The water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated by a variety of chemicals including trichloroethylene (TCE), benzene, and perchloroethylene (PCE). These chemicals were used in solvents, cleaning fluids, and degreasers. The contamination occurred over several decades from the 1950s to the 1980s.
The source of the contamination was two on-base dry cleaners and an off-base fuel depot. The water at Camp Lejeune was also contaminated with vinyl chloride, a chemical used in the production of PVC plastic.
The water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with a variety of chemicals for many years. The source of the contamination was two on-base dry cleaning facilities. The dry cleaners used perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) to clean clothes, and these chemicals eventually made their way into the groundwater.
After the contamination was discovered, the Marine Corps took steps to clean up the affected areas and provide safe drinking water to those who were exposed. However, many people believe that more could have been done to prevent the contamination in the first place.
How was the Contamination at Camp Lejeune Discovered?
The contamination at Camp Lejeune was discovered in the 1980s when some residents living near the base began complaining about their water supply. The water had a strange taste and odor, and some people started experiencing health problems.
Investigations revealed that two of the base’s drinking water wells were contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE), chemicals used in dry cleaning and degreasing.
It is believed that the contamination occurred when these chemicals seeped into the ground from an off-base dry cleaning facility.
Over time, the contaminants spread through the groundwater and ended up in the base’s drinking water wells. It is estimated that as many as 500,000 people may have been exposed to the contaminated water over a period of 30 years.
In recent years, a number of studies have linked exposure to TCE and PCE to a range of serious health problems, including cancer, liver damage, kidney damage, neurological disorders, and reproductive problems. As a result of these findings, the U.S. government has set up a program to provide medical care for those who were exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
What was the Problem With the Water at Camp Lejeune?
In the early 1980s, it was discovered that the water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with a number of chemicals, including trichloroethylene (TCE), vinyl chloride, and benzene. These chemicals are known to cause cancer and other serious health problems. The problem was first brought to light by a group of Marines who were stationed at the base in the 1970s and who developed cancer after being exposed to the contaminated water.
The Marines filed a lawsuit against the government, which eventually led to an investigation into the contamination. It was found that the water at Camp Lejeune had been contaminated for more than 30 years, and that as many as 900,000 people may have been exposed to the chemicals. The government has since taken steps to clean up the water at Camp Lejeune and provide medical care for those who have been affected by the contamination.
How Did Benzene Get into the Water at Camp Lejeune?
Benzene is a chemical that was used in many products at the Camp Lejeune Marine Base. It was used in solvents, degreasers, and fuel. The benzene contaminated the water supply at the base and has been linked to health problems in Marines and their families who lived there.
What were the Toxins in the Water at Camp Lejeune?
In the early 1980s, it was discovered that there were toxins in the water at Camp Lejeune. These toxins, which included benzene and trichloroethylene, were present in the water supply for more than two decades. As a result of exposure to these toxins, many people who served at Camp Lejeune have suffered from serious health problems, including cancer.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has recognized these health problems and provides benefits to those who have been affected.
Diseases Associated With Exposure to Contaminants in the Water Supply at Camp Lejeune
In the 1950s and 1960s, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) used Camp Lejeune in North Carolina as a training ground. Unfortunately, the water supply at the camp was contaminated with various chemicals, including benzene, toluene, xylene, trichloroethylene (TCE), vinyl chloride, and perchloroethylene (PCE). These contaminants have been linked to a number of serious health conditions, including cancer.
Benzene is a known carcinogen that can cause leukemia. Toluene and xylene are solvents that can damage the liver and kidneys. TCE is a degreaser that has been linked to kidney cancer and lymphoma.
Vinyl chloride is used in PVC production and has been linked to liver cancer. PCE is a dry-cleaning chemical that has been linked to breast cancer.
These chemicals were present in the water supply at Camp Lejeune for many years before anyone realized there was a problem.
In the 1980s, some residents began complaining of strange illnesses and cancers. The USMC conducted an investigation but did not find any evidence of contamination in the water supply.
It wasn’t until 1997 that government tests finally confirmed that the water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with benzene, TCE, PCE, and other chemicals.
By this time, many people had already been exposed to these contaminants and had developed serious health problems as a result.
The USMC has set up a website where concerned individuals can learn more about the water contamination at Camp Lejeune and what diseases have been associated with exposure to these contaminants.
Conclusion
The water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated by a variety of chemicals, including trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride. These chemicals were used in dry cleaning operations, machine shops, and degreasing operations on the base. The contamination was first discovered in the 1980s when private wells near the base were found to be contaminated with TCE.
The Marine Corps has since installed a new water treatment system on the base and is working to clean up the contamination.
