Water contamination can be a serious issue, leading to illness and even death. Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base in North Carolina, experienced water contamination that led to serious health complications for thousands of service members and their families. In this article, I will explain what happened at Camp Lejeune and why it matters.
What is Water Contamination?
“Water contamination” refers to when chemicals or other harmful substances are added to drinking water at levels higher than the standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These substances can come from various places, including factories, landfills, rivers, lakes, and swimming pools. Examples of harmful contaminants include lead, asbestos, arsenic, and chlorine. Exposure to these substances can cause various health problems, such as asthma and gastrointestinal problems.
What Happened?
According to the US Department of Defense, between the 1950s and the 1980s, service members, civilian employees, and families stationed at U.S. Naval Station-Camp Lejeune were exposed to contaminated drinking water. This water had high levels of compounds such as perchloroethylene (PCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), vinyl chloride, ethylene dichloride, and trichloroethylene. These chemicals have been linked to health problems including cancer, liver disease, and kidney damage.
Who Was Affected?
During the 1950s to the 1970s, drinking water from wells on the base contained harmful chemicals at levels well above the federal guidelines. Over the years, many Navy families reported various symptoms associated with this contaminated water, including nausea, vomiting, rashes, headaches, numbness in the hands and feet, shortness of breath, hearing loss, and neurological problems. Over time, these toxic chemicals leached into the ground or built up in tanks at the base, contaminating the water that served the base community. Service members and their families who lived on the base during this time period may have come into contact with the contaminated water through the pipes in their houses or during bathing or showering. Illnesses Associated With Exposure To Contaminated Water
Members of the military who are exposed over time to contaminated water can develop some very serious illnesses. Some of the most common types of illnesses associated with exposure to contaminated water include:
- Kidney Disease
- Neurotoxicity
- Liver Disease
- Thyroid Disease
- Oral Cancer
- Bladder Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Brain Cancer
- Leukemia
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Childhood Leukaemia
These illnesses can have debilitating effects on the affected person’s health and on the individual’s quality of life. Long-term exposure to contaminated water can also cause serious health problems in future generations of a family, even years after the exposure occurred.
Legal Options
Many people affected by this contamination have decided to pursue legal action to obtain compensation from the responsible parties. Lawsuits are currently being filed against the U.S. Department of Defense and the private companies that operated the waste treatment plants on the base during the 1950s and 1960s.
In many cases, people diagnosed with an illness linked to their exposure to contaminated water are entitled to monetary compensation for their medical bills and other expenses due to their illness. In some cases, the families of people who died from a serious illness associated with the contaminated base water may also be entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering of the deceased loved one. A law firm specializing in handling toxic tort cases may help people pursue lawsuits against the government or the companies involved in the base water contamination.
Hiring an attorney to represent you in a lawsuit against the government or a negligent party can be complicated. It can also be very expensive. However, many lawyers work on contingency fees, which means they only get paid if you win your case and recover damages. This can significantly reduce your costs and make legal representation more affordable for low-income families.
Conclusion
It is important to remain alert to the risk of exposure to contaminated water in areas where it was dumped in the past. People whose families were exposed to this waste should carefully monitor their health and their children’s health for signs of an illness or disease that may be caused by exposure to contaminated water.
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with cancer or other health problems that may be linked to exposure to contaminated water from Camp Lejeune, contact a lawyer immediately to discuss your legal rights. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and other expenses related to your illness. You may also be able to file a claim on behalf of your loved one if they died as a result of his or her illness
