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A study conducted by federal health officials has revealed that military personnel at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, faced a significantly higher risk of developing various cancers between 1975 and 1985 compared to those stationed elsewhere.
This research, one of the largest of its kind in the US, compared individuals in a polluted environment to those in a cleaner setting, noting increased risks for leukemia, lymphoma, and several other cancers among those exposed to the base’s contaminated water. The study, which also reported an elevated cancer risk among civilian workers at the base, has been described as “impressive” by experts, though it stops short of conclusively proving the water contamination as the cause of the cancers.
Camp Lejeune’s water contamination, stemming from a variety of sources including a fuel depot and local dry cleaning operations, affected the base’s water supply until the early 1980s. This resulted in widespread exposure among base personnel and their families to hazardous chemicals through drinking, cooking, and bathing. The situation has led to numerous lawsuits and criticisms of the Marine Corps for not adequately safeguarding the health of its personnel, with many affected individuals also faulting the federal government for the slow pace of its investigations.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) conducted the study, comparing the health outcomes of approximately 211,000 individuals at Camp Lejeune to those of around 224,000 at Camp Pendleton, where no similar pollution was reported. The findings, which identified higher risks for specific cancers at Camp Lejeune, including some not previously linked to the contamination, reveal the potential health consequences of exposure to the contaminated water.
The publication of this study coincides with legislative efforts to address the health concerns of those exposed to the contamination, including a federal law signed by President Joe Biden that opens a two-year window for filing claims.
