Trichloroethylene exposure on military bases has a strong association with Parkinson's disease
Across the country, there are over 700 military bases where toxic contamination occurred during the last century. Solvents were just one class of harmful chemicals that lurked on these installations, exposure to which may cause Parkinson's disease by increasing oxidative stress in the body. Furthermore, PCBs have been found in high concentrations in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease. These environmental contaminants were also present on military bases nationwide. Trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, and dichloromethane are lipid soluble and can also rapidly enter the brain at sufficiently high concentrations, eventually causing Parkinson's disease. These solvents polluted numerous military bases in the past, too.
Many solvents found on military bases are neurotoxic, meaning they can irreversibly affect the brain, making the exposed person susceptible to developing Parkinson's disease several years or even decades later. The following are other solvents linked to the disorder:
- methanol
- toluene
- benzene
- xylene
Exposure to PFAS can also result in Parkinson's disease, as they enhance oxidative stress, which has a significant association with the disorder. More specifically, PFOS was discovered to cause dopaminergic neuropathology, a process that ultimately leads to Parkinson's disease.
If you were stationed at Camp Lejeune and have Parkinson's disease, you might be entitled to financial compensation under the new law known as the Camp Lejeune Justice Act and from the VA if you are a veteran in the form of disability compensation. These are the eligibility criteria you must meet to file a claim:
- as a veteran, you must have been discharged from the military other than dishonorably
- you must have drunk contaminated water on the military base
- you must have spent at least 30 consecutive days at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987
- you must have a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease related to water contamination
It is important to note that even if you meet these requirements, you might not qualify to file a Camp Lejeune toxic water claim. For this reason, you will have to send our resourceful legal team your military records, which you must retrieve, and your medical records. Once we have these documents, we will carefully assess your case to establish whether you are entitled to financial compensation. If you are a family member of a veteran who spent time at Camp Lejeune, our attorneys will need proof of your stay at the military base, your medical records, and evidence of your relationship with the veteran. Women who were pregnant while staying at Camp Lejeune and gave birth to a child with a birth defect or congenital malformation might also be eligible to file a claim.
