Due to new legislation such as the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, a lot of attention has recently been paid to the water contamination at the Marine Corps Base at Camp Lejeune that happened between 1953 and 1987. Many former residents have developed severe health conditions due to the contamination.
Among others, these illnesses include esophageal cancer, a devastating cancer of the digestive system. Read ahead to find out more about:
- The Camp Lejeune water contamination
- The impacts that the contamination could have on esophageal cancer
- Other diseases that the contamination caused
- Options available to victims, such as a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit
What Happened at Camp Lejeune?
What caused the Camp Lejeune water contamination is a story that involves chemical leakages and a series of poor responses to numerous investigations. Camp Lejeune is a U.S. Marine Corps base in North Carolina, which hosted around 700,000 to one million residents from 1953 to 1987. During this time, two wells that supplied water to the base housing and hospital complexes were contaminated because of a leaking fuel farm and a nearby drycleaning business.
The most important of these were volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as perchloroethylene (a drycleaning solvent) and trichloroethylene (a degreaser), benzene, and vinyl chloride. Many former residents have developed ailments due to the water contamination.
Could the Camp Lejeune Water Have Caused Esophageal Cancer?
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs has issued a list of fifteen conditions conclusively associated with the water contamination at Camp Lejeune. These diseases are covered for free healthcare by the department.
Esophageal cancer is included in the list, indicating that Camp Lejeune water may have caused esophageal cancer in many residents.
How Many People Developed Esophageal Cancer From Camp Lejeune?
While it is unclear exactly how many people developed esophageal cancer due to the water contamination at Camp Lejeune, it is definitely on the list of illnesses caused by the contamination. Research has shown a link between cancer and water contamination, with water contamination causing about 100,000 cases of cancer in the U.S. Other studies have also mapped a correlation between areas with water contamination and incidences of esophageal cancer.
Other Illnesses Associated With the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Other illnesses associated with Camp Lejeune water contamination for which victims can receive compensation include:
- Breast cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Scleroderma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Leukemia
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Renal toxicity
- Miscarriage
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis
- Neurobehavioral effects
What Are the Options Available to Former Residents of Camp Lejeune With Esophageal Cancer?
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Apply for Free Healthcare
Esophageal cancer is included in the fifteen qualifying conditions for free healthcare associated with the contamination at Camp Lejeune. You can apply for free healthcare online on the official VA website or call 1-877-222-8387 for help.
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File a Disability Claim
The Department of Veteran Affairs offers disability compensation to former Camp Lejeune residents between 1953 and 1987 who develop any of eight particular diseases, which include:
- Bladder cancer
- Liver cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Multiple myeloma
- Parkinson’s disease
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
While conditions like Camp Lejeune water contamination-caused heart disease and esophageal cancer are not on the list, there is still ongoing research on diseases caused or exacerbated by this water contamination via a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Hence, esophageal cancer may be added to the list in the future.
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File a Lawsuit
In August 2022, President Biden signed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act into law. This law allows people who have been impacted by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune to take their cases to court and receive additional financial compensation due to lost wages and work. Furthermore, a former resident who developed esophageal cancer can sue for:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional damages
- Permanent injury
- Wrongful death
Strom Law is very familiar with the Camp Lejeune situation and is standing by to assist you in any way possible. Give us a call today for a free consultation regarding your case, and we’ll get started on making sure you receive the compensation you deserve.
