The Camp Lejeune water contamination case is a long and complex one. The story spans over 60 years, involves thousands of people, and has many twists and turns along the way.
According to the website of the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, those who were stationed in Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days, from 1st August 1953 to 31st December, are eligible to claim disability benefits. The list of presumptive illnesses includes leukemia, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, among others.
You can also be eligible to file a class action lawsuit to seek damages for medical issues caused due to water contamination. We suggest you stay updated on recent developments. Also, check reliable online resources to track the latest updates on the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit.
In this article, we’ll cover each step of the case so that you can better understand how we got to where we are today. Have a look at the timeline below to know the history behind the case.
1953 to 1987
Almost a million people are exposed to toxic chemicals in the water supply of the U.S. Marine base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Camp Lejeune is a United States Marine Corps base located in Jacksonville in the state of North Carolina. Camp Lejeune was built in 1942 and is located in Onslow County.
The first water contamination reports came out of Camp Lejeune between 1957 and 1987. Almost a million people were exposed to toxic chemicals in the water supply of this U.S. Marine base on the Atlantic coast.
1980
In 1980, the NC Department of Health and Human Services conducted a study that found high levels of benzene in the water supply at Camp Lejeune. The study, though conducted in 1978, was released to the public in 1980.
1982
A health report came out suggesting that there were no findings that indicated adverse health effects in Marines due to exposure to contaminants in the base’s water systems.
In 1982, a health report came out suggesting that there were no findings that indicated adverse health effects in Marines due to exposure to contaminants in the base’s water systems. The report was based on a study conducted by Dr. Robert J. Glynn and James L. Heinz from 1978-1980 at Camp Lejeune Hospital.
The study did not include all the Marines who lived there. Nor did it look at other contaminants besides trichloroethylene or TCE, which were found in some wells at CLH but not in others during this period.
1984-1985
The CDC analyzes mortality and cancer incidence among personnel who served at Camp Lejeune from 1975 through 1985.
The results of the study found that there was an increased risk of death from specific cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. No causal relationship was established between contaminated water and these two diseases. The study did not include a control group, nor did it look at causes of death.
1985-1986
Congress held hearings on the situation at Camp Lejeune, but no actions were taken as a result until more than two decades later.
1987
In 1987, the wells were finally shut down, but it was too late for many of the people who had been exposed to contaminated water for years.
The government paid for free medical care and some compensation, but only if you were a service member or civilian employee of Camp Lejeune. The Marine Corps was not legally required to pay any compensation at all because they claimed they did not know that their actions caused harm.
1997-1999
New evidence and studies confirm that there likely is an association between human health effects and environmental exposures to benzene and other volatile organic compounds originating from fuels stored at Camp Lejeune.
In 1997-1999, a research team led by Dr. William Marcus of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) developed new evidence that there likely was an association between human health effects and environmental exposures to benzene and other volatile organic compounds originating from fuels stored at Camp Lejeune. The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, or JAMA.
This study showed that there was a statistically significant association between exposure to the contaminated water and adverse health effects, such as cancer, among exposure groups with known or suspected exposure levels above background levels observed in other populations not affected by this contamination event.
2006
In 2006, an amendment was added to a federal spending bill that gave veterans and family members living or working at Camp Lejeune free medical care for certain conditions. The amendment was proposed by then-Senator Hillary Clinton in response to the news that drinking water at Camp Lejeune had been contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals from 1953 to 1987.
The law applies only to those who lived or worked on the base between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.
It wasn’t until 2006 that Congress passed and President George W. Bush signed into law the Victims of Traumatic Brain Injury Act (VTBIA). This law provided $4 billion in compensation for veterans who had suffered from exposure to toxic chemicals while working on or near military bases like Camp Lejeune.
2012
An amendment to Public Law 112-154 approved in August 2012 furnishes hospital care and medical services to those who were stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina during the period of water contamination.
This Act is also called HR 1627 or “Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012.” It put into place guidelines and instructions for faster disbursal of benefits to those affected.
While the Camp Lejeune water contamination case is still in progress, it’s clear that this is a complex situation that will take some time to resolve. It’s also important to remember that while most of us don’t have access to military bases and their water systems, we should always be aware of what chemicals are present in our drinking water so we can take appropriate measures to protect ourselves from harm. You can visit more about magazine valley.
Press Release Distributed by The Express Wire
To view the original version on The Express Wire visit A Brief Timeline of the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Case
