Camp Lejeune Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Has Contaminated Water from Camp Lejeune Caused Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma? 

People who lived or worked on Camp Lejeune, between August 1953 and December 1987, were exposed to contaminated water. This water was primarily used for drinking, cooking, and bathing.

Exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune was repeated, sometimes over extended periods of time. For some, exposure has led to a diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Many may not have developed the disease until years after leaving the base.

Toxic Chemicals Found in Camp Lejeune Water

Contaminants in the water at Camp Lejeune included the volatile (unstable) organic compounds trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and benzene. ^{(1) (2)}

TCE and PCE are solvents used to clean machinery and in dry cleaning. These were the primary contaminants found in Camp Lejeune water, although benzene was also found. Benzene is used in the production mix of chemicals for plastics and resins. ^{(3) (4)}

Scientific research has established there is a causal link between Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and the chemicals detected in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune. ^{(5) (6)} Testing of the water at Camp Lejeune revealed the concentrations of these chemicals in the water far exceeded levels that are considered safe. ⁽⁷⁾

What Is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is a type of immune system cancer. Lymphoma is cancer that begins in the lymphatic system, a filtration network running throughout your body that removes unwanted materials from your blood. ⁽⁸⁾ 

WebMD explains, “The two main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.” It is the kinds of cells involved that distinguish one form from the other. ⁽⁹⁾

“In non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, white blood cells called lymphocytes grow abnormally and can form growths (tumors) throughout the body,” according to the Mayo Clinic. ⁽¹⁰⁾

Subtypes of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

There are more than 30 subtypes of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. ⁽¹¹⁾ Some of the most common are:

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia — A slow progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. ⁽¹²⁾

• Cutaneous B-cell lymphoma — A cancer, starting in the type of white blood cells known as B-cells, that also attacks your skin. ⁽¹³⁾

• Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma — A cancer, starting in the type of white blood cells known as T-cells, that also attacks your skin. ⁽¹⁴⁾

• Follicular lymphoma — A cancer affecting white blood cells that can travel throughout your body forming tumors. ⁽¹⁵⁾

• Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia — This is a cancer where the “bone marrow produces too many abnormal white blood cells that crowd out healthy blood cells. The abnormal white blood cells produce a protein that accumulates in the blood, impairs circulation and causes complications,” explains the Mayo Clinic. ⁽¹⁶⁾

Additional common, aggressive, or both, forms of lymphoma include:

• Diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma.
• Burkitt lymphoma.
• Mantle cell lymphoma.
• Marginal zone lymphoma. 
• Small-cell lymphocytic lymphoma.

No matter which type of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma you suffer from, if you were at Camp Lejeune, you should take immediate steps to file a legal claim.

What You Should Do if You Believe Your Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Was Caused by Camp Lejeune Water

The first step you need to take is to seek medical attention to get an accurate diagnosis and the proper care. A written medical diagnosis is necessary to help support any legal claims you make.

Next, you want to contact an attorney to seek justice and compensation. Compensation can be for medical expenses, as well as pain and suffering.

You need to provide your attorney with your written medical diagnosis, along with any bills and receipts related to your treatment for your disease. This includes medical tests and prescriptions.

You may also need to provide your attorney with other records that document your exposure and presence on base. These documents can include:

• Tax or housing documentation (rent or mortgage payments).
• School or employment contracts.
• Military orders or records.

If you are a family member of a veteran and you became sick, you may also need to provide a proof of relationship:

• Marriage license.
• Birth certificate.
• Adoption papers.

Your attorney then examines your information to help you determine your best legal options.

Legal Options for Victims of Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

Anyone affected by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune can now file a lawsuit. New legislation, recently signed into law by President Biden, allows for claims to be made against the U.S. federal government. ⁽¹⁷⁾ 

The Honoring Our Promises to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act  may cover you if you were affected by Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water. However, claims must be made within a brief period of time, so you need to act quickly. ⁽¹⁸⁾

To be eligible to file a lawsuit, you must meet these criteria:

• Worked, lived, or was otherwise present on Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between August 1953 and December 1987.

• Was exposed to the contaminated water for a minimum of 30 cumulative days.

• Must have been diagnosed with at least one eligible health condition. We believe this includes Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

For the best possible outcome of your case, you want an attorney who is experienced in and knowledgeable about complex toxic chemical and environmental litigations. The attorneys at Weitz & Luxenberg have this kind of knowledge and experience. 

How W&L Can Help

Weitz & Luxenberg is a nationally recognized leader in environmental and personal injury litigation against government agencies and multimillion dollar corporations. 

We have pursued complex, multidistrict, large-scale litigations with remarkable success. These are some of our notable cases:

• Multi-billion dollar Roundup weed killer settlement reached with Monsanto on behalf of more than 100,000 plaintiffs suffering from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. 

• $65.25 million PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) contaminated water settlement for the Hoosick Falls community reached with Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corp., 3M Co., and Honeywell International Inc. 

• $423 million MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) contaminated water settlement on behalf of public water systems in 17 states reached with approximately a dozen different oil companies.