The water contamination tragedy at Camp Lejeune, a U.S. Marine Corps base in North Carolina, is one of the worst drinking water contaminations in U.S. history. For over 30 years, thousands upon thousands of men, women, and children were exposed to toxic chemicals in the base’s drinking water.
This disaster resulted in serious health issues like multiple types of cancer, congenital disabilities, and much more. But what caused this massive contamination in the first place?
Ground Zero of Contamination
The roots of this environmental disaster can be traced back to the early 1950s.
The Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point water treatment plants began supplying the toxic drinking water to Camp Lejeune residents. Unbeknownst to the public, these plants drew water from the groundwater filled with toxic organic chemicals, such as trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride.
TCE and PCE are industrial solvents used for degreasing equipment. Benzene is a fuel component, and vinyl chloride is used in producing plastic.
According to an ATSDR study, leaky underground fuel tanks and waste disposal sites caused the contamination over many years. This slow release created a toxic cocktail in the groundwater used as drinking water.
For years, the contamination remained undetected as the military authorities failed to monitor the water quality adequately.
The authorities dismissed any concerns from the residents about the water’s taste and odor. Thus, the potential health risks went unrecognized. It was during the early 1980s that the true extent of the contamination was revealed.
In 1982, routine water testing detected elevated levels of TCE and PCE. It led to further investigations, which confirmed the widespread contamination of the base’s water supply.
Failure to Act Quickly
Camp Lejeune officials first detected TCE in the water in May 1980 at 1,400 parts per billion. This measurement is 280x the safety limit recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Yet, the Marine Corps failed to shut down contaminated wells for months. It wasn’t until the EPA set a lower limit in 1985 that the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point water treatment plants were shut down.
This delayed action exposed thousands of Marines and families to alarmingly high chemical levels for years. Studies estimate the TCE levels were high enough to cause various health problems, including cancer, kidney disease, and neurological disorders, after just 1-2 weeks of exposure.
Moreover, according to JD Supra, the authorities chose to ignore the complaints for 17 years before they started alerting the victims and their families. Even today, the US government has yet to provide a clarification for this delay.
Since the findings and news became public knowledge, it sparked a wave of lawsuits and outrage from affected individuals seeking compensation for their medical expenses and lost wages.
Lasting Health Impact
As a result of these oversights, the Camp Lejeune veterans and family members exposed to the water suffer an increased risk of several cancers, Parkinson’s disease, infertility, and other conditions.
But what are the symptoms of contaminated water at Camp Lejeune?
Patients displayed symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, rashes, and gastrointestinal issues during the years of contamination. Long-term, the major risks are various cancers, Parkinson’s disease, reproductive and neurological disorders, and more.
TorHoerman Law notes that victims of the incident have been engaged in legal battles for decades to seek compensation for their losses. The Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 has brought some relief. The act established a presumptive service connection for certain health conditions linked to exposure to contaminated water.
However, many victims continue to struggle to prove their exposure and obtain adequate compensation.
A Call for Environmental Accountability
The Camp Lejeune contamination was an institutional failure that caused serious harm on a massive scale.
Identifying and acknowledging the reasons behind this failure is the only way to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Environmental controls, water testing, well construction, and water treatment could have spared thousands from exposure.
This scandal also serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of environmental negligence and the importance of corporate accountability. It highlights the need for stringent environmental regulations, effective oversight, and transparency in industrial practices.
The incident also underscores the importance of listening to the concerns of communities and taking prompt action to address potential environmental hazards. The failure to do so can have far-reaching consequences, not only for the environment but also for the health and well-being of those who depend on it.
The Camp Lejeune water contamination scandal is a story of betrayal, negligence, and the enduring strength of a community in the face of adversity.
And finally, it is a reminder that environmental justice is not a privilege but a right and that the pursuit of clean water is a shared responsibility.