If you have ever served at the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River or the Marine Corps Base of Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, chances are there that you have been affected by contaminated water there. Evidence, both scientific and physical, has shown that there is a relationship between being exposed to contaminants in the drinking water while in military service there with the development of certain ailments and diseases later on in life.
Here are a few things to know about what caused Camp Lejeune water contamination and more about the lawsuit.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has been able to find scientific and physical evidence that has linked water contamination to diseases like birth defects, cancer, neurobehavioral problems, neurophysical problems, and others.
Being Eligible for Benefits
If you have served in the area, you may be eligible for benefits. It is important to understand whether you are eligible for benefits before you reach out to an attorney. To do that, you need to meet a few requirements.
You have to meet these two requirements:
- The person should have served at MCAS New River or Camp Lejeune, for a total of at least 30 days from August 1953 to December 1987.
- The person must also not have been dishonorably discharged from service.
Also, the person who wants to claim the benefits will have to get a diagnosis for one or more of the following diseases:
- Adult leukemia
- Bladder cancer
- Liver cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Parkinson’s disease
- Aplastic anemia
Also, the people who are covered by it are veterans, guardsmen, and reservists. If you meet all of the above requirements, he will be eligible for compensation and healthcare.
More Things to Know About the Water Contamination in Camp Lejeune
Camp Lejeune is basically a Marine Corps base that is located in North Carolina in Jacksonville. The wells in the area were tested to come up with the result that the water was contaminated. The reports revealed that everyone who was on base between the years 1953 to 1987 was supplied water that was contaminated with Vinyl chloride, Mercury, Benzene, and Trichloroethylene.
Along with this, there was also chemical waste and other dangerous substances. The presence of so many hazardous substances in the drinking water in the wells for more than 30 years is a revelation of the fact that there were some gross levels of negligence by the staff.
What is worrisome was that these chemicals have been linked to several diseases and ailments over the years. These diseases were effective in harming not just the servicemen who were there, but also civil employees, guardsmen, family members as well as descendants. So if or anyone you know served in the area during that period, chances are that you too have been affected.
You must get the help of a good attorney professional if you feel that you have been a victim and deserve compensation.