Central Nervous System Cancer Linked to Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) leaked into Camp Lejeune’s water supply, seeping from water treatment plants into the groundwater and the camp’s drinking water.

These chemicals — including trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, and benzene — are associated with various illnesses, ranging from cancer to various autoimmune disorders and birth defects.

Some of the conditions the VOCs found in the water at Camp Lejeune have been known to cause a myriad of cancers that affect the brain and spinal cord.

Various studies are pointing to the link between central nervous system tumors and exposure to VOCs.

One study done in 2006 found a strong correlation connection between VOC exposure and the development of primary brain tumors.

A 2020 study had similar findings linking exposure to benzene and adult brain cancer.

Based on the study, even the slightest exposure can cause cancer cells in the brain to proliferate.

The study also mentions that chronic exposure (even airborne exposure) can be a risk factor for metastatic brain tumors and brain metastases.

These findings echo those of the Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

According to the ATSDR, brain cancer is among the illnesses linked to exposure to vinyl chloride.

Vinyl chloride is another kind of VOC and is one of the four most widely occurring toxic substances in Camp Lejeune’s water.

Vinyl chloride exposure also been linked to severe brain tumor symptoms, particularly the ones caused by glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma is a cancer of the brain stem glioma that can be caused by prolonged exposure to vinyl chloride.

All things considered, multiple pieces of scientific literature corroborate the connection between brain cancer, nervous system cancer, and exposure to VOCs.

If you’re among the Camp Lejeune victims who have developed central nervous system tumors due to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you may be eligible to join others filing Camp Lejeune claims and Camp Lejeune lawsuits.

Contact TorHoerman Law for a free case evaluation or use the chatbot on this page to see if you qualify to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit instantly.

About Central Nervous System Cancer

Central nervous system (CNS) cancer is a condition characterized by the growth of abnormal cells within the brain or spinal cord.

These cells can form tumors that disrupt normal neurological function.

These tumors can be categorized as benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), depending on their behavior and potential to spread to other parts of the CNS or body.

A central nervous system tumor can develop in several areas.

When tumor cells develop in the brain, they become primary tumors that can affect other parts of the body, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Spinal cord tumors can result in various health effects depending on which segment of the spinal column they grow on.

Common types of central nervous system cancers include:

• Gliomas
• Meningiomas
• Medulloblastomas

These cancers can lead to a range of complications, from headaches and seizures to cognitive impairments and motor deficits.

Timely diagnosis and treatment are critical, as the progression of CNS cancer can be life-threatening.

Central Nervous System Cancer and Its Causes

The exact cause of most CNS cancers is unknown, but potential risk factors include exposure to radiation and other toxic substances, certain inherited syndromes, and genetic mutations.

Central nervous system cancer cells can develop due to alterations in cellular DNA.

Any changes to the DNA of brain and spinal cord cells can lead to changes in their makeup and structure.

If left uncontrolled, these cells become cancerous and accumulate to form tumors or masses in the brain and spinal cord.

What causes these changes is still the subject of many studies and clinical trials.

However, one of the most salient risk factors for the development of central nervous system tumors is chemical exposure, particularly to VOCs like benzene and vinyl chloride.

Studies on the links between CNS, related brain tumors, and toxic chemicals like benzene and vinyl chloride include:

• Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health: Brain tumors and occupational risk factors: A review
• Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health: Occupational exposure and brain tumors
• Environmental Health Perspectives: The toxicology of benzene.
• Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology: Current understandings and perspectives on non-cancer health effects of benzene: A global concern
• Environmental Health Perspectives: Toxicity of vinyl chloride and poly(vinyl chloride): a critical review.
• American Journal of Industrial Medicine: An industry-wide epidemiologic study of vinyl chloride workers, 1942–1982
• Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health: Effects of exposure to vinyl chloride: An assessment of the evidence
• Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health: Meta-analysis of studies of occupational exposure to vinyl chloride in relation to cancer mortality

Central Nervous System Cancer Complications

Central Nervous System Cancer can have devastating health effects and complications for those diagnosed.

Complications of central nervous system (CNS) cancer can include neurological symptoms, including:

• Seizures
• Cognitive impairment
• Motor dysfunction
• Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties)
• Depression
• Sight problems
• Personality changes
• Muscle paralysis
• Headaches
• Pain and fatigue
• Speech problems

Some of these complications may occur due to increased intracranial pressure resulting from the swelling caused by the tumors.

Patients may also experience psychological challenges such as anxiety and depression while coping with the diagnosis and cancer treatment.

Worse yet, the treatments to kill cancer cells like chemotherapy and radiation therapy also lead to the death of normal cells.

As a result, the treatment radically decreases immune function, and a person’s quality of life overall.

Health Conditions Linked to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

Researchers and health professionals from organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Research Council (NRC), and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) have studied Camp Lejeune water contamination and its subsequent health effects.

Researchers have identified several conditions linked to toxic water contamination at Camp Lejeune.

The consumption of Camp Lejeune contaminated water has been linked to many cancer and non-cancer diagnoses.

Health problems linked to water contamination at Camp Lejeune include, but not limited to:

• Bladder Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Cervical Cancer
• Esophageal Cancer
• Kidney Cancer
• Liver Cancer
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Adult Leukemia
• Aplastic Anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
• Multiple Myeloma
• Renal Toxicity
• Scleroderma
• Hepatic Steatosis
• Infertility In Women (and other birth effects)
• Lung Cancer
• Neurobehavioral Effects (like ALS & Parkinson’s Disease)
• Ovarian Cancer
• Stomach Cancer
• Birth defects and birth injury
• Miscarriage

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced a list of presumptive conditions related to water contamination at Camp Lejeune.

The Veterans Administration allows members of the armed services to seek benefits for the conditions outlined on the aforementioned link.

Please Note:

• Disability benefits secured through Veterans Affairs are available to only former military personnel, and not family members.

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Overview

The water supply at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with highly toxic substances for over 30 years.

Potentially over one million people were exposed to the contaminated drinking water, and countless individuals have developed a number of often fatal health conditions including cancer, birth defects, autoimmune disorders, and neurological effects.

New laws allow Camp Lejeune claims to be filed against the government, seeking compensation for toxic exposure and related health problems.

If you or a loved one were exposed to water contamination at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, you may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit claim.

Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation.

You can also use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify for the Camp Lejeune Lawsuit instantly.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act: Securing Compensation for Camp Lejeune Victims

Service members, their families, civilian workers, and countless others were diagnosed with deadly health conditions and had little recourse.

A very small amount of Camp Lejeune victims received VA health care benefits whereas others could not obtain health coverage through the traditional pathways for compensation.

The Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 sought to achieve more VA health care benefits, disability compensation, and other forms of relief to Camp Lejeune victims, but still did not provide the comprehensive benefits that victims needed.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 was signed into law as part of the Honoring Our PACT Act.

The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act establishes new benefits for military service members exposed to toxic substances during their service.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act established a process for victims to file claims and Camp Lejeune Lawsuits for exposure and health problems linked to water contamination at Camp Lejeune.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act affords victims the ability to go through the Camp Lejeune administrative claims process to seek compensation.

The Navy’s Tort Claims Unit (TCU) will promptly review compensation claims, making a decision to pay out victims for their suffering.

If Camp Lejeune administrative claims are not adjudicated within 6 months of submission, victims may be eligible to file Camp Lejeune Lawsuits in the US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Toxic Chemicals in the Camp Lejeune Water Supply

Toxic substances leaked from underground storage tanks and improper waste disposal, among other contamination pathways, into Camp Lejeune’s water supply for over 30 years.

Four toxic chemicals were found to be in high concentrations in the Marine Corps Air Station base’s water supply:

• Trichloroethylene (TCE)
• Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
• Benzene
• Vinyl chloride

Many studies have linked these toxic chemicals to various cancers, including central nervous system tumors.

TorHoerman Law: Your Camp Lejeune Lawyers

With the Senate passage of the PACT Act, and the signing of the bill into law by President Biden, Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuits are able to be filed by any person exposed to contaminated water at the Marine Corps base between 1953 and 1987.

If you, a family member or a loved one was exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune between these dates, you may qualify to file a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit.

We thank the brave veterans for their service to our country.

Now let us serve you. Our law firm is dedicated to achieving justice for service members and their families.

TorHoerman Law is accepting clients for the Camp Lejeune Cancer Lawsuits in all 50 states.

Contact us or use the chatbot on this page to see if you qualify for legal action instantly.

Our law firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you are not required to pay attorney fees unless your case wins compensation.