Understanding Camp Lejeune Symptoms: Signs of Exposure to Contaminated Water

The drinking water in Camp Lejeune was contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and vinyl chloride. These chemicals are known carcinogens and can cause many different health problems.

You could have been exposed to this contaminated water if you lived, worked, or served on the base between 1953 and 1987. Here are the symptoms of this exposure:

Headaches

At least two of the treatment facilities that supplied water to Camp Lejeune, Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point, were contaminated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene and vinyl chloride. These chemicals were more than the EPA’s drinking-water standards, directly impacting military service members, family members living on base and government workers assigned routinely to the facilities between 1953 and 1985.

Individuals who have been exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune may experience a variety of adverse health effects known as Camp Lejeune symptoms, including but not limited to gastrointestinal issues, neurological disorders, and certain types of cancer.

VOCs can cause long-term illnesses and serious symptoms, including headaches, fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting. Many of these conditions have been linked to various forms of cancer, as well as other debilitating health issues such as autoimmune disorders and systemic scleroderma.

Fatigue

Many people exposed to contaminated Camp Lejeune water have experienced fatigue. Chemicals like trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene, known carcinogens, caused the contamination. Those who drink contaminated water may also experience nausea and vomiting.

Another possible symptom of exposure to Camp Lejeune contaminants is an increased risk of lung cancer. The contaminant benzene can cause lung damage and increase the risk of disease.

Millions of military service members and their families who served at the Marine Corps base between 1953 and 1987 were exposed to toxic chemicals through their drinking water. Some substances included trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene from dry cleaners and benzene from underground storage tanks.

Diarrhea

The contaminated water at Camp Lejeune contained dangerous levels of the volatile organic compounds trichloroethylene (a metal degreaser), perchloroethylene (a dry cleaning agent), benzene, and vinyl chloride. These chemicals are known to cause cancer and other serious medical conditions.

One of the many diseases connected to Camp Lejeune water exposure is esophageal cancer, which is a type of cancer that starts in the esophagus, the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. Another condition is scleroderma, which causes the skin to harden and thicken. Other serious conditions include kidney disease and aplastic anemia. Aplastic anemia is a serious blood condition that results from insufficient production of red blood cells by the bone marrow to fulfill the body's requirements.

Nausea

Many people who were stationed at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 reported experiencing debilitating health conditions they attributed to the contaminated base water. These conditions include cancers, congenital disabilities, organ damage and neurobehavioral issues.

The toxic chemicals that contaminated the drinking water at Camp Lejeune included volatile organic compounds like trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene or perchloroethylene (PCE), and benzene. These substances can cause havoc on the body's systems by interfering with vital functions like immunological response, hormone production, and cell division.

Some of the symptoms associated with this exposure are easy to identify. However, other effects are more subtle. For example, some women who drank the contaminated water had complications with pregnancy, such as cleft palates and miscarriages. Adults who drink the water may also develop leukemia, an abnormal growth of blood cells that crowds out healthy ones.

Vomiting

The contaminated water from Camp Lejeune caused some service members to suffer from various health conditions. These conditions included cancers, congenital disabilities, and neurobehavioral problems.

Some of the chemicals in the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune include trichloroethylene (TCE) and benzene. These are organic compounds that are volatile and may result in long-term health issues. TCE is used in dry and machine cleaning plants, while benzene is found in paints, dyes, gasoline, lubricants, resins, and some rubber materials.

These chemicals may also increase the risk of aplastic anemia, a rare blood condition that causes the bone marrow to stop producing healthy white blood cells. Symptoms of aplastic anemia include fatigue, bruising easily, and frequent infections.

Skin irritation

Volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene, or perchloroethylene (PCE), were found in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune. Those chemicals were used as industrial solvents and can cause several health conditions, including cancer, congenital disabilities, organ damage, neurobehavioral changes, and other symptoms.

Numerous severe medical conditions, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, and heart disease, have been connected to prolonged exposure to the Camp Lejeune water contamination. Those with certain conditions may be eligible for benefits from the VA and could file a lawsuit. Some of these conditions are considered “presumptive” due to service at Camp Lejeune, which makes it easier for veterans to receive a disability rating.

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