Free Guide to Camp Lejeune Water Claims Information

Understanding the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Issue

Camp Lejeune is a major Marine Corps base located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. From the 1950s through the 1980s, the drinking water at this facility became contaminated with hazardous chemicals. Two of the base's water treatment plants supplied contaminated water to housing areas, administrative buildings, and other facilities where military families and workers spent their time.

The primary contaminants identified in the water were volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), and benzene. TCE and PCE are industrial solvents used in dry cleaning and metal degreasing. These chemicals seeped into the groundwater through improper waste disposal and storage. The contamination was discovered in 1982, but full cleanup of the water system took several years. Military families and service members who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune during this period—particularly between 1953 and 1987—may have been exposed to these chemicals through drinking water, cooking water, and showering.

Research has linked exposure to TCE and PCE to various health conditions. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Institutes of Health have studied the potential health effects. Some studies suggest connections to certain cancers, kidney disease, liver disease, and other conditions, though researchers continue to examine the scope of health impacts.

In 2022, Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act as part of the PACT Act (Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act). This legislation created a new pathway for individuals who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to pursue claims for compensation. The law recognizes that people who lived or worked at the base during the contamination period may have developed health conditions related to the exposure.

Practical Takeaway: Understanding the timeline of contamination (primarily 1953-1987) and the specific chemicals involved helps you determine whether your time at Camp Lejeune might have resulted in exposure. Keep records of when you were stationed there or lived on the base.

Who May Have Been Exposed and What That Means

Various groups of people spent time at Camp Lejeune during the contamination period. Active-duty service members assigned to the base were exposed through daily activities. Their family members living in base housing—spouses and children—also drank the contaminated water and used it for cooking and bathing. Civilian employees who worked on the base had similar exposure. Veterans who were stationed there decades ago may not have thought about potential long-term health effects until recent years.

The length of exposure matters. People who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for longer periods may have accumulated greater exposure to the chemicals. Someone stationed there for a three-year tour experienced different exposure than someone who passed through for a few months. Children who grew up on the base during their formative years may have different exposure profiles than adults who arrived later in life.

It's important to note that exposure to contaminated water does not automatically mean someone developed a health condition. Not everyone exposed becomes ill. However, scientific research has identified certain health conditions that may be associated with TCE and PCE exposure. These include kidney cancer, liver cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, bladder cancer, esophageal cancer, cervical cancer, kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, and aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes.

If you lived or worked at Camp Lejeune during the 1953-1987 period and have subsequently developed one of these health conditions, the information in this guide describes what options may be available to you. You don't need to have served in the military to have been exposed—family members and civilians count as well.

Medical documentation of your current health condition is important. If you have been diagnosed with one of the associated health conditions, having your medical records and physician's documentation helps establish what condition you currently have. This information becomes relevant when exploring what options may be available.

Practical Takeaway: Write down the dates you were stationed at or lived at Camp Lejeune, and gather medical records documenting any of the health conditions mentioned. This information will be useful as you learn about your options.

How the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Works

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act created a new legal avenue for people who were exposed to contaminated water at the base. Rather than requiring individuals to pursue traditional lawsuits against the Department of Defense, this law allows claims to be brought in federal court. It essentially waives the sovereign immunity that normally protects the federal government from being sued.

Under this law, a person who meets the exposure criteria and has developed one of the associated health conditions can pursue a claim for compensation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The law does not automatically award compensation—instead, it allows claims to proceed through the court system where liability and damages can be determined.

The statute of limitations for these claims is important. The law allows claims to be filed within two years from the date the law was enacted (which was December 7, 2022) or within two years from the date a person discovers they have a qualifying condition, whichever is later. This means that some people may have more time to file than others, depending on when they learned of their diagnosis.

The law applies to both living individuals and to the estates of deceased people. If someone who was exposed to Camp Lejeune's contaminated water has passed away, surviving family members may be able to pursue a claim on behalf of that person's estate. This recognizes that the exposure and resulting conditions may have contributed to someone's death.

Claims filed under this act do not go through the VA (Veterans Affairs) system, though the VA may provide health care related to conditions from the exposure. Instead, they go through the federal court system. An individual pursuing a claim would typically work with a law firm that handles Camp Lejeune cases, as navigating federal litigation can be complex.

Practical Takeaway: Know that the Camp Lejeune Justice Act created a two-year window from December 2022 for most people to file claims, though people who recently discovered their diagnosis may have additional time. This is not an endless window, so learning about the law sooner rather than later is important.

Health Conditions That May Be Associated with Exposure

Scientific research and government health agencies have identified certain health conditions that appear to be associated with exposure to TCE and PCE, the primary contaminants in Camp Lejeune's water. The VA and other agencies recognize these conditions as potentially linked to the contamination. Understanding which conditions fall into this category helps determine whether someone's health situation may relate to their time at the base.

Several cancers have been studied in connection with TCE and PCE exposure. Kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) and liver cancer have shown associations in multiple studies. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system, has also been linked to TCE exposure. Multiple myeloma, which affects plasma cells in bone marrow, represents another cancer type associated with these chemicals. Bladder cancer, esophageal cancer, and cervical cancer round out the cancer conditions linked to exposure.

Beyond cancers, certain non-cancer health conditions have been associated with TCE and PCE exposure. Kidney disease, including chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease, has been studied extensively. Liver cirrhosis, a progressive disease of the liver, has shown associations in research. Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes—blood disorders affecting bone marrow's ability to produce healthy blood cells—represent another category of potentially related conditions.

If you have been diagnosed with any of these conditions and spent time at Camp Lejeune during the contamination period, this connection becomes potentially relevant. It does not mean the Camp Lejeune exposure caused your condition—many people develop these conditions without any exposure to these chemicals. However, it does mean the exposure history and your current diagnosis together may support exploring what options are available to you.

Medical records documenting your diagnosis are important. Your physician's notes, test results, biopsy reports, or other clinical documentation establish what condition you have. This medical evidence becomes important when exploring claims, as it demonstrates you have one of the recognized health conditions.

Practical Takeaway: Review the list of associated health conditions. If you have been diagnosed with one of these and spent time at Camp Lejeune between