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ATSDR's Work at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina:

Quick Facts


Overview

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is trying to find whether certain people exposed any time from 1968 through 1985 to polluted drinking water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, had specific health effects resulting from that exposure.

ATSDR's inquiry is a multi-step process. Research shows that those most at risk of adverse health effects would have been children still in the womb. Therefore, the inquiry's first step was to survey the parents of children born to mothers who were pregnant while living on the base any time from 1968 through 1985. 

The survey is now complete. It identified 103 reported cases of certain childhood cancers and birth defects. The survey alone does not prove a link between the camp's drinking water and the cases of childhood cancers and birth defects. However, it does provide enough information to proceed with planning a study.

Background

Testing of Camp Lejeune's drinking water began in 1982. The tests found polluted water at some base housing. The water had chemicals called volatile organic compounds. All polluted wells were shut down in 1985.

ATSDR released a public health assessment of the base in 1997. The public health assessment found that exposure to volatile organic compounds at Camp Lejeune probably would not cause health problems in adults. It also said that further study was needed because other research on volatile organic compounds suggests that ill-health effects are possible for persons exposed while still in the womb.

ATSDR studied Camp Lejeune again in 1998. That study found a link between babies exposed in the womb to drinking water with volatile organic compounds and cases of infants born weighing less than the 10th percentile. Even so, whether volatile organic compounds in drinking water trigger this and other problems remains unclear.

Preparing for the New Study

ATSDR now plans a new study of Camp Lejeune. This study will focus on children whose mothers were pregnant with them while living at Camp Lejeune any time from from 1968 through 1985. ATSDR considered existing health studies and decided to focus on these conditions:

Cancers: 

  • Childhood leukemia
  • Childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Birth Defects: 

  • Spina bifida
  • Anencephaly (absence of all or a major part of the brain)
  • Cleft lip
  • Cleft palate
ATSDR prepared for the new study by surveying nearly 12,600 participants. Overall, the agency was able to interview about 80% of those eligible. Surveyed parents were asked whether their child had a birth defect or had developed a childhood cancer. A total of 103 cases of the specified conditions were reported. 

The planned study can include only confirmed cases of the specified conditions. Therefore, the next step is to confirm the children's health problem(s). ATSDR has asked permission to review medical records for the children involved in all 103 cases. Records for 46 of the 103 children have been received so far. These records are now under review.

The final step will be to conduct the study - called an epidemiological study - itself. Only such a study is designed to establish whether the drinking water at Camp Lejeune is related to the specified birth defects and cancers. 

The Contaminants: Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds are a group of chemicals that generally includes solvents and fuels. The two compounds of concern in this case are TCE is still used at Camp Lejeune and in many places across the country. PCE leaked into base wells from an off-base dry-cleaning business.

Neither compound has been banned or is illegal.

Where Can I Find More Information?

Please explore this Web site or call ATSDR toll-free at 1-888-422-8737 to learn more. You may also visit the U.S. Marine Corps Web site or call their hotline at 1-877-261-9782.

This page updated on May 10, 2004

ATSDR-OpeaMail@cdc.gov


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