PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals", were present in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune
Stemming from aqueous film-forming foam – AFFF, for short – PFAS are toxic fluorinated chemicals that had been lurking in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune in a dangerous concentration of 172,000 ppt when the safe limit is only 70 ppt.
They were released by military firefighters and trainees who used AFFF to extinguish petroleum and jet fuel fires. This fire suppressant contains between 50% and 98% PFAS, which makes it extremely dangerous. Some of the most serious diseases associated with exposure to PFAS are lung, breast, prostate, and liver cancer. In addition to PFAS, the following toxic chemicals have been present at Camp Lejeune, contaminating the drinking water:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE): As a volatile, colorless liquid chemical, trichloroethylene does not occur naturally. It is created by chemical synthesis. The chemical is used mostly to manufacture refrigerants and as a degreasing solvent for metal equipment. Some health problems associated with prolonged or frequent exposure to trichloroethylene are kidney, cervical, and liver cancer.
- Vinyl chloride: This is a colorless gas that burns easily. Like trichloroethylene, it does not occur naturally and must be produced industrially for its commercial use. Inhaling high concentrations of vinyl chloride can be fatal. Long-term exposure to this chemical may result in lung, brain, and liver cancer, as well as lymphoma and leukemia.
- Perchloroethylene (PCE): Perchloroethylene is a colorless, non-flammable liquid solvent with a sweet odor. The chemical is primarily used in industrial settings and also for dry-cleaning fabrics and degreasing metals. Some of the diseases associated with exposure to perchloroethylene are bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
- Benzene: As a colorless or light-yellow chemical, benzene has a sweet odor and is also highly flammable. It evaporates into the air very rapidly, and its vapors are heavier than air, which is why benzene may sink into low-lying areas. The health problems that can stem from excessive benzene exposure include leukemia and lymphoma.
Other chemicals that have contaminated the water at Camp Lejeune during the last century are solvents and degreasers. Exposure to most substances from these categories usually takes a heavy toll on the nervous system, as they are neurotoxic. Some examples of solvents that might have been present at Camp Lejeune are acetone, ethanol, and methanol. As for degreasers, butyl degreasers and heavy-duty degreasers might have polluted this military base. Nevertheless, it is very important to know that at the moment, the water at Camp Lejeune is safe to drink for everyone who lives at the military base, as the harmful chemicals have been removed and the PFAS concentration is below the safe exposure limit.
Get in touch with our specialized attorneys to obtain financial compensation
If you are a veteran or a family member of one who has been stationed at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 consecutive days between August 1953 and December 1987, you might be entitled to financial compensation.
For this reason, we highly advise you to contact our law firm, which has been pursuing compensation for toxic exposure victims for over 25 years.
A substantial part of our clients are veterans and their family members, so we understand what you are going through and will strive to make the legal process as easy as possible.
All we will need from you if you intend to file a Camp Lejeune toxic water claim or lawsuit or a VA claim is your military records, which you must retrieve, and your medical records.
Our experienced attorneys will carefully evaluate these documents to determine whether you meet the eligibility criteria to file a claim. If you do, they will promptly begin preparing it. It is important to know that only veterans have to retrieve their military records. Injured family members only have to provide their medical records and proof of their stay at Camp Lejeune. Eventually, you may recover the maximum compensation available for your diagnosis.
