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Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Facts
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Camp Lejeune water contamination has been linked to a number of adverse health effects, including the risk of liver disease.
Residents at the Marine Corps base — including active-duty personnel, National Guard members, their family members, civilian workers, and others — experienced symptoms ranging from jaundice, fatigue, and abdominal pain — the hallmark symptoms of liver disease.
Reports of health conditions in Camp Lejeune residents prompted investigations into the water supply at Camp Lejeune.
Various agencies looked into the water at Camp Lejeune for potential traces of water contamination.
The findings made by agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) found more than 70 hazardous chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune.
The four main contaminants in the water at Camp Lejeune were:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
- Benzene
- Vinyl chloride
All of these chemicals are known to cause various illnesses.
Liver disease is one of the illnesses caused by these volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
About Liver Disease
Liver diseases cover a wide range of disorders.
These illnesses affect the liver, which is a key organ for many vital processes.
The liver is responsible for detoxification, ridding the body of harmful chemicals.
It’s also responsible for metabolism and the production of proteins for blood clotting.
Any liver disease will impair the liver’s ability to eliminate toxic substances from the body, produce energy, and produce clotting factors.
As a result, a person with liver disease may experience fatigue and bruise easily.
In the worst-case scenario, liver diseases can lead to profuse bleeding due to the absence of clotting factors.
There are several types of liver diseases:
- Cirrhosis (liver scars)
- Hepatitis (A, B, and C)
- Liver cancers
Liver Disease and Exposure to Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
Various studies have linked VOCs to liver disease, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed TCE and PCE, two of the major contaminants in the water at Camp Lejeune, as liver-harming VOCs.
A 2018 study from researchers at the Department of Health & Human Services examined VOCs and their links to decreased liver function.
Based on the study’s findings, VOCs like TCE and PCE can aggravate existing liver injuries, causing further deterioration in liver function.
The National Toxicology Program released a report on the development of liver diseases and exposure to VOCs like vinyl chloride.
According to the National Toxicology Program’s report, vinyl chloride is one of the VOCs linked to a rare form of liver cancer called hepatic angiosarcoma.
The National Cancer Institute agrees with the findings and adds that vinyl chloride also predisposes a person to develop primary liver tumors.
If you’ve developed any liver disease and were exposed to the contaminated Camp Lejeune water between 1953 and 1987, you may be eligible to join others filing Camp Lejeune lawsuits.
Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation.
You can also find out if you qualify for the Camp Lejeune litigation by using the chatbot on this page.
Other Potential Causes of Liver Disease
Liver disease could be a secondary condition of other health conditions linked to water contamination at Camp Lejeune.
Other potential causes of liver disease and failure include:
- Alcohol Consumption: Chronic and excessive alcohol intake can lead to alcoholic liver disease.
- Viral Infections: Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E can cause inflammation and damage to the liver.
- Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): Accumulation of fat in the liver unrelated to alcohol consumption, and another health problem linked to Camp Lejeune water contamination.
- Autoimmune Diseases: Conditions like autoimmune hepatitis, where the body’s immune system attacks liver cells.
- Genetics: Genetic disorders such as Wilson’s disease or hemochromatosis can lead to liver damage.
- Toxins and Drugs: Overdose of medications like acetaminophen or long-term exposure to certain toxins.
- Bile Duct Diseases: Conditions like primary biliary cirrhosis or primary sclerosing cholangitis that affect the bile ducts.
- Cirrhosis: Scarring of the liver tissue due to various causes, which can lead to liver failure.
- Liver Cancers: Tumors or cancers that originate in or spread to the liver.
- Gallstones: Can block bile ducts, affecting liver function.
- Parasitic Infections: Such as schistosomiasis, which can affect the liver.
- Certain Medications: Some drugs, like methotrexate or isoniazid, can cause liver damage.
- Budd-Chiari Syndrome: A rare condition where blood clots form in the liver’s veins.
- Cystic Diseases: Polycystic liver disease, where fluid-filled sacs form in the liver.
- Excessive Iron or Copper in the Body: Can lead to conditions like hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease.
Liver Disease Complications
Liver diseases can lead to various complications, depending on their severity and progression.
Some possible complications of liver diseases include:
- Cirrhosis: If chronic liver diseases are untreated, they can lead to cirrhosis, which is characterized by extensive scarring of liver tissue. Cirrhosis can result in liver failure and its associated symptoms, including jaundice, fluid retention, confusion, and bleeding disorders.
- Liver Cancer: Chronic liver inflammation and cirrhosis increase the risk of developing liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
- Portal Hypertension: Scarring in the liver can cause increased pressure in the portal vein, leading to complications like esophageal varices (swollen blood vessels in the esophagus) and ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdomen).
- Liver Failure: In severe cases, liver diseases can progress to acute or chronic liver failure, where the liver can no longer perform its vital functions. This condition can be life-threatening and may necessitate a liver transplant.
