About Camp Lejeune and Toxic Water
Between 1953 and 1987, people who spent time at the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base in North Carolina unknowingly drank and bathed in contaminated water, which caused illness, death, and other tragic health conditions. There were three different sources where the groundwater was contaminated: Hadnot Point, Tarawa Terrace, and Holcomb Boulevard.
Hundreds of thousands of veterans and civilians, including babies, children, and adults, got sick or died from drinking toxic water that had been tainted for over 30 years.
A Brief History of Water Pollution
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are dangerous chemicals, were found in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune in 1982. But the contamination started in 1953 and lasted until 1987 when the most contaminated wells were taken out of service.
There were hundreds of times more of the following VOCs in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune than the EPA says is safe:
- Benzene: Used to make other chemicals that makeup plastics, resins, nylon, and synthetic fibers.
- Tetrachloroethylene (also called PCE or perchloroethylene): Used to clean, dry, and degrease metal.
- Trichloroethylene (TCE): A chemical used to clean metal.
- Vinyl chloride (VC): TCE and PCE in groundwater break down over time to become VC.
Severe Illness associated to Camp Lejeune
Exposure to these chemicals can make birth defects more likely and has been linked to serious illnesses and cancer, such as:
- Bladder Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Kidney Disease
- Liver Cancer
- Leukemia
- Multiple Myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- Parkinson's Disease
- Systemic Sclerosis (SS)
Camp Lejeune Justice Act Of 2022
As part of the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (often called the "PACT Act"), Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 in August 2022. This law lets people who were exposed to toxic chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune while they were stationed there, lived there, or worked there file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit to get compensation.
Who Can Ask For Payment?
Anyone who lived on or worked at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987 may be able to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit to get compensation for their injuries. If you or someone you care about thinks they might have been affected by contaminated water during this time, please contact us as soon as possible. Even if your loved one died many years ago, you might still be able to file a lawsuit on their behalf.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
What Are the Time Limits for Pursuing a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Injury Lawsuit?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 was enacted on August 10, 2022 and includes a statute of limitations of two years from this date for water contamination claims. A person generally may pursue a lawsuit within two years after discovering that they had suffered harm. In cases where a victim discovers they suffered harm more than two years ago, lawsuits may be filed within two years after the passage of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. The first step is to file an administrative claim, and if the claim is denied, the claimant then has 180 days from the denial date to file a lawsuit.
What contaminated the drinking water at Camp Lejeune?
Camp Lejeune is a Marine Corps base located in New River, North Carolina. In 1953-1957 the drinking water at Camp Lejeune from was contaminated with toxic chemical compounds. Over one million military staff and civilians, including families and children of the marines, were unknowingly drinking the contaminated water. Three separate groundwater sources were contaminated: Hadnot Point, Tarawa Terrace, and Holcomb Boulevard. These chemicals include:
- trichloroethylene (TCE),
- tetrachloroethylene (PCE),
- vinyl chloride (VC), and
- benzene
Who can bring a claim for exposure to the toxic drinking water at Camp Lejeune?
Anyone on the base for more than 30 days between August 1952 and December 1987 can bring a claim for compensation. This includes service members, family members, and staff. Family members of a deceased person who would have qualified to bring a claim if they were alive may also get a claim on their behalf.
A person can seek compensation if they can demonstrate one of the following:
- They suffered health issues or other injuries that were caused by exposure to toxic chemicals in contaminated water.
- They have suffered injuries or other health issues caused by exposure to contaminated water.
- Their exposure to toxic chemicals in contaminated water increased the likelihood that they would suffer harm.
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