Page 9 - Mariner Winter 2023 Volume 65 Issue 3 Jan

others. The levels of many of these chemicals in the water
was several hundred times above the EPA maximum safe
levels for human exposure.

It is well established that frequent or large exposures to
those types of pollutants in drinking water are linked to
more than two dozen serious health conditions, includ- People who were exposed to contaminated
ing cancer, cardiac and neurological damage, infertility, water during their time serving or living at
and other illnesses. Tragically, pregnant women who are Camp Lejeune may have since developed:
exposed to these toxic chemicals are more likely to suffer
miscarriages and the babies born are more likely to have Adult Leukemia
birth defects.
Aplastic Anemia and Other
Myelodysplastic Syndromes
The harm to those who lived at Camp Lejeune during
this time is shocking and tragic, affecting not only ser- Bladder Cancer
vicemembers but their families as well. Beginning in the
late 1950s, babies born on the base began dying within Kidney Cancer
days of delivery. Some were born without craniums, Liver Cancer
parts of their brain, open spinal columns, missing lungs,
and irreversible heart defects. Throughout the next 30 Multiple Myeloma
years, hundreds of these babies were buried in a city of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Jacksonville cemetery in what became known as “Baby
Heaven.” Many children who survived beyond days of Parkinson’s Disease
their birth developed leukemia, neurological issues, and
cardiac issues, never reaching adulthood. Bladder Cancer
Breast Cancer
Throughout the decades, residents of the base com-
plained of “foul smelling” water, and they often had Esophageal Cancer
to mix their water with Kool-Aid and other additives Female Infertility
to drink it. Some took to boiling the water to “make it
safe for drinking.” However, boiling contaminated water Hepatic Steatosis
vaporizes the chemicals, putting them in the air for
breathing and likely compounding the effects of expo- Kidney Cancer
sure. This was especially true for base hospital and main- Leukemia
tenance personnel who regularly washed their hands
with hot water. Lung Cancer

Miscarriage
Base environmental personnel regularly expressed to
Marine Corps leadership the concerns they had regard- Multiple Myeloma
ing the numerous chemicals present in the water and the
higher than acceptable levels for human ingestion. These Myelodysplastic Syndromes
concerns were ignored by base officials, the USMC, and Neurobehavioral Effects
the Department of the Navy. One base commander was
made aware that 1,500 gallons of diesel fuel per month Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
was leaking from a faulty underground pipe directly into Renal Toxicity
the water yet made the determination that it would cost
too much money to repair it and remained silent. Scleroderma
continued on page 10

The Naval Enlisted Reserve Association 9