ATSDR - Status of Survey on the Health of Children Born to Women Who Were Pregnant While Living in Base Housing Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 1968-1985

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

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Status of Survey on the Health of Children
Born to Women Who Were Pregnant
While Living in Base Housing
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
1968-1985

December 2002

In 1982, chemicals were found in several drinking-water wells supplying base housing units at the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. The wells were contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), which are typically used as degreasers and dry cleaning solvents. Scientific studies of other populations exposed to these chemicals have reported that mothers exposed to these chemicals while pregnant may be at increased risk of having a child with a birth defect or cancer.

In 1999, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) initiated a survey to see if there was an elevated number of birth defects and childhood cancers among children who were in the womb while their mothers lived in base housing on Camp Lejeune. The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide information on the status of the Camp Lejeune survey up to this point.

Q: When did ATSDR originally become involved in the drinking water issue at Camp Lejeune?

A: In 1997, ATSDR released a public health assessment (PHA) of the site. This document stated that exposure to the chemicals in the water would most likely not result in health problems for adults. ATSDR, however, was concerned that there might be a health risk to fetuses who were exposed when their mothers drank the contaminated water. Therefore, ATSDR recommended that a survey be done to determine the health status of children born to women who were pregnant while living on Camp Lejeune between 1968 and 1985. This survey is now completed and the results are being compiled.

Q: What health outcomes did ATSDR look for in the eligible population?

A: ATSDR looked for birth defects and childhood cancers. Previous health studies have found that mothers exposed to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) during pregnancy may be at an increased risk of having a child with a birth defect or a cancer.

Q: When was the survey started? When did it end?

A: The survey started September 15, 1999, and ended January 26, 2002.

Q: How was the survey conducted?

A:The survey was conducted by telephone.

Q: Who was eligible to participate in this survey?

A: The eligible population included all children born to mothers who were pregnant while living in on-base housing at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune during 1968-1985. The parents of these children were asked to complete the survey.

Q: How many surveys were completed?

A: A total of 12,598 surveys were completed.

Q: What was the participation rate?

A: For those births that occurred in Onslow County, the total number of eligible children was 12,493. Of these 12,493 children, the parents of 10,040 completed the survey, which resulted in a participation rate of 80.4%.

ATSDR estimates that about 4,000 eligible children were born outside of Onslow County. If these children are added to the 12,493 children born in Onslow County, the total number of eligible children would then be 16,493. Because a total of 12,598 surveys were completed, the estimated overall participation rate in this case would be 76.4%.

Q: How were families notified about the survey?

A: The parents for whom ATSDR had a current address were sent a letter asking them to take part in the telephone survey. ATSDR then tried to locate the parents of the rest of the children born in Onslow County. An organized national media campaign in which press releases were distributed through television, newspaper and radio outlets was one method used to find these parents.

Q: How were the health conditions identified in the eligible population?

A: Specific birth defects and cancers were identified from information given by the mother during the survey. In answering the question concerning the type of cancer or birth defect that their child had, the mother often stated the exact medical name of the diagnosis. Sometimes, the mother provided information about the symptoms of the disease but could not recall the exact medical diagnosis. In these cases, the symptoms provided by the mother were reviewed by a group of expert ATSDR and CDC epidemiologists and physicians to determine the diagnosis.

Q: What needs to be done to finish the project?

A: The survey portion of the project is complete. The next step is to verify the diagnosis of the specific birth defects and cancers. ATSDR currently is obtaining medical records and/or death certificates on about 280 children identified in the survey. To gain access to the medical records, ATSDR is requesting signed consent forms from the parents or from the children if they are now adults. Medical records for about one-third of the children have been obtained from their medical care providers. Locating the remaining records is a time consuming activity because many of the records have been retired or, in some cases, the attending physicians are no longer practicing.

Q: When the medical information is verified, what happens next?

A: When medical verification is complete, the data will be analyzed and a final report will be written.

Q: When will the final report be finished?

A: The report is expected to be released during the summer of 2003.

Q: How can I get a copy of the final report?

A: Participants will be mailed a summary of the final report when it is available. Also, a copy of the complete final report will be available for downloading from the ATSDR Internet web site in the summer of 2003.

This page last updated on January 31, 2003

Casetta Simmons / CSimmons@cdc.gov