Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyers

The water supply at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina was badly polluted with toxic chemicals from 1953 through 1987.  More than  1 million individuals were exposed to these toxins, which caused many residents to get cancer and often die prematurely, according to experts.

Numerous victims of the Camp Lejeune water poisoning passed away decades ago, and their families were never able to seek legal restitution since they were restricted from pursuing civil claims. However, a new federal statute known as the PACT Act will provide surviving family members of Lejeune victims the chance to sue the federal government for wrongful death. This statute willempower surviving family members to sue the government even if the victim of the Camp Lejeune water passed many years ago.

Background of the Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune 

Camp Lejeune, located in North Carolina, is a massive Marine Corps base and training base. The base was established in the early 1940s and has been in continuous operation since. Over 50,000 Marines, their families, and civilian personnel live and work in Lejeune at any given time. 

From August 1953 through December 1987, the water supply at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with harmful chemicals, particularly the chlorinated industrial solvents perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE). The amounts of these contaminants poisoning the water supply at Lejeune were sometimes thousands of times greater than the EPA's maximum acceptable threshold.

It is believed that between 700,000 and 1 million individuals were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Marines and their families who were stationed at Camp Lejeune and those that resided in on-base housing facilities are included in this group. Military troops and contractors that worked on base at Camp Lejeune are also included.

The Contamination Took the Lives of Many

The poisoning of Camp Lejeune's water supply was ultimately discovered in the late 1980s. Since then, the federal government has supported considerable scientific study and investigations to assess how much harm the tainted water may have caused to base inhabitants and staff. 

The ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention completed some of the most detailed research on the health effects of Camp Lejeune water pollution over the last 30 years. This includes a morbidity study that looked at the mortality rates and causes of nearly 150,000 former Camp Lejeune personnel and residents throughout the contaminated era.

According to public health research, numerous former Camp Lejeune residents and staff died too young as a result of illnesses and health issues caused by polluted water. Many of these individuals passed decades ago since the water poisoning at Lejeune dates back to the early 1950s.

According to the ATSDR Morbidity Study, those who were exposed to polluted Camp Lejeune water had a greater risk of developing specific forms of malignant cancers including:

• Kidney cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Breast cancer
• Leukemia

Other health issues, including Parkinson's disease and birth abnormalities, are also shown to be more prevalent according to investigators.

Our Camp Lejeune wrongful death lawyers can help you and your family.  Call us at 800-355-3425 for free no-obligation case review. In fact, we never make a dime unless you do first. When you file a Camp Lejeune wrongful death suit there are no upfront cost for you. Call today to put our team to work for you.