Camp Lejeune, a U.S. marine corps base, saw severe contamination of two water sources between the 1950s and 1980s.
The water contamination affected thousands of Marines working at the facility and the military families.
Reliable evidence shows that Camp Lejeune’s water contained excessive carcinogenic chemicals, like vinyl chloride and benzene.
The question is, what symptoms do victims of Camp Lejeune water contamination present?
Generally, the camp Lejeune water contamination symptoms may vary based on the length of exposure to toxic chemicals and substances.
This post will discuss the risk factors, common symptoms of exposure to these chemicals, and how long the symptoms take to manifest.
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Symptoms
Between 1953 and 1987, everybody who worked or resided at Camp Lejeune probably suffered exposure to harmful substances through the base’s water supply.
If you worked or resided at Camp Lejeune within this period, you probably suffered exposure to harmful substances through the water supply at the base.
Exposure to contaminated water at the base caused various conditions for victims. You should consult a doctor immediately if you are worried about the symptoms you are experiencing.
A physician will offer you a diagnosis and treatment plan. The Review of VA Clinical Guidance for the Health Conditions Identified by the Camp Lejeune Legislation lists seven symptoms to look out for, including:
- Depression
- Mental confusion
- Slow reaction time
- Inability to focus
- Sleepiness
- Headaches
- Behavior disorders
Prolonged exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is associated with various severe health conditions.
Medical Conditions Linked to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
According to Veterans Affairs, some of the health issues connected to Camp Lejeune water contamination include:
Cancer
Some malignancies associated with Camp Lejeune are classified as “presumptive conditions.”
If you satisfy all other eligibility requirements, having a presumptive condition would make it easier for you to file a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit.
Some of the cancers said to be caused by water contamination at Camp Lejeune are:
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Adult leukemia
- Multiple myeloma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Since the symptoms of these cancers vary, diagnosing them is quite a challenge. Consider making an appointment with a doctor if you suspect that your exposure to Camp Lejeune water is the cause of any new or unusual medical problem you are experiencing. You might get clarification and the following action to take from a doctor.
Parkinson’s disease
Another presumptive condition resulting from Camp Lejeune water contamination is Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s causes the central nervous system to deteriorate slowly. Its symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic, include:
- Rigid muscles
- Slow bodily movement
- Tremors
- Impaired balance
- Difficulty speaking or writing
Congenital disabilities
According to preliminary findings from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), fetal exposure to harmful substances at Camp Lejeune may lead to the following congenital disabilities:
- Neurological tube defects: Spina bifida and anencephaly are two examples. With spina bifida, an infant’s spine grows outward due to abnormal spinal cord development. On the other hand, anencephaly causes abnormal skull formation.
- Oral cleft defect: A gap results from an infant’s lip muscle failing to develop properly, causing an oral cleft defect. Surgery is necessary to correct this issue, but it leaves a permanent scar on the facial muscles beneath the nose.
- Childhood leukemia: This is a kind of early-onset blood cancer. Even though this illness is frequently severe, chemotherapy and surgery are effective treatments.
Female infertility
Researchers think exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune can cause female infertility, which takes away women’s child-bearing ability.
Furthermore, research suggests that Camp Lejeune residents experience higher rates of miscarriages than the general population. Signs and symptoms of miscarriage include:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Abdominal pain
- Severe cramping
Scleroderma
Scleroderma is an autoimmune condition that comes in two variants:
- Localized scleroderma– Primarily affects the skin.
- Systemic scleroderma– Affects the entire body. It is more severe and affects ligaments, joints, and vital internal organs.
Although the exact cause of scleroderma is unclear, research suggests that individuals who worked or resided at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 may have had the disease.
Myelodysplastic syndromes
Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of diseases associated with the faulty production of white blood cells.
These diseases typically result in an accumulation of unhealthy white blood cells, which can then cause bleeding, infections, and fatigue.
Myelodysplastic syndrome patients frequently experience the following symptoms:
- Frequent infections
- Easy bruising
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Petechiae (small red dots that appear below the skin)
What Toxins Were in the Water at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Military Base?
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Perchloroethylene (PCE)
- Vinyl Chloride
- Benzene
Symptoms of trichloroethylene exposure
According to the CDC, trichloroethylene, often known as TCE, can result in various physiological symptoms. Studies show that the TCE levels in the contaminated Camp Lejeune water were alarmingly high and significantly beyond what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers acceptable.
Immediate symptoms of acute exposure to TCE
In Camp Lejeune water contamination, excessive TCE exposure might result in the following acute symptoms:
- Headaches, especially with prolonged exposure
- Slower reaction time
- Memory loss
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Gastrointestinal (GI) distress
Transient symptoms may disappear shortly after the end of the exposure. For example, showering or inhaling steam with high amounts of TCE may have caused acute symptoms, but these symptoms might have subsided quickly.
Marines deployed at Camp Lejeune during the 1950s and 1980s might not exhibit these symptoms now, but they may recall doing so when they were first exposed. For this reason, medical conditions may take a long to manifest.
Symptoms of Chronic TCE exposure
Prolonged (chronic) TCE exposure can pose significant risks. Marines and their family members residing at Camp Lejeune may have suffered the following symptoms:
- Loss of appetite
- Recurrent headaches or vertigo
- Short-term memory loss
- Cognitive decline
- Insomnia
- Digestive issues, including nausea or vomiting
These symptoms may have persisted if there had been continued exposure to high levels of TCE.
With the advantage of hindsight, marines and their families may now be able to identify some of the symptoms of water contamination that they may have previously ascribed to the pressure of their occupation or living arrangements.
Long-term symptoms of TCE exposure
Clinical data suggests that Camp Lejeune TCE exposure may have long-term health effects, lasting long after acute or chronic exposure has subsided.
Individuals who consumed water from Camp Lejeune contaminated with high amounts of TCE risk developing:
- Liver cancer
- Heart problems
- Prostate cancer
- Kidney disease
- Fetal abnormalities and other reproductive health issues
Symptoms of tetrachlorethylene (PCE) exposure
Similar to TCE, PCE can potentially have detrimental long-term effects on health. PCE can enter the body by inhalation or ingesting tainted water.
Immediate symptoms of acute PCE exposure
Anyone exposed to high PCE levels at Camp Lejeune, especially Marines, may have had acute, immediate symptoms like:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Skin irritation
- Cognitive symptoms like confusion, decreased memory, etc.
- Irritation of the mucus membranes
These symptoms usually clear immediately after the acute exposure to PCE is over. As a result, if you suffered exposure to PCE at Camp Lejeune, you might not experience them today, but you could recall certain occurrences at the time of exposure.
Like TCE, PCE can have detrimental long-term effects on health. PCE can get into your system by inhalation or ingesting contaminated water.
Families living in Camp Lejeune experienced constant exposure to PCE from tainted water. The water at the base had more than 43 times the EPA’s acceptable level of PCE.
The prevalence of PCE in Camp Lejeune’s water was so frighteningly high that residents suffered an increased risk of a wide range of illnesses.
Symptoms of chronic PCE exposure
Prolonged exposure to PCE in Camp Lejeune water contamination can affect brain health, impairing cognition and personality, which can lead to:
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Short-term memory loss
- Loss of concentration
The effects of PCE exposure at Camp Lejeune frequently last long after the first exposure. Some people exposed to chronic PCE never entirely restore their former personality or cognitive abilities.
Moreover, PCE can pass through the placenta, subjecting a developing baby to the same long-term PCE exposure as the pregnant mother. Sometimes, this causes congenital disabilities.
Persistent PCE exposure can harm the kidneys and liver and result in long-term issues with those essential organs, as was the case with the Camp Lejeune water contamination.
The long-term impact of PCE exposure
The affected service members and their families may continue to experience the effects of PCE exposure years after Camp Lejeune authorities discontinued supplying contaminated water.
Those exposed to high amounts of PCE in Camp Lejeune water may have the following side effects along with cognitive and neurological damage:
- Cancer (kidney cancer, liver cancer, and leukemia)
- Reproductive complications
- Congenital disabilities
You may be entitled to financial compensation if you served, worked, or lived at Camp Lejeune from the 1950s to the 1980s and later developed any of the earlier-mentioned diseases. Toxic substances got into the water at Camp Lejeune, affecting its quality and safety.
Symptoms of vinyl chloride Exposure
In Camp Lejeune, soldiers, and their family members may have suffered exposure to vinyl chloride in several ways, including through water vapor inhalation, skin or eye contact (for example, when bathing), or cooking and drinking.
Immediate symptoms of acute vinyl chloride exposure
Acute exposure to vinyl chloride may cause:
- Digestive issues such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Limb numbness or tingling sensation
- Eye irritation
- A sense of inebriation
- Irritation of the mucus membrane
The symptoms children suffer may differ from those in adults, although they will be equally severe.
Symptoms of chronic vinyl chloride exposure
Veterans and their dependents might have experienced several symptoms while at Camp Lejeune water due to chronic exposure to vinyl chloride. These symptoms include:
- Liver disease, including cirrhosis and portal hypertension
- Cancer, such as liver cancer
- Multiple neuropathies
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Sleep disturbances
- Loss of libido
- Blood platelet disorders
Some symptoms subside when the exposure to vinyl chloride stops, but others may persist for much longer.
Long-term symptoms of vinyl chloride exposure
Probably not all of the symptoms of exposure to vinyl chloride were immediately apparent to the troops and their families. The most harmful symptoms may have manifested many years after the initial exposure at Camp Lejeune.
The most harmful symptoms may have manifested many years after the initial exposure at Camp Lejeune. Some long-term health issues linked to vinyl chloride exposure include:
- Cancers (see above)
- Kidney and liver damage
- Reproductive health issues
- Decreased libido
- Congenital disabilities in babies exposed to vinyl chloride in utero
Supposedly, the water at Camp Lejeune had sickeningly high levels of vinyl chloride between 1950 and 1980, putting residents and troops at risk of experiencing all of the symptoms mentioned above.
Like with other hazardous exposures at the base, it is possible that people impacted did not link their symptoms to the Camp Lejeune water contamination and may have waited a while before getting a diagnosis.
Camp Lejeune water contamination victims were probably exposed to dangerous vinyl chloride levels and may be entitled to compensation.
Symptoms associated with benzene exposure
Individuals who worked or resided at Camp Lejeune between 1950 and 1980 also likely suffered adverse effects associated with benzene exposure.
Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that may be ingested or inhaled. The Camp Lejeune water contamination resulted mainly from benzene.
Immediate symptoms of acute benzene exposure
A Marine or other impacted person may have experienced the following right away after exposure to benzene:
- Headaches
- Convulsions
- Dizziness and vertigo
- Confusion or disorientation
- Stomach irritation
Acute benzene exposure in some situations can cause unconsciousness or death at very high doses.
Symptoms of chronic benzene exposure
Chronic exposure to benzene can have multiple adverse effects on health, including:
- Irregular menstruation
- Anemia
- Fertility issues
- Increased risk of congenital disabilities
- Excessive bleeding
- Decreased overall immunity
Camp Lejeune Marines and their families were likely unaware that using and consuming contaminated water on the base led to these persistent ailments.
Camp Lejeune water sources contained alarming concentrations of benzene.
Long-term symptoms of benzene exposure
Like many other pollutants detected in the Camp Lejeune water system at alarmingly high levels, benzene can increase the likelihood of cancer, including leukemia.
Individuals may have also experienced problems with their reproductive system, such as difficulty conceiving or an elevated risk of congenital disabilities due to exposure.
These symptoms may persist long after benzene exposure has ended.
You might have dealt with mysterious health issues for decades if you or your family suffered exposure to harmful chemicals while residing or working at Camp Lejeune. These ailments are symptoms of water contamination.
Factors That Could Impact Water Contamination Symptoms at Camp Lejeune
Civilian workers, marines, and families residing at Camp Lejeune who suffered exposure to contaminated water at the base may have developed and may still be developing exposure-related symptoms.
The kind, length, and intensity of a person’s symptoms might vary depending on various factors.
What chemicals were you exposed to from Camp Lejeune water?
Camp Lejeune closed down two main water treatment facilities—the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point facilities— following the discovery of significant lethal chemical concentrations in the water the Camp was supposed to be treating.
The authorities supplied water from these two plants to various Camp Lejeune sites. You may have suffered exposure to high TCE levels if you consumed or used water treated at Tarawa Terrace.
Conversely, you may have been exposed to higher amounts of PCE, benzene, and vinyl chloride if you used or consumed water treated at the Hadnot Point plant.
In any case, there’s a good chance you now have or will eventually encounter several symptoms of water contamination discussed in this article.
How long were you exposed to the water at Camp Lejeune?
There is a direct relationship between the period you worked or lived at Camp Lejeune and your exposure to toxic chemicals.
For instance, compared to those who stayed and worked on the base for years, marines deployed at Camp Lejeune for only a few months likely suffered less overall exposure.
Furthermore, deployed Marines might have experienced less exposure than Marines stationed at Camp Lejeune.
Also, family members who resided on base while a spouse or parent was on active duty would have ingested far more polluted water than the deployed troops.
The cumulative effects of prolonged exposure to contaminated water at the base are regrettable. The water posed overly high risks for anyone living or working at the base.
How often were you exposed?
Compared to Marines and civilians who had just worked there, residents at Camp Lejeune suffered much more exposure.
In Camp Lejeune, residents frequently used contaminated water for drinking, washing, and bathing compared to those who resided off-base.
Talk to a lawyer immediately if you or a loved one exhibits signs of contaminated water.
How were you exposed?
The exposure of individuals who worked at the marine base (but did not reside there) most likely came from drinking the contaminated water at the Camp.
However, those who lived on the site often experienced inhalation or direct skin contact exposure when taking a bath or doing other home chores.
Besides, they also drank and ate food prepared with the same contaminated water. Therefore, the daily exposure to this water led to devastating conditions and symptoms, for which they qualify for compensation.
File a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit
Do you experience any symptoms linked to exposure to harmful chemicals in the Camp Lejeune water system? If so, you could be eligible for financial compensation.
At Legal Giant, we partner with experienced lawyers who can help determine your eligibility for compensation.
Our partner attorneys will help you file a lawsuit, gather the evidence to support your case, represent you in court, and get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact us for a free case evaluation today.
