Processing Disability Claims Based on Exposure to Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune

EPA's revised assessment of trichloroethylene (TCE), now characterizes chemical as "carcinogenic to humans" by all routes of exposure.

(CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.) - The Environmental Protection Agency has revised its assessment of trichloroethylene (TCE), which is now characterized as "carcinogenic to humans" by all routes of exposure.

Veterans who served at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, were potentially exposed to contaminants present in the base water supply prior to 1987. (The Marine Corps has done everything possible to resist responsibility for this terrible deadly contamination and those reading this should not disregard the potential hazard to their health if they served after 1987.)

The chemical compounds involved have been associated by various scientific organizations with the possible development of certain chronic diseases.

However, many unanswered questions remain regarding the extent of base water contamination, the type and duration of exposure experienced by base personnel, and the likelihood that contaminant levels in the water supply were high enough to result in a particular disease.

An updated training letter (link to full document below) incorporates multiple recommendations provided by other interested organizations, including the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, and Office of Management and Budget.

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JIm Moreland November 30, 2011 10:40 am (Pacific time)

I think it is important that TCE is now noted as a carconegenic. It is good that cancer is brought out into the open because dealing with cancer is a life and death situation and there story needs to be told and I support them.
But there is a large group of Camp Lejeune Vets and their families who suffer from autoimmune diseases which causes devastating disabilities and a significant loss of their quality of living. Most are the Walking Dead. The rise in autoimmune diseases in the country as a whole is represented also in high numbers of people who have various forms of autoimmunity diseases. The 2011 EPA notes that there is a strong relationship between TCE and the formation of autoimmune diseases. "Strong" mean almost absolutely causing, like in the carcenogenic potential. But little is ever written on those patients with autoimmune diseases. Look at the Damp Lejeune registry's and what you will find is that Cancers and autoimmune diseases are neck to neck for being the most effected. Cancers and autoimmune diseases have serious impacts on the Veterans and their families lives. It is about time that autoimmune diseases comes to light and that a national registry be launched. I am for all Vets and family memebers who have been affected by these toxic chemicals in getting their benefits, I want the whole kalidescope of illness's to be bright to light. I have 5 different autoimmune diseases and have several other diseases that effect every systems in my body.
Jim Moreland PA-C, MHS

Tim King: Thanks Jim, semper fi.

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