Hello World! Welcome Friends! For decades, U.S. Marine veterans, their families, and workers residing at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune have been enduring their silent struggle. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 1 million civilians and veterans may have been exposed to the contaminated water supply at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for more than 30 years.
The cause of this water contamination, leading to cancers and severe conditions, has been unknown, but numerous investigations and studies over the years have exposed its hidden truth. Those affected may soon receive the much-needed justice that they deserve.
What Exactly Happened at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune?
Established in 1941, Camp Lejeune served as a training center for the Marine Corps who were commissioned. More than 110,000 marines and their family members developed their own community in the base until it was decommissioned in 1997.
Camp Lejeune is well known for being one of the most dangerous cases of water contamination in the history of the USA. It was in 1982 when the Marine Corps found traces of volatile chemicals in the water supplied by its two water treatment plants – the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point.
To know what caused the leakage, we need to go back to the 1950s when the camp used different fuel sources to generate power. Unfortunately, industrial wastewater and residual chemicals from these fuel sources leaked into the drinking water supply of the Camp Lejeune community.
Experts believe that contamination began in 1953 when toxic chemicals began contaminating water at Hadnot Point. Then, in 1957, it spread to the Tarawa Terrace plant.
Over the years, residents of Camp Lejeune reported numerous illnesses ranging from cancer and birth defects to reproductive issues; however, the cause still remained unknown. It was in 1982 when the water contamination tragedy was finally brought to light by Marine Corps Corporal Rick Shiver.
A Timeline of Finding Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
As per official documents, traces of water contamination were initially identified in 1980 when Camp Lejeune officials initiated water testing for a substance known as trihalomethane (THM).
Instead, they found traces of perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and benzene contaminating the water. These are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are highly toxic in nature. As per TorHoerman Law, traces of VOCs were found in the drinking water supplied to housing communities at the camp and other official buildings.
Despite repeated warnings, no steps were taken by the officials. It was in 1984 when they decided to close wells to control the spread of waterborne diseases. In the next year, most of the wells were shut down.
Between 1980 and 1985, it is believed that more than 1 million people who resided in Camp Lejeune were exposed to chemicals in their drinking water. Today, many people still question why it took so long for the officials to shut down the Camp and save precious lives.
How Did Camp Lejeune Authorities Respond to the Discovery of Water Contamination?
Since the news about the contamination surfaced, officials at Camp Lejeune have been under scrutiny by affected families and government officials. Many officials at the camp have been avoiding or preventing full disclosure of the events that took place there. Questions still arise on why it took the officials more than four years to shut down the contaminated wells after traces of toxic chemicals were found.
The inability to source important documents from Marine Corps officials has also caused a hindrance and slowed down testing and investigation. For example, certain details about benzene found in the contaminated water were only released in 2009.
How Did the Event Affect Residents of Camp Lejeune?
As mentioned above, the contaminated wells were only shut during the mid-1980’s. There is a high chance that the hundreds of families who lived at Camp Lejeune during that time may have been exposed to high levels of poisoning, leading to the development of various waterborne diseases in the years to come.
In the last few decades, many veterans and their family members who were potentially exposed to the contaminated water have shared their struggles with cancer and other life-altering illnesses.
Kidney cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, reproductive issues, etc., are some grave conditions that many ex-residents and their families suffer from.
With Camp Lejeune being operational for more than 30 years, the number of individuals who could have been exposed to the contamination is hard to decipher. Many of the victims have come forward and filed the Camp Lejeune contaminated water lawsuit to seek justice for what they have been enduring for years.
The Fight for Justice Continues
The water supply contamination at Camp Lejeune was a tragedy that could have been avoided. How the Government reacted to the event was far more tragic. Residents of Camp Lejeune who have faced health challenges due to water contamination deserve the opportunity to seek compensation and support.
Although the Federal Government cannot possibly reimburse the victims for what they have endured, those affected surely deserve justice for being kept in the dark for decades.
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