The contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is the reason why many veterans and their relatives are suffering from severe ailments today. For over three decades, the civilian workers, veterans, and their family members at the Marine Corps Base bathed in, drank, and used the polluted water to cook food. People who have been exposed to this toxic water for 30 days or more and have developed diseases have started to file a legal complaint against the government.
VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and various other chemicals that were detected in the water wells in Camp Lejeune were linked with birth defects, many types of cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and other extreme health effects. There has been evidence of miscarriage as well, which has caused several women to suffer.
In this article, we will shed light on how the toxic waters led to Parkinson’s disease and miscarriages and how victims can use legal options to get the compensation they deserve.
The Toxic Waters and Parkingson’s Disease
In May 2023, Military.com reported that sailors and marines at Camp Lejeune unwittingly showered and drank the polluted waters and were adversely affected. New research stated that it resulted in a 70% higher risk of Parkinson’s disease.
The study was published in the “Journal of the American Medical Association Neurology” recently. It stated that chemicals that contaminated the base water supply for over 40 years resulted in chronic ailments. Fatal diseases often affect an individual’s nervous system and can lead to tremors, slurred speech, and challenges in moving around.
Going forward, the research also compared the health records of nearly 172,000 personnel who stayed at Camp Lejeune between 1975 and 1985 with 170,000 people residing in Camp Pendleton who weren’t exposed to the toxic water.
As an outcome, the data revealed that almost 279 service members who stayed at Camp Lejeune were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease or exhibited similar symptoms, compared to 151 members from Pendleton.
Summing up the findings, the researchers concluded that Parkinson’s disease was much more prevalent among Camp Lejeune veterans. Therefore, since 2017, this disease has been counted as a presumptive condition for people who stayed at Marine Corps Base between 1953 and 1987 for at least 30 days. It means that the disability claims that were filed by veterans and others are speeded up through the processing system.
Veterans who suffer from Parkinson’s disease due to exposure to toxic waters can file a lawsuit and ask for compensation for the damages they endured. Today, it is ideal to contact any one of the best lawyers for the Camp Lejeune lawsuit and file a claim, as an expert lawyer will guide you through the legal process, which otherwise can be challenging to navigate.
Camp Lejeune Water Results in Miscarriage & Infertility
Other than Parkinson’s, the contaminated Camp Lejeune waters are also linked with miscarriage, infertility, and birth defects. It’s possible for the toxic chemicals to adversely affect the normal functioning of a woman’s reproductive system.
It was in the 1980s that the toxic water exposure in Camp Lejeune was discovered. Since then, the ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) has been investigating the probable health risks.
These investigations and studies have highlighted a connection between toxic chemicals and severe medical conditions, such as cancer, infant birth defects, and infertility in women.
According to a study in 2015, health issues occurred because of exposure to chemicals such as TCE (trichloroethylene) and PCE (perchloroethylene) that hurt a woman’s fertility and menstrual cycle. The waters in Camp Lejeune contained both TCE and PCE. A few of the miscarriages took place owing to birth defects that started in utero. On the other hand, a few others had causes that weren’t linked to birth defects.
Proof That Links Toxic Camp Lejeune Water to Miscarriage and Infertility
A miscarriage occurs when there is a spontaneous loss of the fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy. On the other hand, female infertility occurs because a woman cannot conceive, despite having unprotected intercourse.
Both conditions in women can be impacted by multiple factors, such as genetic factors, structural anomalies, and environmental toxins.
Getting exposed to specific chemicals, especially those found in the contaminated waters at Camp Lejeune, can affect the reproductive system and disturb the hormonal balance. As a result, it can increase the risk of infertility and miscarriages.
The toxin facts pages by the CDC talk about the chemicals present in Camp Lejeune waters at unsafe levels that lead to several health issues. Let’s take a closer look at the chemicals mentioned earlier and how they affect a woman’s body.
TCE
Scientists discovered that even minimal exposure to this chemical can affect the levels of reproductive hormones. It also leads to immune system, liver, and heart damage. It can lead to miscarriage, female infertility, cancer, and congenital disabilities.
PCE
It damages the liver and the kidneys, thereby making it challenging for the body to reduce this and other toxins. It can also impact emotions, mood, and memory. There are studies that have shown it can also result in congenital disabilities.
Vinyl Chloride
This chemical affects the liver, nervous system, and immune system. Long-term exposure might affect male fertility. It can also result in developmental delays in kids. Any developmental delays in the mother’s womb will lead to a miscarriage.
Therefore, it is essential for women who have stayed at Camp Lejeune, especially when the contamination took place, to be watchful of these health symptoms. If they notice any abnormalities, they should seek immediate medical attention.
Finding the Legal Solution
Today, there is help available for women who have suffered from infertility and miscarriages due to Camp Lejeune contaminated water exposure. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) of 2022 enables women to pursue financial aid and justice by filing their claims with the U.S. government.
According to TorHoerman Law, this can be done with the help of a lawyer who can help women file a lawsuit for their miscarriage and other infertility issues due to toxic water exposure. Ideally, women need to address their suffering medically to establish that the polluted water is the reason behind their ailment. Once that is proven, they can use the medical documents as evidence and share it with their lawyer to create a compelling case.
Conclusion
News about veterans filing Camp Lejeune lawsuits to ask for compensation for their suffering is all over. There are several ailments that the toxic water has resulted in, which include cancers of several kinds, leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Women who have suffered from miscarriages and victims who have developed Parkinson’s should seek medical aid and then legal help to get the compensation that they deserve.