Between 1953 and 1987, a minimum of one million enlisted service members, their families, and civilian staff were poisoned by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune's military base in North Carolina. Scientific and medical evidence proves an association between exposure to these contaminants and the development of specific diseases, producing what some scientists have called the worst public drinking-water contamination in America’s history. Their debilitating diagnoses expose the heartbreaking stories of these service members and their families. The government had done little to remedy this injustice, but recent legislation gave Camp Lejeune water contamination victims some legal options.
Chemicals Found in the Water At Camp Lejeune
After testing the drinking water, two specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified: trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE).
Trichloroethylene, or TCE, is a colorless liquid chemical used as a solvent for degreasing metal parts used for manufacturing different products. Toxic exposure to TCE can damage the:
- Immune and reproductive systems
- Liver
- Kidney
- Central nervous system
- Fetal development during pregnancy
Perchloroethylene, or PCE, is a solvent used in dry cleaning operations. PCE dissolves greases, oils, and waxes when used on material or fabric.
If you served at Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune in North Carolina, you might have also consumed drinking water contaminated with vinyl chloride and Benzene. Vinyl chloride is a flammable gas used to make PVC pipes, wire coatings, vehicle upholstery, and plastic kitchenware. Exposure to vinyl chloride can potentially cause:
- Damage to the nervous system
- Changes in the immune system
- A decrease in bone strength
Benzene is a colorless, flammable liquid that quickly evaporates when exposed to air, and it is among the 20 most widely used chemicals in the United States. It is primarily used in making other chemicals and as an industrial solvent. The link between benzene and cancer has focused on leukemia and other blood cell cancers.






