The highest PFAS level at Camp Lejeune was 172,000 parts per trillion, 2,457 times the safe exposure limit as directed by the Environmental Protection Agency. As of 2021, despite the relentless cleanup efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Navy, at least 14 sites at Camp Lejeune still harbored these chemicals. Because PFAS are extremely difficult to remove from the environment, the military base is not expected to be entirely safe for decades.
In 1985, the greatest trichloroethylene level was 280 times the safe exposure limit, whereas the highest perchloroethylene level eclipsed the safe exposure limit by 43 times. The drycleaning firm ABC One-Hour Cleaners was responsible for perchloroethylene contamination. As for the other industrial solvents, they ended up polluting Camp Lejeune as a result of the military recklessly using these chemicals to clean weapons and equipment.
HEALTH PROBLEMS CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO TOXIC CHEMICALS
Exposure to toxic chemicals may cause debilitating health problems, including liver cancer, renal toxicity, prostate cancer, leukemia, female infertility, pancreatic cancer, and scleroderma. Between 1953 and 1987, roughly 1 million people lived at Camp Lejeune, and all had a high risk of developing severe disease.
Until August 2, 2022, veterans affected by toxic exposure could only receive benefits from the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs( VA). As of this date, due to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, they can also obtain financial compensation from the U. S. government.
VETERANS AFFAIRS KEEPS REJECTION RATE HIGH FOR CAMP LEJEUNE VETS
The VA has been aware of the diseases veterans might contract at Camp Lejeune since its beginning. Still, Congress passed the Honoring America’ s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act in 2012. This comprehensive, bipartisan legislative package was meant to grant veterans and family members who lived at the military base access to better health care, education, housing, and memorial services, as well as disability, social security, and indemnity compensation.
Before 2012, veterans were able to file disability compensation claims for health problems stemming from toxic exposure at military bases. However, the VA began using alleged“ subject matter experts” in 2012 to review these cases. In February 2022, it was revealed these“ experts” were nothing but general and preventive doctors with no proper expertise in assessing the complex afflictions Camp Lejeune veterans were struggling with. These doctors’ lack of knowledge led to the claim approval rate plummeting from 25 percent to only 5 percent.
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