Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, situated in North Carolina, served as A significant U.S. military instruction facility from 1941 till its deactivation in 1997. All through its Energetic decades, Countless company associates and their families lived on the base, which makes it a vibrant and shut-knit Neighborhood.
Nevertheless, recent revelations concerning the contaminated drinking water source at Camp Lejeune have elevated problems concerning the health and fitness of individuals who lived on the base. From the fifties into the nineteen eighties, drinking drinking water at the base was contaminated with poisonous chemical compounds, like benzene, vinyl chloride, and trichloroethylene. These chemical substances, which were being Utilized in dry cleaning, degreasing, and metalworking procedures, are already associated with many really serious health issues, together with cancers, beginning defects, and developmental Conditions.
In 2012, the Section of Veterans Affairs (VA) regarded 8 disorders related to publicity on the contaminated h2o at Camp Lejeune:
Adult leukemia
Aplastic anemia together with other myelodysplastic syndromes
Bladder most cancers
Kidney most cancers
Liver most cancers
Multiple myeloma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Parkinson’s condition
For people who lived or labored on The bottom for at least 30 times involving January 1, 1957, and December 31, 1987, the VA delivers well being treatment benefits for the above mentioned outlined conditions. Also, the VA has proven a presumptive company relationship for particular disabilities, meaning that veterans as well as their families can acquire payment Gains without needing to show a direct link concerning their sickness and their army company.
Despite these efforts, quite a few former inhabitants of Camp Lejeune nonetheless battle to access the treatment and help they will need. The VA has confronted criticism for its gradual processing of promises and its strict eligibility demands, which quite a few former citizens believe are much too restrictive.
It is important to note that the contamination at Camp Lejeune will not be a unique challenge. A number of other navy bases and civilian communities have Exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune confronted similar challenges, and The federal government has taken steps to handle them. However, for the previous residents of Camp Lejeune, the well being effects of their exposure into the contaminated water will continue for being felt for generations to come back.
In summary, the previous residents of Maritime Corps Base Camp Lejeune ought to have our assist and recognition for their services to our place. It can be our responsibility to ensure that they've got use of the treatment and Added benefits they will need, and to operate to circumvent related environmental dangers from impacting other military communities Sooner or later.