Millions were exposed to toxic chemicals in Camp Lejeune water supply from 1953–1987. Learn about the contamination, covered diseases, and the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.
By James J. Rosemergy, Attorney — Carey & Danis LLC —
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Carey & Danis LLC.
The Camp Lejeune water contamination case stands as one of the most significant toxic exposure disasters in American military history. For more than three decades — from at least 1953 through 1987 — the drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina was contaminated with dangerous industrial chemicals classified as known human carcinogens. An estimated one million people were exposed during that period: Marines, their families, civilian workers, and other military personnel who lived or worked on the base.
In 2022, Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act as part of the PACT Act, finally giving those exposed the right to file federal civil claims against the United States government. Approximately 410,000 claims were filed. Litigation is ongoing in the Eastern District of North Carolina, with bellwether trials expected to begin in 2026.
Investigations by the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) confirmed that Camp Lejeune’s water supply was contaminated with multiple industrial chemicals at levels far exceeding federal safety standards. The primary contaminants identified were:
The sources of contamination included leaking underground storage tanks, improper disposal of industrial waste on and near the base, and a commercial dry cleaning operation adjacent to the base that released solvents directly into the groundwater. Despite internal evidence that water supplies were contaminated — evidence that emerged years later through government investigations and litigation discovery — those living and working on the base were not warned for years.
Scientific and epidemiological studies — including major research by the ATSDR and the National Academies of Sciences — have established associations between Camp Lejeune water contamination exposure and a range of serious, life-threatening conditions. The diseases with the strongest evidence of association include:
Research has also identified potential links between Camp Lejeune exposure and other conditions including aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and certain birth defects in children born to mothers stationed at the base during the contamination period. The ATSDR’s Camp Lejeune Health Studies provide the scientific foundation for much of this epidemiological work.
For decades, veterans and their families who suffered illnesses linked to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water were legally barred from suing the federal government. A provision of North Carolina law — the state’s statute of repose — had consistently been used to block these claims before they could ever be heard on their merits.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, enacted as part of the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act) signed by President Biden on August 10, 2022, changed that. The Act:
The administrative claims filing deadline passed in August 2024. Approximately 410,000 claims were submitted. Cases that were not resolved administratively have moved into federal court in the Eastern District of North Carolina, where the court has been managing the litigation through coordinated pretrial proceedings. Bellwether trials are expected to begin in 2026, and the government and plaintiffs’ counsel continue to work toward a broader settlement framework.
Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, the following individuals may have been eligible to file a claim:
Claimants must have been diagnosed with one of the illnesses linked to Camp Lejeune water contamination. The covered conditions identified in VA regulations and litigation include bladder cancer, kidney cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, adult leukemia, multiple myeloma, Parkinson’s disease, neurobehavioral effects, and other malignancies with established scientific links to TCE, PCE, benzene, or vinyl chloride exposure.
⚠ Important: Administrative Filing Deadline Has Passed
The two-year window for filing administrative claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act closed in August 2024. Individuals who did not file an administrative claim by that deadline may have lost the ability to pursue a claim under the Act. If you believe you have a claim and did not file, consult with an attorney experienced in Camp Lejeune litigation to evaluate your options.
What chemicals contaminated the Camp Lejeune water supply?
Camp Lejeune’s water supply was contaminated primarily with trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride. All four chemicals are classified as known or probable human carcinogens. TCE was detected at concentrations up to 70 times the federal safety limit in some water systems serving residential areas of the base. Contamination persisted from at least 1953 through 1987, affecting families, service members, and civilian workers who had no way of knowing their water was unsafe.
What diseases are linked to Camp Lejeune water contamination?
Scientific and government research has linked Camp Lejeune water exposure to bladder cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Parkinson’s disease, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, and neurobehavioral effects in children exposed in utero. Research has also identified potential associations with aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and certain birth defects. The ATSDR has conducted extensive health studies documenting elevated rates of these conditions among Camp Lejeune veterans and their families.
What is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 is a federal law enacted as part of the PACT Act, signed by President Biden on August 10, 2022. It gave veterans, military families, and civilian workers who were exposed to contaminated Camp Lejeune water for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987, the right to file federal civil claims against the United States government. Prior to this law, a North Carolina statute of repose had effectively barred these claims for decades.
Has the administrative claims deadline passed?
Yes. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act required claimants to first file an administrative claim with the Department of the Navy. That filing window, which opened when the PACT Act was signed in August 2022, closed two years later in August 2024. Approximately 410,000 administrative claims were submitted. Cases not resolved administratively have moved into federal court in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Individuals who did not file by the deadline should consult with an attorney to evaluate any remaining options.
What is the current status of Camp Lejeune litigation?
Camp Lejeune claims not resolved through the administrative process are now proceeding in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The court is managing the litigation through coordinated pretrial proceedings. Bellwether trials — a small set of representative cases tried first to gauge outcomes — are expected to begin in 2026. The federal government and plaintiffs’ counsel continue to engage in discussions aimed at a broader settlement framework that could resolve thousands of pending cases.
Can family members file Camp Lejeune claims?
Yes. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act extended eligibility beyond service members to include family members — such as spouses and children — who lived at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days during the covered period and were subsequently diagnosed with a covered illness. This includes children who developed conditions linked to in utero exposure to the contaminated water supply. Civilian employees who worked on the base during the covered period were also eligible.
Carey & Danis LLC is a national plaintiff-side litigation firm based in St. Louis, Missouri, with a practice focused on pharmaceutical, medical device, and toxic exposure mass torts, as well as consumer protection and class action litigation. The firm has represented clients in significant mass tort matters nationwide.
For authoritative background on Camp Lejeune water contamination and related health research, the following government sources provide detailed information:
This page is intended to provide general background information about the Camp Lejeune water contamination litigation. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this page. The status of this litigation evolves; information on this page reflects conditions as of the date of publication and may not reflect subsequent developments.