It is beyond dispute that the water used for human consumption at North Carolina Marine Base Camp Lejeune was contaminated with dangerous and toxic chemicals for almost thirty years. The ramifications are still not fully understood. Research and investigation continue into the scope of harm suffered by those who lived, worked, or visited Camp Lejeune for at least thirty days from August 1953 to December 1987. The discoveries are ongoing into the extent of human suffering and death caused by the chemical contamination as lawsuits and claims are filed by Camp Lejeune water contamination victims.
- For more, read: Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Victims: Filing Federal Civil Injury Claims for Toxic Tap Water Harm.
Pivotal findings were published in a 2017 study undertaken by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (“ATSDR”). See, “ATSDR Assessment of the Evidence for the Drinking Water Contaminants at Camp Lejeune and Specific Cancers and Other Diseases” (“ATSDR Report”).
The ATSDR researchers identified several chemicals known to be dangerous contaminants, especially at the levels discovered in the Camp Lejeune water. The ATSDR Report also discovered the source of these chemicals and confirmed how they managed to find their way into the Camp Lejeune water system.
ATSDR found chemical contaminants in the Camp’s Tarawa Terrace Water Treatment Plant, the Hadnot Point Treatment Plant, and its Holcomb Boulevard Water System. Most of these chemicals entered the Camp’s water from the wastewater drains of ABC One-Hour Cleaners, a neighboring dry-cleaning business. For more, read “Camp Lejeune Water Contamination History,” written by William R. Levesque, St. Petersburg Times Staff Writer, and published by St. Petersburg County on October 18, 2009.
While known dangers like lead are known to be present in the Camp Lejeune water, five severely hazardous chemicals were found to be present at significantly dangerous levels in the ATSDR investigation. They are:
- Tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchloroethylene or “PCE”);
- Trans-1,2-dichloroethylene (“DCE”);
- Benzene;
- Trichloroethylene (“TCE”); and
- Vinyl chloride.
Three of these chemicals are particularly dangerous to humans (i.e., cancer-causing). They often form the basis of the legal claims filed pursuant to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022. They are: PCE, TCE, and Benzene.
Why is PCE So Dangerous?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), tetrachloroethylene, or PCE, is an industrial chemical made for use in the aerospace industry as well as in dry cleaning services and as a metal degreaser. Exposure to PCE can be deadly.
It is a recognized hazard to human beings. PCE is in at least 949 of the 1,854 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
PCE is hard for victims to avoid because it is a colorless liquid. There is an odor if it is present in the air at certain levels.
PCE can be in the air, soil, or water. It takes a long time to break down if it is found in water.
Anytime someone drinks water containing PCE, there is hazardous exposure. PCE in the water can also be inhaled by someone who is showering or bathing with water contaminated with PCE.
Someone who breathes in too much PCE can pass out and die. Lower exposure to PCE in the air or water can cause severe or fatal harm to humans. This includes harm to liver; kidneys; brain; and an increased risk of bladder cancer; multiple myeloma; and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
PCE is considered a human carcinogen by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); the International Agency for Research on Cancer; and the EPA.
How does TCE Cause Severe or Fatal Harm?
The CDC explains that trichloroethylene or TCE is an industrial solvent used for cleaning grease from metal parts in machinery. TCE is also a component in manufacturing other industrial chemicals including the refrigerant HFC-134a.
TCE is a colorless liquid that can be found in air, water, and soil. Once TCE enters the groundwater, it remains there for many years because of its inability to evaporate.
It is a recognized health hazard for humans. TCE is in at least 1,051 of the 1,854 National Priorities List sites identified by the EPA.
Humans become exposed to TCE either by breathing air contaminated with TCE or drinking water contaminated with it.
Significant exposures to TCE can cause coma or death. TCE is also responsible for damage to the nervous system; heart; liver; and kidneys. TCE can cause scleroderma. TCE causes kidney cancer, liver cancer, and malignant lymphoma. Children may suffer developmental defects, including spontaneous abortion, congenital heart defects, central nervous system defects, and small birth weight.
TCE is considered a human carcinogen by the DHHS; the International Agency for Research on Cancer; and the EPA.
Benzene Is a Known Carcinogen
According to the CDC, benzene is a chemical with various industrial uses. Benzene is in the Top 20 chemicals in production volume in this country. It is a natural component of crude oil and gasoline. Benzene is used in manufacturing plastics, resins, nylon, synthetic fibers, rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides.
Benzene is a colorless liquid that is very flammable. It is a known human hazard. Benzene has been found in at least 1,000 of the 1,684 National Priority List sites identified by the EPA.
Benzene can move from the air into soil or water. It will break down in water, but this will happen slowly.
Exposure to benzene can cause death. It will harm human bone marrow. Benzene decreases the number of red blood cells, causing anemia. Benzene also is known to cause acute myelogenous leukemia (“AML”). Benzene can move through a mother’s blood to a fetus.
Benzene is considered a known carcinogen by the DHHS; the International Agency for Research on Cancer; and the EPA.
Chemical Contaminants And Justice Under The Camp Lejeune Act
The ATSDR Report focuses upon a handful of chemicals found in its testing of the Camp Lejeune water supply as being horrifically dangerous to humans. These are not the only contaminants that may have seriously hurt or killed people who drank, cooked with, bathed, showered, or otherwise used the tainted water at the military base or its affiliated installations. Lead, for instance, is a known danger in the Camp water that is outside the scope of the ATSDR Report.
However, many Camp Lejeune water contamination victims will be able to correlate their bodily injuries to the consequences of exposure to TCE, PCE, or Benzene. These three chemicals were found at very high levels in the tested water. All three are known to be cancer-causing.
Accordingly, those who meet the definition of claimants under the Camp Lejeune Act have the legal right to file a personal injury civil lawsuit for tort damages against the United States Government.
These personal injury or wrongful death claims must be investigated and documented to prove the elements of (1) duty; (2) breach; (3) cause; and (4) harm. Expertise may be necessary here that comprehends the complexities of how PCE, TCE, or Benzene exposure can cause serious or deadly harm.
For more details regarding the Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Claims, see our earlier articles:
- Diseases and Harm From Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Contamination
- Kidney Disease, Kidney Cancer, and Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claims
- Cancer and Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claims
- Miscarriages: Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Contamination Claims
- Parkinson’s Disease: Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water Claims
- Cardiac Birth Defects and Congenital Heart Problems: Camp Lejeune Injury Claims.
Water contamination is a silent and deadly killer. It is a tragedy for all Americans that our military heroes and their supporting loved ones who served our country at Camp Lejeune may have been victims of toxic water harm. Please be careful out there!
