Camp Lejeune is a 246-square-mile military training facility. This training facility has 11 miles of beach and multiple landing zones, gun positions and more.
The problem with Camp Lejeune is that between 1957 and 1987, at least, the drinking water in this area was contaminated with toxins up to 3,400 times higher than what’s permitted by set safety standards. In 2009, the Los Angeles Times reported that high volatile organic compounds were present in the drinking water.
As a result, many people were potentially exposed to these toxins at Camp Lejeune during these time periods. The VOCs, namely benzene, trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, and tetrachloroethylene, are all classified as cancer-causing agents or potentially carcinogenic. In either case, they were present in numbers unheard of, and they put many people at risk of developing serious diseases.
As of 2022, the U.S. government has taken steps to resolve the situation. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021 (a part of the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act), was passed and focuses on helping those who were exposed to these materials. Thanks to the law, you can pursue a claim if you or your loved one was exposed to harmful toxins at Camp Lejeune.
How do you know if you’re eligible to make a claim?
If you were stationed or living at the military base for at least 30 days (which means that you could have had drinking water there for at least 30 days), and were in the area between August 1, 1952 and December 31, 1987, then you meet the first requirement to make a claim.
You then must show that you have developed health issues linked to the facility. For example, if you were diagnosed with cancer and it was tied to benzene exposure, you may have the opportunity to make a claim for compensation.