Legally Reviewed
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by Tort Defenders’ writers and staff and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney.
Camp Lejeune is a Marine Corps base in North Carolina. It is a large facility, covering 233 square miles. Established after World War II, the facility houses more than 100,000 military members, contractors, families, and support service personnel.
In the 1980s, the Marine Corps found volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the drinking water at two housing areas on the base. Investigators and researchers estimate that the contamination started in 1953. People on the base were exposed to the water for over three decades.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), anyone who stayed on the base for more than 30 days between 1953 and 1987 could have been affected. The VOCs in the water are linked to various cancers, Parkinson’s disease, kidney toxicity, and other health problems.
Here is a closer look at how this happened and how it affected the personnel based at the camp during the contamination period.
What Happened at Camp Lejeune?
Officials at Camp Lejeune discovered contaminated water in two wells that served the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point housing complexes on the base. Tests on the wells and nearby water treatment plants in the early 1980s found multiple harmful VOCs, including trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE).
While contamination probably began due to a dry-cleaning business near the base, other sources were also to blame. Waste disposal sites, leaky underground fuel tanks, and chemical spills that seeped into the groundwater are all likely sources of the contamination.
The problems went undetected for several decades. Veterans stationed at Camp Lejeune often had difficulty proving a link between health problems and drinking the contaminated water. Many veterans were exposed to other health hazards, such as Agent Orange or burn pits in service, both of which could cause similar health problems to the contaminated, toxic water.
For years after contamination, the burden of proof was on veterans to show their health issues came from the water.
It wasn’t until the Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 that veterans and families were able to get medical care if they were exposed to the contaminated water. Those suffering from cancers, kidney conditions, and infertility linked to VOC exposure began receiving free care without co-pays.
Who Was Affected by Water Contamination?
According to estimates, as many as one million people suffered exposure to Camp Lejuene’s contaminated water. Most of the people affected stayed or spent time in the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point housing areas of the base.
The VA provides medical care under the 2012 Camp Lejeune Families Act for anyone who stayed on the base for longer than 30 days between 1953 and 1987.
History of Controversy
The controversy lasted for more than 50 years. Here are the important events during that period.
- 1953: Wells in Camp Lejeune contaminated by chemicals from an off-base dry cleaner and underground fuel storage leaks.
- 1953-1980: Contamination continues undetected.
- 1980-1982: Water tests reveal VOCs in wells and water treatment facilities at the base.
- 1985: Contamination is made public. The base takes the contaminated wells out of service.
- 1987: Tests verify that water at Camp Lejeune is completely safe for consumption.
- 1987-2012: Veterans struggle to prove health conditions were related to exposure.
- 2012: The Camp Lejeune Families Act offers medical coverage with co-pays for anyone living on the base for more than 30 days during the contamination period.
After 2012, those with diseases possibly linked to the contaminated water received treatment without co-pays. They do not have to prove the disease was caused by the water. They only have to meet the criteria of living at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or longer during the contamination period.
Health Issues Caused by Water Contamination
Researchers have linked specific diseases with exposure to contaminated water. Here are the most common health problems related to the types of compounds found at the Lejeune wells.
- Infertility and pregnancy issues: These problems can include the inability to conceive, miscarriages, or birth defects.
- Kidney and liver diseases: In addition to kidney failure and cancers, exposure can cause cirrhosis of the liver.
- Parkinson’s disease and neurological disorders: Exposure could eventually lead to Parkinson’s disease or other neurological disorders. Also, contamination during pregnancy can cause nervous system problems for children.
- Heart disease: Exposure to VOCs found in contaminated water can increase the chances of cardiovascular diseases.
The VA treats these conditions using the presumptive conditions guidelines in the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act). PACT covers all forms of toxic exposure for veterans, including the Lejeune wells.
Other Long-Term Impacts
Cancer was the biggest long-term health impact from the contaminated water. The 2012 Camp Lejeune Families Act lists different cancers that could be linked to exposure between 1953 and 1987. These include the following:
- Esophageal cancer,
- Breast cancer,
- Kidney cancer,
- Multiple myeloma,
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,
- Lung cancer,
- Bladder cancer,
- Leukemia.
Camp Lejeune veterans also had to deal with the long-term uncertainty of dealing with their diseases and the financial strain of uncovered treatment without support from the VA or government.
What Steps Were Taken by the Federal Government?
Authorities on the base and in the federal government took steps to address the issue once they discovered contamination.
- The U.S. Navy, which shared Camp Lejeune with the Marine Corps, engaged in an environmental cleanup between 1982 and 1984.
- Along with the aforementioned Camp Lejeune Families Act in 2012, the federal government passed the broader PACT Act in 2022, providing medical care to people exposed to toxic chemicals during military service.
- The VA provides full care to people suffering from illnesses potentially linked to the water contamination issue.
Many veterans criticized the initial response of agencies like the VA, which required veterans to prove a connection between their illness and exposure to contaminated water.
Relevant Civil Lawsuits
Several lawsuits related to the Lejeune contamination occurred in the 2000s and 2010s. The first lawsuit was in 2009-2010 when the spouse of a Marine stationed at the camp sued because of a denied claim related to her lymphoma diagnosis. A second case went to court in 2011.
After the 2022 PACT Act, the lawsuit process for Camp Lejeune contamination victims has become simpler. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows veterans to file an administrative claim rather than a lawsuit. This process usually starts by contacting a lawyer with experience building cases and claims under the PACT ACT.
Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Settlement Amounts
The settlement amount under PACT can vary since the U.S. Justice Department considers them case by case. However, the first three claimants settled for a total of $850,000 in October 2023.
Further Resources
Resources are available to provide information about the claims process to learn more about getting support for victims, and other types of water contamination. Here are some relevant resources for additional research.
- The PFA Mass Tort Lawsuit Overview provides information about legal action related to water contamination due to per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFA) substances (so-called forever chemicals that remain in water indefinitely).
- The EPA offers information on different types of water contamination.
- The Navy provides information about the claims process under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.
- The VA has resources covering the different health effects of water contamination.
Military members, veterans, and their families continue to suffer the health impacts of the Camp Lejeune water contamination problem. After years of struggling, victims can now get medical treatment through the VA and file additional claims thanks to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.