How the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Can Help Veterans Impacted by Toxic Exposure
Camp Lejeune, a military base in North Carolina, has been home to U.S. Marines since 1942. However, it has a long history of toxic pollution. From the 1950s to the 1980s, chemicals like perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride contaminated the base’s drinking water. These chemicals, commonly used in dry cleaning and equipment cleaning, are known to cause cancer and other serious health problems.
Another major source of pollution was firefighting foam, known as AFFF, which contains harmful "forever chemicals" called PFAS. These chemicals do not break down easily and remain in the environment for centuries. At its worst, the PFAS levels in Camp Lejeune’s water were 2,457 times higher than safe exposure limits.
As a result, many veterans, military families, and civilians who lived at the base between 1953 and 1987 were exposed to dangerous toxins. Studies have linked this exposure to cancers, infertility, and other life-threatening diseases. Despite the known risks, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has often denied compensation claims, with approval rates dropping as low as 5 percent at one point.
In 2022, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act became law, allowing affected individuals to sue the U.S. government for financial compensation. However, the process has been slow, and many victims have died while waiting for their claims to be resolved. Over 500,000 claims were filed, but only a small number have been processed.
For many, financial compensation is crucial to cover medical bills. While it cannot undo the damage, it provides much-needed support to those suffering from exposure to Camp Lejeune’s toxic water.
🔭 This summary was human-edited with AI-assist.
