Published on December 15, 2023
Medically Reviewed
Litigation Guides
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit
The historical context and ongoing repercussions of the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination, a significant incident dating back to 1942 when the U.S. Marine Corps established Camp Lejeune as a military training facility in North Carolina.
Medically Reviewed
Timeline
1942: The US Marine Corps established Camp Lejeune, a base in North Carolina
1950s-80s: People living and/or working at the base were potentially exposed to contaminated drinking water
1982: The Marine Corps discovered specific volatile organic compounds (contaminants) in the drinking water at the base
1982-84: The Navy initiated a cleanup program to identify potentially contaminated sites at the base
1984-85: The base identified affected drinking wells and removed them from service, also notifying base residents
1987-89: Regulations for TCE, benzene, and vinyl chloride were published and became enforceable
1991-92: Regulations for PCE were published and became enforceable
1997: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) published a public health assessment identifying a past health hazard from exposures to contaminated water at the base
2007: The U.S. Marine Corps launched a notification and registration campaign for former residents to receive more information
2012: President Obama signed the “Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012” into law and the VA started providing health care to those eligible
2016: The ATSDR begins the cancer incidence study to determine whether exposure to contaminated drinking water is associated with increased risks for specific cancers
2017: The ATSDR published the final public health assessment on the health effects of exposure to contaminated drinking water at the base
What Happened?
In 1942, the U.S. Marine Corps founded Camp Lejeune as a military training facility in North Carolina. Inhabitants of the base not only consisted of military personnel but families and workers as well.1
In 1982, contaminants were discovered in two of Camp Lejeune's water treatment plants.2
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) played a crucial role in assessing and addressing the health effects of water contamination at Camp Lejeune. According to ATSDR, three water distribution systems (Hadnot Point, Tarawa Terrace, and Holcomb Boulevard) supplied Camp Lejeune with water contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOC).1
What Chemicals Caused the Contamination?
Inhabitants between 1953 and 1987 may have been exposed to contaminants3,4,5, including trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride. TCE, PCE, benzene, and vinyl chloride were found in various concentrations, with TCE having a maximum detected level exceeding the EPA limit for drinking water.1
Trichloroethylene (TCE)
TCE is a volatile, colorless, synthetic compound used as a metal degreaser before the 1990s.6
Vinyl chloride
Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen, and highly flammable gas used in plastic manufacturing.7
Benzene
Benzene is a known human carcinogen, and a colorless organic solvent used in various industries.8
PCE
PCE is a volatile liquid used in the dry cleaning industry and as a degreaser.
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Do the Contamination Chemicals Cause Cancer?
TCE, vinyl chloride, and benzene are known to cause cancer, while PCE is categorized as a "likely" or "probably" human carcinogen. Humans can be exposed to TCE, vinyl chloride, and benzene through occupational exposure, air, soil, or drinking water.3,5
The ATSDR conducted studies on the health effects of water contamination at Camp Lejeune, finding elevated risks of mortality and certain cancers in exposed individuals.9
Limited research exists on the health consequences of these substances in drinking water, with associations found between TCE and PCE and certain cancers in specific studies.
In their 2017 assessment, the ATSDR noted "below equipose evidence for causation" for PCE, TCE, and vinyl chloride and prostate cancer.10
Complications Due to Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejuene
Cancer
Additionally, in research conducted on Cape Cod, MA, PCE-contaminated drinking water was linked to the development of:1,6,11-13
- Lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Leukemia
- Rectal cancer
- Female breast cancer
- Male breast cancer
Non-cancerous Damage
TCE is carcinogenic to humans through all routes of exposure, and it can cause non-cancerous damage in the:14
- Central nervous system
- Kidney
- Liver
- Immune system
- Male reproductive system
- Developing embryo/fetus
Did the Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune Cause Adverse Health Effects?
Adverse Health Effects
- Strength of available evidence: HIGH
- Evidence demonstrates clear correlations between toxins found in the Camp Lejeune drinking water and adverse health effects
Works Cited
1.
Bove FJ, Ruckart PZ, Maslia M, Larson TC. Mortality study of civilian employees exposed to contaminated drinking water at USMC Base Camp Lejeune: a retrospective cohort study. Environ Health. 2014;13:68. URL
2.
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: Hadnot Point Water Modeling Reports and Studies | ATSDR. Published May 9, 2019. URL
3.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Camp Lejeune Overview and History | Camp Lejeune | ATSDR. Published February 14, 2020. Accessed May 4, 2022. URL
4.
US Marine Corps. Camp Lejeune|Historic Drinking water-Timeline. Accessed May 4, 2022. URL
5.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. ATSDR - Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: Water Modeling - Summary. Published December 16, 2019. Accessed May 5, 2022. URL
6.
Ruckart PZ, Bove FJ, Shanley E, Maslia M. Evaluation of contaminated drinking water and male breast cancer at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: a case control study. Environ Health. 2015;14:74. URL
7.
Guha N, Loomis D, Grosse Y, et al. Carcinogenicity of trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, some other chlorinated solvents, and their metabolites. Lancet Oncol. 2012;13(12):1192-1193. URL
8.
National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database | Benzene | Accessed May 4, 2022 URL
9.
Guyton KZ, Hogan KA, Scott CS, et al. Human health effects of tetrachloroethylene: key findings and scientific issues. Environ Health Perspect. 2014;122(4):325-334. URL
10.
ATSDR Assessment of the Evidence for the Drinking Water Contaminants at Camp Lejeune and Specific Cancers and Other Diseases. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Published January 13, 2017. Accessed May 9, 2022. URL
11.
Aschengrau A, Ozonoff D, Paulu C, et al. Cancer risk and tetrachloroethylene-contaminated drinking water in Massachusetts. Arch Environ Health. 1993;48(5):284-292. URL
12.
Paulu C, Aschengrau A, Ozonoff D. Tetrachloroethylene-contaminated drinking water in Massachusetts and the risk of colon-rectum, lung, and other cancers. Environ Health Perspect. 1999;107(4):265-271. URL
13.
Vieira V, Aschengrau A, Ozonoff D. Impact of tetrachloroethylene-contaminated drinking water on the risk of breast cancer: using a dose model to assess exposure in a case-control study. Environ Health Glob Access Sci Source. 2005;4(1):3. URL
14.
Chiu WA, Jinot J, Scott CS, et al. Human Health Effects of Trichloroethylene: Key Findings and Scientific Issues. Environ Health Perspect. 2013;121(3):303-311. URL
About the authors
Mariam Ghantous, MD, MPH
Mariam Ghantous, MD, MPH, is a Medical Affairs Professional, Physician, and Scientist with a rich background in Immuno Oncology, Targeted Therapy, and public health. Dr. Ghantous has built a notable career with experience in academic clinical research, medical-legal communication, consulting, and the pharmaceutical industry. Currently serving as a Medical Science Liaison in GI Oncology at AstraZeneca in New York, she has demonstrated her expertise through significant roles, including a consulting intern in Value-Based Care at Ronald McDonald House New York and extensive medical-legal consultancy. Her academic credentials are equally impressive, with a Doctor of Medicine degree from the American University of Beirut and a Master's in Public Health from Columbia University, emphasizing her commitment to advancing healthcare through innovative research and informed, policy-driven approaches.
Her tenure at AstraZeneca and roles in various organizations highlight her adeptness in bridging the gap between clinical research and practical medical applications, particularly in oncology. Dr. Ghantous's work is underpinned by her substantial contributions to medical research, evident in her publications on topics such as sex-specific pharmacotherapy for back pain and the neuroscientific aspects of chronic pain. Her interdisciplinary experience, spanning clinical trials, neuroscience research at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and medical-legal consulting, positions her as a pivotal figure in the integration of medical science and healthcare policy.
Wendy Ketner, M.D.
Dr. Wendy Ketner is a distinguished medical professional with a comprehensive background in surgery and medical research. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at the Expert Institute, she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the organization's most important client relationships. Dr. Ketner's extensive surgical training was completed at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where she gained hands-on experience in various general surgery procedures, including hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, appendectomies, mastectomies for breast cancer, breast reconstruction, surgical oncology, vascular surgery, and colorectal surgery. She also provided care in the surgical intensive care unit.
Her research interests have focused on post-mastectomy reconstruction and the surgical treatment of gastric cancer, including co-authoring a textbook chapter on the subject. Additionally, she has contributed to research on the percutaneous delivery of stem cells following myocardial infarction.
Dr. Ketner's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree from Yale University in Latin American Studies and a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Moreover, she is a member of the Board of Advisors for Opollo Technologies, a fintech healthcare AI company, contributing her medical expertise to enhance healthcare technology solutions. Her role at Expert Institute involves leveraging her medical knowledge to provide insights into legal cases, underscoring her unique blend of medical and legal acumen.
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