Camp Lejeune Birth Defects

In 1982, extremely high levels of toxic chemicals were discovered in the water supply at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. The toxic chemicals—tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE)—are potential carcinogens and have been linked to birth defects in babies whose mothers were exposed during pregnancy. According to an analysis conducted by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the exposure to toxic tap water occurred between 1957 and 1987 , putting some 75,000 Marines and their families at risk for birth defects and other health problems.

If you lived in Camp Lejeune housing between these dates and your child was born with a birth defect, toxic tap water may be to blame. To learn more about your legal rights, contact an experienced attorney today.

Birth Defects Caused by Toxic Tap Water

PCE and TCE are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), excessive or prolonged exposure to which can have serious effects on a person's health. Camp Lejeune's tap water contained particularly high levels of PCE—between 70 and 200 micrograms per liter compared with the 5 microgram per liter limit deemed safe by the Environmental Protection Agency. Womb exposure to these chemicals (occurring when mothers drink contaminated water) has been linked to a number of severe birth defects, including:

Major heart malformations
Neural tube defects
Cleft lip and other oral cleft defects
Eye defects
Chonal atresia (blockage of nasal passage with tissue or bone)

In addition to these birth defects, toxic tap water containing these chemicals has been associated with low birth weight, fetal death, and child leukemia.

Families Take Action

In June 2007, a number of families who formerly resided at Camp Lejeune and whose lives were impacted by the toxic tap water provided testimony to lawmakers. These families reported various birth defects and ailments among their children, including spina bifida, cleft palate, leukemia, and a rare bone marrow disease known as aplastic anemia.

At the time of the hearing, 850 lawsuits had been filed by former Camp Lejeune residents. To find out if you are eligible to file a birth defect lawsuit, please contact us today. We will put you in touch with a qualified attorney who can determine if your child's birth defect was caused by toxic tap water, and if so, help you plan a course of action.

Online Lawyer Source

Lawyers & Legal News Near You

Need Legal Help?

Start Here for a Free Case Review!

Camp Lejeune Toxic Tap Water

Find a Lawyer in Your State

Need Help?

Camp Lejeune Birth Defects

Other Areas of Personal Injury