Did you happen to be stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina sometime between 1953 and 1987? Have you been diagnosed with cancer or parented a child born with birth defects since you resided or worked on base? If you answered yes to both of these questions, you may want to consult with one of our Thomas Law Offices attorneys here in Kentucky to learn if you should file a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit.
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What To Know About Water Contamination Issues at Camp Lejeune
Environmental analysts have discovered that at least two out of eight water treatment plants were previously contaminated by toxic chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, and other adverse medical conditions. These chemicals include perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE).
Officials have noted that the levels of these carcinogenic substances were identified as being several thousands of times over the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s safe maximum limits. Analysts believe exposure was highest during a 34-year period between 1953 and 1987.
Individuals Who Might Have Come in Contact With Camp Lejeune’s Contaminated Water
As many as one million people may have resided or worked on base at Camp Lejeune during the decades mentioned above when water contamination was highest. This sizable group that could have been potentially exposed to the harmful substances described above includes service members stationed at Camp Lejeune, their dependents (spouses and children), and civilian workers who worked at this North Carolina U.S. Marine Corps base.
Environmental officials warn that individuals at the highest risk for suffering adverse outcomes due to this Camp Lejeune water contamination issue are anyone who spent 30 or more days at the base.
Even though Kentucky only has U.S. Army bases, including Fort Knox and Fort Campbell, there is a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve base in Lexington. Service members belonging to the latter may have frequented Camp Lejeune for training.
Additionally, service members may have relocated out of the Bluegrass State from their hometowns of Louisville, Frankfort, Lexington, Bowling Green, Paducah, Covington, Owensboro, and other municipalities to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps, reside with a loved one, or work at Camp Lejeune. They might have then relocated back home to Kentucky. You or your loved ones may have become exposed to the toxic substances described above.
While consuming Camp Lejeune’s contaminated waters poses the highest health risks to individuals, bathing in it also does.
Anyone who worked in close contact with PCE and TCE during the more than three decades in which exposure rates were deemed well-above-average face is at a higher risk for health complications than others.
Environmental officials believe those who frequented Camp Lejeune may have been exposed to PCE through their work in removing grease buildup from metal parts or dry cleaning. Individuals who regularly utilized these products or were exposed to runoff water from these facilities may have endured a higher rate of exposure to PCE than others. TCE is a solvent also used in high industrial areas to clean metal.
Any prolonged exposure to these substances could have caused unnecessary and irreversible harm to your health. These medical ailments could have even prematurely claimed the life of a close family member, robbing you of their financial support and companionship, causing you significant mental anguish in the process.
You have the right to hold the U.S. Government and its appropriate branches, such as the Department of Defense, liable for their oversight that resulted in your prolonged exposure to these toxic substances. Please reach out to our Thomas Law Offices attorneys for a free case evaluation to discuss your right to file a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit as a Kentucky resident today.
Dangers Associated With Exposure to Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) was founded through a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It wasn’t long after water contamination was identified at Camp Lejeune that advocacy groups started petitioning government officials to track reported cases of illnesses among those who spend significant time on the U.S. Marine Corps base.
That compilation of data as part of the ATSDR revealed that service members, their dependents, and civilian employees had particularly high incident rates of:
Cancer
Some of the most common cancers reported among former residents and workers on or near Camp Lejeune include:
- Kidney cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Bladder cancer
- Leukemia
- Multiple myeloma
- Lung cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Myelodysplastic syndrome
Reproductive Issues and Birth Defects
Federal officials have also recorded higher-than-average reports of the following reproductive system concerns among individuals who had prior connections with Camp Lejeune:
- Miscarriage
- Female infertility
- Congenital abnormalities, such as spina bifida
Other Medical Diagnoses Reported by Individuals Consuming Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
There are a whole host of medical conditions that people who lived at or worked on Camp Lejeune have reported to the ATSDR in recent years. These additional illnesses and impairments include:
- Skin diseases like scleroderma
- Metabolic disorders like fatty liver disease (also known as hepatic steatosis)
- Urological disorders like nephrotoxicity (renal toxicity)
There have even been cases of neurological or behavioral health conditions linked to individuals’ prior exposure to TCE and PCE via Camp Lejeune’s contaminated waters.
Any medical condition like the ones described above is likely to have caused you to incur significant health care bills and to have lost pay while undergoing treatment. These ailments might have also left you with residual physical impairments and mental anguish.
You don’t have to just accept how your Camp Lejeune water contamination-related illness has altered the course of your life. You can hold the parties responsible for your exposure liable for their oversight.
Your Rights if You’ve Been Exposed to Camp Lejeune’s Contaminated Water
Plaintiffs who have received adverse medical diagnoses after their residence or work at Camp Lejeune currently find themselves busy compiling evidence necessary to document their health conditions. They’re also working closely with their Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit attorneys to identify research to support their claims that their diagnosis is or was attributable to their prior exposure to the toxic substances described above.
Our lawyers at Thomas Law Offices in Louisville KY, and across neighboring states are well-versed in handling complex cases in which someone else’s negligence results in a victim suffering a preventable impairment or illness. Contact us to schedule a free consultation to discuss the specifics regarding your medical situation and prior residence or work at Camp Lejeune so that our attorneys can provide you with guidance as to how to recover just compensation for how it affected your life.
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