By Treven Pyles
Posted on July 18th, 2021
Female veterans or the wives of veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune while they were pregnant are at high risk of experiencing a miscarriage. Furthermore, their babies also have great chances of being born with a wide range of birth defects, such as cardiac defects and neural tube defects.
By now, it is a known fact that the environment of Camp Lejeune was heavily contaminated with volatile organic compounds, multiple toxic chemicals that can lead to numerous terrible diseases, including several types of cancer if one is exposed to them. However, while the majority of information available about this issue concerns male veterans, little is spoken about pregnant female veterans and the pregnant wives of veterans who were stationed with them.
There are a lot of health problems pregnant female veterans or pregnant women who were stationed on Camp Lejeune can develop as a consequence of contamination, such as miscarriages. As for their babies, they are often born with congenital birth defects such as spina bifida. Considering the high risk of pregnant women who spent time at Camp Lejeune of suffering a serious health problem, as well as the great chances of their children being born with a birth defect, there is not a shadow of a doubt that more awareness needs to be raised of this alarming issue.
Prenatal trichloroethylene exposure via consumption of drinking water may increase the risk of miscarriage
According to medical studies, exposure to trichloroethylene, a solvent lurking in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune, during pregnancy can result in central nervous system defects, neural tube defects, cardiac defects, oral cleft defects, and low birth weight. Developmental experimental animal studies have focused on trichloroethylene exposure during pregnancy, and the observed effects include:
- increased fetal loss
- altered glucose metabolism in the brain
- delayed organ and bone development
- altered cardiac development
Increased risk of high blood pressure in 9 to 18-year-old girls was associated with trichloroethylene exposure. Furthermore, changes in the immune system have been observed in rat offspring exposed to the chemical during pregnancy and lactation. These changes included decreased B cell responses, increased delayed-type hypersensitivity responses involving T lymphocytes, and thymocyte changes in the thymus.
Finally, a study from the Journal of Water Quality, Exposure and Health found a 3.4-fold increased risk of spontaneous abortion among pregnant women with exposure to trichloroethylene or perchloroethylene, another solvent that was present in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune.
If you are a woman who was stationed at Camp Lejeune while you were pregnant and experienced a miscarriage or if your baby was born with a birth defect, it is important to know that you have the right to seek financial compensation. Our lawyers are ready to offer you the assistance you need to recover the money you deserve for your suffering or on behalf of your child from the liable companies.
File a Camp Lejeune toxic exposure claim with the help of our law firm
For over 30 years, we have been helping victims of toxic exposure and, if your health or your baby's health was affected by water contamination exposure at Camp Lejeune, we strongly encourage you to contact our law firm. After a complete assessment of your case, we will be able to tell you whether you can file a claim. The only documents that we will request are your military records, which you must retrieve if you are a veteran or proof of your stay at the military base if you are the spouse of a veteran, and your and your baby's medical records.
Your Camp Lejeune water contamination claim will be filed as soon as possible, as we prioritize the cases of toxic water exposure victims. Because we are aware that women who went through such a distressing experience as a miscarriage, or have a baby with a birth defect are in a lot of emotional pain, we will ease the legal process as much as possible for you. Eventually, you may obtain the money you deserve if you decide to work with us.
