and VOC’s in the drinking water that according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) deemed carcinogenic. Most contaminated wells were removed from service in February 1985. The ATSDR reports that between the 1950s and 1980s, two of Camp Lejeune’s water treatment plants – Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point – were contaminated with VOC’s.
The toxic VOCs found in the drinking water at Camp LeJeune included:
- Benzene: Used to make other chemicals that compose plastics, resins, and nylon and synthetic fibers
- Tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchloroethylene or PCE): For dry cleaning and metal degreasing
- Trichloroethylene (TCE): A solvent used to clean metal parts
- Vinyl chloride (VC): Over time, TCE and PCE in groundwater degrade to become VC.
Benzene, TCE, and VC are all classified as cancer-causing chemicals, while PCE is classified as probably carcinogenic. Exposure to these chemicals can also increase the risk of birth defects and other health problems. VOC’s are known to cause cancer and other serious health issues.
In June 2022, the U.S. government finally passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021. This act was part of the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. The Honoring Our PACT Act focuses on addressing issues that affect veterans who were exposed to toxic materials during service. Because of this new law, those who were exposed can now seek compensation by filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit after having been denied justice for so many years. As more information is learned about this serious issue, we will publish updates on this page. If you wish to receive personal updates, please leave us your contact information and we will reach out to you directly
It can seem daunting to prove the harm that was caused through the negligence of the military or government, but my goal is to use our expertise at the Law Office of Tammy Carter to remove that burden and help you or your loved one get compensation for the injuries suffered.
If you or a loved one lived at Camp LeJeune or was stationed at Camp LeJeune between 1953 and 1987 and has suffered any of the following, please contact my office, you may have a case that is eligible for monetary compensation.
- ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
- Birth Defects and Injuries
- Bladder Cancer
- Brain Damage
- Cardiac Defect
- Fatty Liver Disease
- Hepatic Steatosis
- Infertility
- Kidney Cancer
- Leukemia
- Liver Cancer
- Miscarriage
- Multiple Myeloma
- Neuro behavorial Effects
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Aplastic Anemia
- Renal Toxicity
- Scleroderma
I want to help you. Please give me a call at 520-333-7737.