[2026 Update] Camp Lejeune Thyroid Cancer Lawsuit

Several toxic chemicals seeped into Camp Lejeune’s water between 1953 and 1987.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) capable of causing different cancers, autoimmune conditions, and other health issues were the main contaminants in the water supply.

Besides hazardous VOCs, among the toxic substances found in the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune were cadmium and toluene — chemicals linked to several kinds of cancer, including thyroid cancer.

Scientific studies have linked exposure to these chemicals and VOCs to the development of thyroid cancer.

According to a 2021 study, even low levels of toluene were enough to predispose someone to develop thyroid cancer.

Studies have also looked into the correlation between cadmium exposure and the development of thyroid cancer.

The EPA reported increased levels of cadmium in Camp Lejeune’s water supply.

One study done in the same year suggested that low-level cadmium exposure increased a person’s risk of thyroid cancer.

Based on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s toxicology profile, cadmium is a known carcinogen.

The scientific evidence mentioned makes up just a small fraction of the research done on the chemicals at Camp Lejeune and thyroid cancer.

If you or a loved one were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and subsequently developed Thyroid Cancer, you may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune claim.

Contact our Camp Lejeune attorneys at TorHoerman Law for a free case evaluation.

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

About Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer occurs when malignant cells grow on or around the thyroid gland, a gland located at the base of the throat where the windpipe is.

The thyroid gland is responsible for secreting hormones that regulate everything from metabolism to heart rate.

Hence, any cancerous growth in the gland can lead to chronic fatigue, metabolic problems, and heart rhythm issues.

Thyroid Cancer and Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

Exposure to toxic substances can increase the risk of thyroid cancer and other similar health conditions.

Scientific studies on toxic chemicals and thyroid cancer include:

• Toxics Journal: Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Thyroid Cancer: An Overview
• Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology: Thyroid Hormones and Thyroid Disease in Relation to Perchlorate Dose and Residence Near a Superfund Site
• Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine: Incidence of cancer among workers exposed to vinyl chloride in polyvinyl chloride manufacture
• Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health: Incidence of cancer among workers exposed to vinyl chloride in polyvinyl chloride manufacture
• Environment International: Toluene concentrations in the blood and risk of thyroid cancer among residents living near national industrial complexes in South Korea: A population-based cohort study
• International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Role of Emerging Environmental Risk Factors in Thyroid Cancer: A Brief Review
• International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Nutritional and Environmental Factors in Thyroid Carcinogenesis

Other Causes of Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

According to the National Cancer Institute, several risk factors can contribute to the development of thyroid cancer.

Causes and risk factors of thyroid cancer include:

• Gender and age: Women and older individuals are more likely to develop thyroid cancer.
• Exposure to high levels of radiation: This includes both therapeutic radiation (for medical treatments) and accidental exposure.
• Family history: Some types of thyroid cancer seem to run in families.
• Certain genetic syndromes: Conditions like familial medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B, and familial adenomatous polyposis can increase the risk.
• Iodine intake: Both too much and too little iodine in the diet can be risk factors for thyroid cancer.
• Goiter: Having a chronically enlarged thyroid (goiter) can increase the risk.
• History of benign thyroid disease: Conditions such as thyroid adenoma can increase the risk.

It’s important to recognize that having one or more risk factors does not necessarily mean an individual will develop thyroid cancer.

Conversely, many people diagnosed with thyroid cancer may not have any obvious risk factors.

Thyroid Cancer Complications

The thyroid gland is one of the organs that help regulate heart contractions.

Hence, one of the complications of thyroid cancer will include cardiovascular complications.

Left unmanaged, thyroid cancer can lead to cardiac arrhythmias that can later progress to a full-blown cardiac arrest.

Due to their location, thyroid cancer cells can easily metastasize to other parts of the body like the lungs and spine.

When the cancer has metastasized to these areas, a patient’s prognosis worsens, warranting more aggressive chemotherapy and thyroid surgery.

The water supply at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with highly toxic substances for over 30 years, and potentially over one million people were exposed.

Countless individuals developed cancer, birth defects, neurological issues, and more.

Many residents and veterans exposed passed away as a result of exposure.

Camp Lejeune victims went years without compensation or acknowledgement for their injuries and illnesses.

Camp Lejeune victims attempted to legislate change several times.

Under the Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012, Camp Lejeune victims were able to seek health care benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Affected individuals and their family members applied for health benefits and disability compensation, but many faced denials and not all received VA health care benefits or disability compensation.

It wasn’t until the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 that victims could seek justice on a comprehensive scale.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act established the Camp Lejeune administrative claims process, by which victims can submit compensation claims to the government.

The Navy’s Tort Claims Unit (TCU) will promptly review compensation claims filed.

If victims are denied or if they do not receive a decision within six months of submission, they may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit in the US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

The North Carolina federal court is handling all Camp Lejeune Lawsuits.

If you or a loved one were exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between 1953 and 1987, you may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune claim.

Contact the Camp Lejeune attorneys at 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.

Camp Lejeune Linked Health Conditions

Exposure to toxic substances can increase the risk of thyroid cancer and other similar health conditions.

Victims are filing Camp Lejeune claims for several health problems, as many suffered by former Camp Lejeune residents aren’t named in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) list of presumptive conditions.

Certain cancer diagnoses potentially linked to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune include:

• Bladder Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Esophageal Cancer
• Kidney Cancer
• Leukemia
• Lung Cancer
• Multiple Myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Prostate Cancer
• Colorectal Cancer
• Rectal Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Central Nervous System Cancer
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes
• Brain Cancer
• Cervical Cancer
• Ovarian Cancer
• Appendix Cancer
• Bile Duct Cancer
• Gallbladder Cancer
• Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Intestinal Cancer
• Sinus Cancer
• Soft Tissue Sarcoma
• Spinal Cancer
• Thyroid Cancer

Non-cancer diagnoses suffered by Camp Lejeune victims include:

• Hepatic Steatosis
• Miscarriage & Fetal Death
• Neurobehavioral Effects
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Aplastic Anemia
• Kidney Disease
• Scleroderma
• ALS
• Lupus
• Epilepsy
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Cardiac Birth Defects
• Infertility
• Renal Toxicity
• Autoimmune Disease
• Birth Defects
• Liver Disease
• Cognitive Disability
• Microcephaly
• Renal Disease
• Tooth Decay
• Hypersensitive Skin Disorder
• Nerve Damage
• Oral Cleft

What Caused Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune?

The water contamination at Camp Lejeune was the result of chemical leakage from several waste disposal sites and underground storage tanks in and around the base.

The leakage of toxic material caused the water at Camp Lejeune to be hazardous to former residents of the base and active duty personnel.

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, two water treatment plants harbored the most contamination:

1. Hadnot Point Treatment Plant
2. Tarawa Terrace Treatment Plant

These plants supplied most of the drinking water at Camp Lejeune.

With these plants contaminated, more than a million residents, including active duty personnel, National Guard members, and families, were exposed to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune

What Toxic Substances Were Found in the Water Supply at Camp Lejeune?

The Environmental Protection Agency identified more than 70 hazardous substances in the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune.

Four specific volatile organic compounds were found to be at the highest amounts:

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

These VOCs have been the cause of many illnesses, ranging from autoimmune diseases to cancer.

To be eligible to file lawsuits under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, claimants must have been exposed to the base’s contaminated water for at least 30 days between 1953 and 1987.

Besides that, victims must have developed illnesses linked to Camp Lejeune’s toxic water supply.

These conditions include:

• Adult leukemia
• Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
• Bladder cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Liver cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Parkinson’s disease

Gathering Evidence for Camp Lejeune Claims

The strength of your claim rests on being able to prove your exposure to the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune and that you developed illnesses due to exposure.

To establish both, you will need the right pieces of evidence.

First, you’ll need your military service records.

These records must indicate your stay in the base between 1953 and 1987.

By showing the time and duration of your stay, you can establish your exposure to the contaminated water at the base.

Besides service and residential records, you must also have medical records.

Medical records can be any document containing your thyroid cancer diagnosis and the treatments you’ve received.

Not only will these prove your illness but the financial losses you’ve incurred from surgery or chemotherapy.

Assessing Damages for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Claims

Thyroid cancer is both costly and traumatic. Understanding this, our Camp Lejeune lawyers are here to ensure that you receive a fair Camp Lejeune settlement.

By accurately assessing your damages, you can receive a settlement that compensates you for all the harm caused by the base’s toxic water.

We begin by calculating your financial losses.

These losses will include your medical expenses and other treatment costs.

We also add lost wages to the calculation if you were unable to work during your illness.

Our Camp Lejeune attorneys understand the psychological and emotional trauma you may have suffered from battling thyroid cancer.

Hence, we will also include pain and suffering in your damages.

This helps maximize your Camp Lejeune settlement and helps offset any burden you may have suffered.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act empowers victims to take legal action against the parties responsible for the water contamination at Camp Lejeune.

Now, it’s your turn to bring them to justice.

If you’ve developed thyroid cancer and were at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, you may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit.

Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation.

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