Many people are now filing disability claims and lawsuits with the help of a camp lejeune water contamination attorney against the federal government due to the toxic water present in Camp Lejeune. This wasn’t just rusty water, or water that had dirt in it. On the contrary, the water in Camp Lejeune was so toxic and dangerous, that almost 40 years later, some people are still struggling with the effects of the water.
The toxic chemicals in water supply at Camp Lejeune could have been disposed of properly, helping save the lives of many. Read on below to find out more about how the water supply became damaged in Camp Lejeune, and what victims are doing to find peace. If you are planning to have your own water supply with the help of a well drilling services company, make sure that you also conduct the necessary well drilling tests to ensure that your water is clean and safe.
Why Did the Water in Camp Lejeune Become Toxic?
After some studies, the CDC determined that a nearby dry cleaning store, known as ABC Dry Cleaners, was responsible for dumping toxic chemicals into the water by disposing of these chemicals in the drain, read about Robinson Restoration.
Some of the chemicals found in the water around Camp Lejeune included:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Perchloroethylene (PCE)
- Benzene
- Vinyl chloride
These are highly volatile and carcinogenic compounds. When exposed to the body, they lead to devastating disease and changes in the body. Many of these compounds created rare forms of cancer, infertility in women, and even miscarriages.
These chemicals seeped into the water supply of Camp Lejeune, into two wells that provided water for homes, healthcare centers, military personnel, and virtually all civilian contractors on the base. In fact, the CDC estimates that around 1 million people were exposed to these toxins without ever knowing it. This is perhaps why the water toxicity at Camp Lejeune is known as one of the worst contamination disasters in history.
What Diseases Came From the Toxins?
To date, the VA has admitted that 15 conditions are a direct cause of the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. These diseases include the following:
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis
- Kidney cancer
- Leukemia
- Lung cancer
- Miscarriage
- Multiple myeloma
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
Studies showed that these chemicals were directly responsible for these diseases, such as TCE and PCE being responsible for end-stage renal disease and renal toxicity.
How Can I Get Help?
The diseases caused by the toxic water are extremely devastating, leading to life-long consequences such as loss of children, depression, trauma, and of course, death of loved ones. For many people, there was little hope for justice, until the new PACT act was signed into effect on August 8 of 2022. The PACT act allows civilians that were exposed to the toxic water to file for VA disability claims, giving them the same rights as veterans that suffered an injury. It pays to have a detailed water test from a water treatment company to determine what type of filtration system will resolve your water problems.
The Act also incorporated the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which gives victims the right to file lawsuits and seek compensation due to the contaminated water. If you or a loved one were exposed to contaminated water, contact a lawyer and get help to file a lawsuit. The sooner you file your VA disability claim and the lawsuit, the better to bring justice and peace to your life.