Camp LeJeune Contaminated Drinking Water Study

We, like many of you, were stationed at Camp LeJeune for part of the time that my husband was in the Corps. That was back in the late 1970's and early 1980s and we lived in base housing, along with thousands of other Marine families, utilizing the various systems that were provided for us.

Last week while at an appointment at the Veteran's Hospital we were given a paper by another Marine, and this is my way of passing on the information.

We all may have been exposed to contaminated drinking water.

If you were at LeJeune, North Carolina between 1957 and 1987 you may have been exposed to contaminates in your drinking water. The Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, which is a federal public health agency is currently looking into this situation to see whether or not any potential health risks are associated with the contaminated water.

The study is scheduled to run through the middle of 2008. The Marine Corps has officially stated that they will then notify former residents with the results of the study.

If you were there during those years, then you are asked to register at the United States Marine Corps site .

Apparently in the early 80's the Marine Corps had reason to think that there was asbestos coating from the raw pipes leaching into the water supply. As the water continued to be tested at Camp Grainger it became obvious that there were also various VOC compounds in the water that was supplying base housing on Tarrawa Terrace, one and two, as well as Camp LeJeune.

In 1984 the wells identified as supplying the contaminated water were shut down, and included the water supply for TT1 and TT2 as well as Hadnot Point.

But that doesn't seem to be all. Apparently Camp LeJeune's water supply was polluted from 1957 until 1987 by TCE, which is a chemical degreasing solvent, and PCE, a toxic chemical dry cleaning agent. These chemicals came from a dry cleaning store near the base, according to government sources.

We, who lived at Camp LeJeune, were exposed to between 70 and 200 micrograms of PCE per liter of water. Maximum allowable levels set by the EPA is 5 micrograms per liter. Yep. FIVE.

Part of the problem is that the groundwater in that area is a mere ten feet below the surface so pollutants leach in to it very rapidly. I am continuing to research and will update this article with links and information as I find out more. And there is more. Vast amounts of information if you know where to look.

Current information is that the toxins are "unlikely" to affect adults, however there was some question on the effects on unborn children that would have been exposed to the toxins in the mother's system.

To date more than 800 Marines have filed claims. The investigating committee has considered filing claims against certain people because there seems to have been an attempt to cover up this information.

Now that is a surprise, isn't it?

The various compounds found in the water are linked to the following illnesses. There are more but these are the most common

• liver cancer
• kidney cancer
• breast cancer
• bladder cancer
• ovarian cancer
• prostate cancer
• cervical cancer
• lung cancer
• leukemia
• non Hodgkins lymphoma
• liver disease
• miscarriages
• birth defects :cleft palate, heart defects, Choanal atresia, neural tube defects, low birth weight, and small size for gestational age

If you are part of those Marines, and families of Marines that were exposed to these toxins then register at the site.

Talk to your family doctor, and give him the web address so he can educate himself to your potential needs, and tests that need to be done. If you are having health problems be sure to mention this study and ask if there are any potential links.

If you feel you are having related health problems go to The Stand (loink below) and follow the directions to fill out your form 95. It needs to be filed as soon as possible

Take control of your own health, as always.