Camp Lejeune water contamination is one of the worst incidents in American environmental disaster history. More than a million victims bore the brunt of toxic chemicals in household water supplies in the area. Military personnel, their families, and other workers who lived in the base camp between 1953 and 1987 were affected. The exposure continued for decades until the authorities sealed the wells.
The most unfortunate part is that even unborn children were exposed to contaminated water and born with birth defects. Likewise, many others developed childhood cancers. As a parent, dealing with the trauma of raising a child with birth defects or terminal illness can be beyond imagination. But you must know your rights and seek compensation for a child victim of the Camp Lejeune disaster. Let us share some key facts in this context.
Birth defects linked to Camp Lejeune water contamination
The contaminated water at Camp Lejeune was laced with several toxins, including vinyl chloride, TCE, PCE, and benzene. Studies link several severe birth defects to water contamination due to the toxic load. The risk ran higher for babies exposed in the first trimester because it is the key developmental stage during pregnancy. These included spina bifida, heart defects, and Anencephaly (missing part of the skull or brain).
Women exposed to toxins in the contaminated water also reported a higher incidence of miscarriages and stillbirths. Fortunately, exposure does not necessarily indicate a baby will have defects. However, the risk factor increases with increased exposure. You can consider the timeline of your exposure to decide whether your child’s birth defect or illness links to Camp Lejeune contamination.
Childhood cancer risks in Camp Lejeune victims
A federal research study found that the rate of childhood cancer at Camp Lejeune was significantly higher than the national average. The risk factor runs high for hematopoietic cancers, such as lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and leukemia. According to researchers, benzene and PCE were the primary contributors to these cancers in children born to mothers exposed to the toxins in the area.
Nothing gets worse than seeing your child suffer from a painful disease like cancer and knowing they will probably not survive. Although you cannot do much about the condition, you must contact a water contamination lawyer to seek justice for your child. You cannot overlook the fact that your child is suffering due to the government’s negligence, so you must do your bit to ensure compensation.
The link between Camp Lejeune water and health issues in children
Babies exposed to contaminated water in utero may not survive or are likely born with severe north defects. The drinking water at Camp Lejeune had dangerously high levels of vinyl chloride, benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) used as dry cleaning solvents, degreasers, and on heavy machinery. Exposure to benzene and TCE during the first trimester led to a high risk of neural tube defects.
Childhood cancers were caused by exposure to PCE and vinyl chloride. Studies also indicate a link between TCE exposure and congenital heart defects. Also, babies exposed to PCE in the womb had a high incidence of cleft lip and palate. Many mothers lost children during pregnancy, and a large number died after birth. A cemetery outside of Camp Lejeune is named Baby Heaven because dozens of babies who were stillborn were buried in part of it.
Seeking justice for your child
Pregnant women who lived and worked on Camp Lejeune from August 1953 through December 1987 may have suffered from miscarriage or delivered a baby with a birth defect. Likewise, your child may have developed a childhood cancer such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma or leukemia. You can file a Camp Lejeune against the federal government under the recently passed Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022.
As a claimant, you have to provide proof of living or working in the area for a minimum of thirty days between the specified period. Further, you will also need to establish the link between your child’s birth defect or disease with toxin exposure during pregnancy. The best way to do it is by collaborating with a water contamination lawyer who can prove your claim and ensure justice for you and your child.
Raising a terminally-ill child is daunting. It is even more challenging to deal with your kid’s birth defects. Knowing that they suffered due to the government’s negligence makes the situation traumatic. But the Camp Lejeune Justice Act comes to the rescue of parents seeking justice for their children who suffered even before birth. You can claim compensation for your child’s suffering and provide them with the best possible treatment with the money.
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