Ovarian Cancer and Cervical Cancer linked to Camp Lejeune water

Ovarian cancer and Cervical Cancer is a very tragic matter which is even more incomprehensible when it was caused by toxic chemicals such as benzene, vinyl chloride, PCE, TCE and other toxic chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune. Our Camp Lejeune attorneys aggressively help water contamination victims who suffered from ovarian cancer and cervical cancer from all over the United States. Any veteran, their family and others who worked or lived at Camp Lejeune before 1988 and received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer or cervical cancer as well as other cancers, harm and diseases may be able to obtain lucrative compensation by way of a Camp Lejeune lawsuit. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 allows veterans, their family members and others who worked or lived at Camp Lejeune from 1953 through 1987 to file claims for compensation for harm caused by the contaminated water.

Ovarian Cervical Cancer Camp Lejeune Water
Ovarian and Cervical Cancer caused by Camp Lejeune Water

** This Camp Lejeune post was updated on Jnuary 1st, 2024 so that victims can have the most updated information concerning Ovarian and Cervical Cancer lawsuits caused by Camp Lejeune contaminated water.

Camp Lejeune water caused cervical cancer

Numerous studies conducted at Camp Lejeune researched the potential link between the water for drinking and bathing and cervical cancer. Based on the studies and the data, there is a very solid link between exposure to polluted / toxic water at Camp Lejeune and a greater likelihood of being diagnosed with cervical cancer.

In a particular study in the Journal of Environmental Health, researchers determined a substantial risk of death from cervical cancer from women who resided at Camp Lejeune or drank from the marine base’s water. There is also a greater risk of dying from other cancers such as: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, liver cancer, esophageal cancer and other cancers

Studies link Camp Lejeune Water to Ovarian Cancer

Research studies by numerous health organizations have assessed the link that Camp Lejeune water had on the wellbeing of marines, their families and others who resided or worked at the Marine base. Health research related to Camp Lejeune and epidemiological studies on exposure to chlorinated solvents proves that women exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune were at greater risk of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

CDC research: Ovarian Cancer is caused by Camp Lejeune water

A very detailed and comprehensive research evaluation was undertaken by the ATSDR (a part of the CDC) The ATSDR reviewed medical records of thousands of prior Camp Lejeune residents and workers. The ATSDR compared the health records with data from a control group of workers and residents at Camp Pendelton.(There was no toxic water at Camp Pendelton in California)

The 2014 ATSDR evaluation determined that Camp Lejeune residents and workers had much greater rates of ovarian cancer as juxtaposed to the Camp Pendleton control group. They also looked at breast cancer and cervical cancer and determined that there were greater incidents of breast cancer and cervical cancer at Camp Lejeune.

This content discusses:

  1. A summary of the history of water contamination at Camp Lejeune.
  2. The evidence accumulated by the scientific community which established that toxic water at Camp Lejeune caused ovarian cancer and cervical cancer.
  3. Which victims are eligible to pursue a Camp Lejeune ovarian cancer lawsuit?
  4. What victims can pursue a Camp Lejeune cervical cancer lawsuit?
  5. Guesstimated Camp Lejeune settlement amounts for contaminated water lawsuits involving Camp Lejeune for victims with ovarian cancer or cervical cancer.

What is Ovarian Cancer?

“Ovarian cancer is a growth of cells that forms in the ovaries. The cells multiply quickly and can invade and destroy healthy body tissue. The female reproductive system contains two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries — each about the size of an almond — produce eggs (ova) as well as the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Ovarian cancer treatment usually involves surgery and chemotherapy.” Mayo clinic

What is cervical cancer?

“Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. Cancer is always named for the part of the body where it starts, even if it spreads to other body parts later. When cancer starts in the cervix, it is called cervical cancer. The cervix connects the vagina (birth canal) to the upper part of the uterus. The uterus (or womb) is where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant.” CDC

Camp Lejeune’s history

Camp Lejeune is a very large marine base in North Carolina which incorporates an instructional facility. Camp Lejeune has been operational by the United States Marines since 1942. Camp Lejeune is 240 square miles. It is located on the coast of North Carolina. One of the benefits of the Lejeune location is that it enables critical and important marine training for amphibious assaults. Amphibious assaults are an important component of Marine readiness to defend the United States against attacks.

Camp Lejeune effectively constitutes a medium sized town. Camp Lejeune can accommodate approximately 50,000 residents. The base has housing, barracks, schools for children of soldiers, playgrounds, as well as a hospital. During the decades of operation, millions of Marines, their families, as well as civilian employees have resided at and or worked at the Marine Base.

The Marine Corps utilized a water distribution system that supplied Camp Lejeune with water. In the 80s, Camp Lejeune was extensively tested for the quality of water. Water testing lead to the disturbing revelation that soldiers and their families at Camp Lejeune had ingested and bathed in toxic water that was contaminated with contaminants widely known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

What contaminants were in the Water a Camp Lejeune?

Maines were unaware that drinking water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated by a toxic brew of:

  • dry-cleaning chemicals from a now infamous dry-cleaning business,
  • solvents from industrial use,
  • pesticides,
  • gasoline,
  • oil

The Marine Base h2o supply was contaminated with two major toxic chemicals at alarmingly high amount: perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE). TCE and PCE are in a cohort of chemicals widely called, “chlorinated solvents” or “organic solvents.”

PCE in water at Camp Lejeune

Commercial dry-cleaning businesses located in the United States utilize PCE in order to get rid of dirt as well as grease removal from clothing and textiles. The PCE in the Camp Lejeune water distribution system came from ABC Cleaners. ABC Cleaners was located adjacent to Camp Lejeune. For numerous years, workers from ABC Cleaners often distributed and used PCE solution into the surrounding area.

TCE at Marine Base in North Carolina

“Trichloroethylene (TCE) is used as a solvent for degreasing metal parts during the manufacture of a variety of products. It can be found in consumer products, including some wood finishes, adhesives, paint removers, and stain removers. TCE can also be used in the manufacture of other chemicals.” Health

Marines stationed at Camp Lejeune utilized TCE to cleanse and for maintainance of their marine issued weapons and equipment. Marines often failed to properly dispose and store the TCE. These haphazard actions lead to the contamination of groundwater at Camp Lejeune.

What was ABC one-hour cleaners?

“The 1-acre site is located on Lejeune Boulevard in Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina. The dry cleaning facility at the site used tetrachloroethylene (PCE or PERC) as a dry cleaning solvent and disposed of associated wastes on site. Following dry cleaning operations at the site, City of Jacksonville condemned the building on site in 2011 due to damage caused by Hurricane Irene. Residential areas border the site to the north. Lejeune Boulevard borders the site to the south. Commercial land uses border the site to the east and west. The site is located north of the Camp Lejeune Military Res. (US Navy) Superfund site and Tarawa Terrace Elementary School. In 1989, the EPA placed the site on the NPL. The site is not currently in use” Toxic sites

Benzene and Vinyl Chloride

There were two other highly dangerous chemicals found in Camp Lejeune water at high levels. These chemicals are: Vinyl chloride and Benzene. Benzene and vinyl chloride are widely recognized as human carcinogens. Benzene and vinyl chloride are linked to various cancers.

The Camp Lejeune Wells were not closed and remained open

Camp Lejeune is frequently referenced as a horrific case of water contamination. Chemical levels at Camp Lejeune were hundreds of times over what is considered safe amounts by authorities. “ PCE is a regulated contaminant with an established. Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for drinking water at 5 micrograms per liter (µg/L)” Source

“Water from the Tarawa Terrace water treatment plant was primarily contaminated by PCE (perchloroethylene or tetrachloroethylene). The source of the contamination was the waste disposal practices at ABC One-Hour Cleaners, an off-base dry-cleaning firm. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) used a data analysis and modeling approach to reconstruct historical contaminant concentrations. Using these approaches, ATSDR estimated that PCE concentrations exceeded the current EPA maximum contaminant level of 5 ppb in drinking water from the Tarawa Terrace water treatment plant for 346 months during November 1957-February 1987. The most contaminated wells were shut down in February 1985.” Atsdr

Supply wells were contaminated by multiple sources

“Water from the Hadnot Point water treatment plant was contaminated primarily by TCE (trichloroethylene). Other contaminants in the drinking water included PCE and benzene and TCE degradation products trans-1,2-DCE (t-1,2-dichloroethylene) and vinyl chloride. Supply wells were contaminated by multiple sources: leaking underground storage tanks, industrial area spills, and waste disposal sites. ATSDR modeled the contamination and estimated that at least one VOC exceeded its current EPA maximum contaminant level in drinking water during August 1953 and January 1985.” Id.

Ovarian Cancer

The American Cancer Society statistics for ovarian cancer in the United States for 2022 are:

  • About 19,880 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
  • About 12,810 women will die from ovarian cancer.

“Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. A woman’s risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about 1 in 78. Her lifetime chance of dying from ovarian cancer is about 1 in 108. (These statistics don’t count low malignant potential ovarian tumors.) This cancer mainly develops in older women. About half of the women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer are 63 years or older. It is more common in white women than African American women. Cancer.org

Research by the ATDSR indicates that the greatest rates of ovarian cancer rates were highest among woman who had greater exposure to the water at Camp Lejeune. Women who resided at the Marine base at Camp Lejeune had the most high rates of ovarian cancer.

Camp Lejeune Settlement Amounts for Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits

Our attorneys guestimate that a Camp Lejeune Ovarian or cervical Cancer lawsuit involving may have an average settlement value of over $600,000 Some ovarian cancer or cervical cancer cases that lead to death could have a settlement value of well over $1 million based on certain circumstances. Lawsuits for birth defects and premature birth may warrant high settlements as well.

Did water contamination at the the Marine Base cause cervical cancer?

Chemicals that were found in the water at Camp Lejeune leads to an increased risk of cervical cancer and an increased risk of other types of cancer like:

Contact us to see if you may qualify for a Camp Lejeune water contamination settlement amounts.