Navy (forced) agrees to study impact of Camp Lejeune’s toxic water
The military, deep down, doesn’t care about the troops. It may be a psychological device for distancing those who are likely to die in combat. I don’t know. But I have observed over and over that the military puts the troop in dangers completely unrelated to combat. For example, this article by Barbara Barrett for McClatchy:
The Navy has agreed to pay $1.53 million for a mortality study that could show a linkage between toxic water at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and the deaths of Marines and their family members who lived there over a 30-year period.
Some estimates are that during that time, as many as 1 million people were exposed to well water at the base that contained trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, benzene and vinyl chloride.
The chemicals were dumped into storm drains, leaked from fuel tanks or were buried in pits across the base. They seeped through the groundwater and into wells that fed the base areas of Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace.
The main contaminated well was shut down in November 1984.
Documents that McClatchy revealed Sunday indicate that a fuel storage farm at a central part of the base might have had far greater significance to the contamination than previously was known.
Some 800,000 gallons of fuel were thought to have been spilled over the years from the fuel farm, close to the main well serving Hadnot Point — the location of the base’s enlisted barracks, some officers’ quarters and the hospital.
Benzene is a component of fuel and a known carcinogen.
Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, the top Republican on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said in a statement this week that the new information changed the science behind the contamination…
These kind of things going un noticed are unacceptable. My brother is in the guard and was stationed there for a few years.
Kayak Helmets
25 February 2010 at 7:35 am
Greetings. Thanks for sharing. I was exposed to contaminated (VOCs) water at Camp Lejeune NC while active duty USMC from Oct 1981 to Jun 1984. I also had frequent exposure to trichloroethylene while employed in electronics field at Naval Avionics Center Indpls IN from 5/31/88 to 1995. I had further exposure while working at the same facility for Hughes Aircraft 1995-1996. Further exposure while working at the same facility for Raytheon Technical Services 1996-2002. I now have early onset Ideopathic Parkinson’s disease since Jun 1996 at age 34 (diagnosis 2000). Forced to retire May 2002 due to Parkinson’s. Been on SSDI since Oct 2002. Currently filling out CampLejeuneClaimsPacket.pdf
(Tort Claim) found here: https://clnr.hqi.usmc.mil/clwater/index.html. Any
advice or references much appreciated.
mental33
28 May 2010 at 6:14 pm
It’s heartbreaking to read of you Parkinson’s. I suggest that you get in touch with Parkinson’s support groups in your area, though they cannot help with the legal problems. Take a look at the links toward the top of this list.
LeisureGuy
29 May 2010 at 7:08 am