Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina is one of the military training facilities. The people who lived at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, including civilian workers, residents, Marines and Naval personnel, and even visitors, suffer from various health conditions because of drinking contaminated water.
In 1982, the Marine Corps found particular volatile organic compounds in the drinking water at Base Camp Lejeune. Out of the eight water treatment plants, the Hadnot Point Treatment Plant and Tarawa Terrace Treatment Plant were contaminated with VOCs, leading to water contamination.
People suffering from severe health issues due to drinking polluted water at Camp Lejeune may be eligible for compensation. Hiring Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit lawyers can benefit you greatly since they can help you obtain maximum compensation by filing federal tort claims and getting the required medical treatment.
8 Deadly Diseases the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Victims are Suffering From
The National Library of Medicine reports that drinking water at Camp Lejeune was polluted with several chemicals that will lead to serious health problems, which are listed below.
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
People at Camp Lejeune who drank the polluted water had 50% more chances of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It is a type of cancer that starts in the lymph system cells, which is associated with the immune system of the body.
- Kidney Cancer
The contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is related to a higher chance of kidney cancer because of the presence of harmful substances such as trichloroethylene and benzene. Kidney cancer starts in kidney cells and quickly disperses to other body parts.
- Aplastic Anemia
Aplastic anemia is also referred to as bone marrow failure and has rare diagnosis chances. Your bone marrow will not produce sufficient blood cells for your body to work actively. The chances of suffering from this cancer and different myelodysplastic syndromes are high in those exposed to benzene.
- Bladder Cancer
People at Camp Lejeune who were exposed to PCE and TCE have a high chance of suffering from bladder cancer. Bladder cancer is another threatening ailment in which cancer cells evolve in the tissues of the bladder. Treatment options include radiation, immunotherapy, surgery, and chemotherapy.
- Leukemia
People who drink polluted water at Camp Lejeune have a greater chance of suffering from leukemia. It affects both adults and kids. Leukemia is another type of cancer that is related to the blood cells and begins in the bone marrow.
- Liver Cancer
Due to the water contamination at the base camp, the victims have a 42% high chance of suffering from liver cancer. Available treatments are a liver transplant, removing the tumor, chemotherapy, and freezing or heating cancer cells.
- Multiple Myeloma
The risk of multiple myeloma is 56% high for people exposed to water contamination at Camp Lejeune. It affects the plasma cells in the bone marrow and leads to blood cell production issues. Tetrachloroethylene is a toxin in the contaminated water at the base which is proven to increase the chances of suffering from multiple myeloma.
- Birth Defects
The pregnant women who consumed or took a bath in the contaminated water were also exposed to deadly chemicals along with their fetuses. Research said these unborn children have a greater risk of birth disabilities, such as low weight, fetal death, severe congenital malformations, neural tube defects, etc.
Bottom Line
People who consumed or bathed in the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune have become victims of several deadly health conditions. Some of these health conditions are incurable, making them suffer for the rest of their lives. These victims of water contamination at Camp Lejeune can hire an attorney to file a lawsuit to get qualified compensation and medical assistance.