Marine Base Camp Lejeune residents and workers were routinely exposed to harmful chemicals and known carcinogens, including TCE and PCE. Many people believe there is a very strong causal link relating Parkinson's disease, cancer, and other serious medical diagnoses to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
Based on extensive research and testing, and the resulting independent scientific evidence developed, thousands of Marines and their families have brought Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuits. The goal is to recover compensation for the losses they have suffered as a result of the time they spent on the base and their exposure to toxic chemicals.
Historical Background of the Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
For three decades, Marines, civilians, and their families who lived on base drank, cooked with, and bathed in toxic water. Recent scientific studies and medical evidence has revealed that the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune created higher risks of Parkinson’s disease, cancers, and other serious medical conditions in those who were exposed to the dangerous chemicals found in the water supplies.
Among the dangerous environmentally-toxic substances discovered in the Camp Lejeune water system, one particular chemical has been determined to lead to a significantly increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. Extensive testing revealed that TCE (short for trichloroethylene) was present in high concentrations in the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, especially in water that had been processed at the Hadnot Point water treatment plant.
We now know that many illnesses are linked to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune including several types of cancer and other complicated medical conditions. For this article, we narrow our focus to a few of the most devastating illnesses and the studies that prove the chemicals in Camp Lejeune water caused these problems.
The Scientific Link Between Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune and Parkinson's Disease
The Goldman Study
The most conclusive landmark scientific study demonstrating a link between Camp Lejeune's toxic water and Parkinson's disease is a study entitled: Solvent exposures and Parkinson's disease risk in twins, better known as the "Goldman study."
The Goldman study determined that people who were exposed to the chemicals TCE and PCE suffered a greatly increased risk of being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease compared to people in the general population. The study showed that people exposed to TCE developed Parkinson's disease six times more often than people in the general population. And shockingly, people who were exposed to the chemical PCE were ten times more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than the rest of the population.
The Trichloroethylene Study
Another groundbreaking research study called Trichloroethylene, a ubiquitous environmental contaminant in the risk for Parkinson's disease, discovered that TCE leads to the degeneration of brain neurons over time. The loss of neurons in the brain can eventually lead to the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
The NRC Epidemiological Study
In 2009, the National Research Council (NRC) published a study called Contaminated Water Supplies at Camp Lejeune: Assessing Potential Health Effects. This epidemiological study showed potential health concerns related to TCE and PCE exposure and the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. The toxic chemicals found in Camp Lejeune water have been linked to a wide variety of medical conditions and a long list of cancers, based on this research.
The ATSDR Research
Lastly, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) performed several similar research studies which again linked the contaminants discovered in the water supply at Camp LeJeune, including TCE and PCE, to later diagnoses of Parkinson's disease.
What Scientific Proof Links Camp Lejeune’s Toxic Water to Cancer?
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), released the results of various studies that showed how people who were exposed to the toxins found in Camp Lejeune water for an extended period of time have a higher chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, brain cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, and other types of debilitating diseases. In fact, the ATSDR studies are not the only ones to confirm this connection.
Beyond the work performed by the ATSDR, the following studies also indicate that there is a link between toxic water exposure at Camp Lejeune and a greater chance of developing prostate cancer:
- The Report on Carcinogens studied the effects of trichloroethylene (TCE) on individuals and found that extensive TCE exposure is affiliated with “excess incidents” of prostate cancer.
- The EPA issued a report entitled Toxicology Review of Trichloroethylene that also examined the relationship between TCE and prostate cancer. The EPA’s findings were similar to the results included in the other reports.
Based on these health studies linking the toxic chemicals in Camp Lejeune's contaminated water to prostate cancer diagnoses, we believe there is a strong legal basis for Camp Lejeune toxic water claims. Additional legal actions strengthen these findings and will allow injured individuals to recover the financial losses they have suffered.
Studies Linking Toxic Water to Kidney Cancer and Kidney Disease
Recently, numerous studies have determined a link between the toxin chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune to kidney cancer and other forms of kidney diseases. For example:
- According to one of the first public health studies analyzing the effects of the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, research from the National Research Council reported overwhelming evidence that exposure to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune was related to kidney cancer and other kidney diseases.
- Meanwhile, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released a major study in 2014, showing that people who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune had much higher rates of kidney disease and kidney cancer than a separate control group. This study also determined that kidney cancer and kidney disease were two diseases that were most clearly connected to the contaminated water on the base.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) also established a special committee of medical experts in 2015 to help monitor and administer new health benefits for eligible Camp Lejeune service members. The VA Committee studied the situation and found supporting evidence that was explained in a detailed report entitled VA Clinical Guidance on the Health Conditions Identified by the Camp Lejeune Legislation. This report reached the conclusion that kidney cancer is clearly connected to the chemicals in the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune based upon substantial causation evidence.
Evidence Linking Liver Cancer to Toxic Water
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) prepared a report addressing the health risks of the toxic water at Camp Lejeune. This report showed that liver cancer is another one of the medical conditions that can be directly linked to the toxins in the water on the Marine base.
In fact, the ATSDR’s study revealed convincing evidence that people exposed to trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene in the water at Camp Lejeune suffered a significantly higher rate of liver cancer than the general population. In addition, different medical studies have also established that exposure to vinyl chloride has been known to raise the chances of being diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer called hepatic angiosarcoma.
The National Research Council (NRC) also issued a report entitled Contaminated Water Supplies at Camp Lejeune: Assessing Potential Health Effects that also concluded that being exposed to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune resulted in much higher rates of liver cancer and fatty liver disease compared to the rates found in the general population.
Lawsuit Legal News Can Help People Suffering From Exposure to Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
The science is clear. Many different severe medical conditions, including several forms of cancer, have been linked to the chemicals found in the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. If you or your family have been harmed by these toxins, the legal professionals at Lawsuit Legal News can help.
Call us at 866-467-0943 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation and case review. We can explain your rights and help you make the best decisions possible going forward. Don’t wait, reach out today.