The Navy’s Camp Lejeune is located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. The base was originally built for military training, but it is now a highly polluted Superfund site. The contaminated water is so toxic that it can cause cancer, birth defects, and other health problems.

It is suspected that Camp Lejuene knowingly exposed residents to dangerous levels of a harmful chemical resulting in a host of serious, and sometimes deadly, health conditions. Let’s take a look at a few of the toxins that were found in the water at Camp Lejeune.

PFOA & PFOS

The most toxic of the contaminants are perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). PFCs are manufactured in a number of different forms and are used in a large number of industrial processes. They have been used in thermal and electrical insulation products, firefighting foam, food packaging, and a large number of other products. PFOA is only slightly more toxic than PFCs.

Because they are so pervasive in the environment, PFCs and PFOA are also found in the water at Camp Lejeune. Since the base is located near the ocean, the water from the base is also contaminated with PFCs and PFOA. In fact, the Camp Lejeune water testing program found that the water contained PFCs and PFOA at levels that may cause various health and wellness problems for anyone who drinks it.

DDT, PCBs, And Other Organochlorides

DDT was a broad-spectrum pesticide that was used extensively in the United States from the 1940s until 1972. It was banned because it was highly toxic to humans and animals. It has been found in the water at Camp Lejeune at levels that can cause health problems.

PCBs are another group of toxic chemicals that were widely used in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. PCBs are still found in the environment. They are sometimes called “broad-spectrum” chemicals because they were found to be toxic to humans and animals as well as to plants and animals. PCBs are still used in a number of products, including some electrical equipment and transformers. PCBs were banned in the United States in 1979. They can still be found in the environment in small amounts. PCBs can cause cancer, liver damage, immune system problems, and other health impacts.

Chlorinated Pesticides

Chlorinated pesticides are another class of chemicals that were used extensively in the United States from the 1940s until the 1970s. They were banned because they were highly toxic to humans and animals. Chlorinated pesticides can be found in the water at Camp Lejeune at levels that may cause health problems for anyone who drinks it.

Dioxin, Furans, And Other Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are another group of toxic chemicals that were widely used in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s. They were banned because they were highly toxic to humans and animals. POPs can be found in the water at Camp Lejeune at levels that may cause health problems for anyone who drinks it.

Heavy Metals and Arsenic

Heavy metals are toxic substances that occur naturally in the environment and also occur in some man-made products like paint, leaded gasoline, and lead-based paints. Heavy metals can cause health problems when they enter human bodies or enter the environment. Arsenic is another heavy metal that is found in the water at Camp Lejeune at levels that may cause health problems for anyone who drinks it.

Microplastics

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that have been found in the water at Camp Lejeune at levels that may cause health problems for anyone who drinks it. Microplastics come from tiny pieces of plastic that have broken off larger pieces of plastic or from larger pieces of plastic that have broken down into tiny pieces through wear and tear. Microplastics can enter the body through ingestion or by direct contact with skin or eyes.

Algal Bloom

Algal blooms are large populations of algae that occur naturally in lakes and oceans. Algal blooms can be dangerous because they release toxins into the environment. Algal blooms are also known to cause other types of problems like fish kills and loss of oxygen.

At Camp Lejeune, algal blooms have been found to release toxins into the water at levels that can cause health problems for anyone who drinks it. Algal blooms occur naturally at Camp Lejeune but they have also been caused by human activities such as fertilizers and runoff from farm fields. Algal blooms are a concern because they release toxins into the environment that may endanger human health.

The water at Camp Lejeune is so toxic that it can cause cancer, birth defects, and other health problems for people who drink it. This is because it contains hazardous contaminants like perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), heavy metals, organochlorides, dioxins, furans, POPs, and microplastics. These contaminants can enter human bodies through ingestion and by direct contact with skin or eyes.

As of late, the water at Camp Lejeune has been deemed safe to use and ingest, but residents should take precautions in the future to make sure that the water remains safe. If you are a resident of Camp Lejeune and you are experiencing any health problems, it is important to talk to your doctor about what you may be exposed to in the water.

Lawsuits have been filed by individuals who believe that they have been harmed by the water at Camp Lejeune. If you or someone you know has been exposed to water in Camp Lejeune, it is important to speak to an attorney about your legal rights.