Camp Lejeune water contamination

Aquathin initiated reporting this to you over 17 years ago (see pasted below).  The articles below detail the types of cancer devastation as a result of exposure.

The Camp Lejeune water contamination problem occurred at Marine Corps Base Camp Legeune from 1953 to 1987.^[1] During that time, United States Marine Corps (USMC) service members and their families living at the base bathed in and ingested tap water that was contaminated with harmful chemicals at concentrations from 240 to 3400 times levels permitted by safety standards. An undetermined number of former base residents later developed cancer or other ailments, which many blame on the contaminated drinking water. Victims claim that USMC leaders concealed knowledge of the problem and did not act properly in trying to resolve it or notify former base residents that their health might be at risk.

The main chemicals involved were volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as perchloroethylene (PCE), a dry cleaning solvent, and trichloroethylene (TCE), a degreaser, benzene and vinyl chloride, chlorinated hydrocarbons, strontium-90, an isotope known to cause cancer and leukemia; however, more than 70 chemicals have been identified as contaminants at Lejeune.^[3

HERE'S WHAT IS NOT MENTIONED AND HIGHEST CONCERN -- THE ABOVE REFERENCED CONTAMINATES WERE NOT REGULATED AT THE TIME.

HERE'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TEACHING AT AQUATHIN UFrom Aquathin Presentation; The laws protecting our drinking water have become more restrictive...we must consume less metals, less chemicals.  However, common sense should tell us that the water we were told was safe to drink 10 and 20 years ago was not safe by today's standards....."   Well you've heard this and preached / taught this...in fact the new MCGL (Maximum Contaminate Goal Level) really means that the goals that are to be reached makes today's water unsafe by definition.  You all know that only 91 contaminates are regulated (up from only 22 at the onset of the Clean Water Act 30 years ago).  Today, the EPA is looking at 26 unregulated contaminates for the possibility of considering adding some to the list.  The research will cover 5 or more years...so for that length of time, these unregulated contaminates will be permitted in drinking water [ JUST LIKE CAMP LEJEUNE ]. 

How do you feel about that....how do you think your Customers would feel about that?  We at Aquathin cannot and will not allow our families to wait for the safest drinking water...that's why we produce the most effective water purification systems TODAY !  AND FOR OVER 25 YEARS !!

CBS/AP January 13, 2017, 9:02 PM

Veterans who drank contaminated water at Camp LeJeune to receive disability benefits

WASHINGTON -- After years of waiting, veterans who were exposed to contaminated drinking water while assigned to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina may now be able to receive a portion of government disability benefits totaling more than $2 billion.

The Department of Veterans Affairs described the new benefit Friday as historic. It is one of few instances in which former military personnel who werent deployed for war could become eligible for cash payouts.  

Veterans who drank contaminated water at Camp LeJeune to receive disability benefits

Veterans will finally receive disability payments after years of waiting. It was found that disease-causing chemicals seeped into the primary wat...

Outgoing VA Secretary Bob McDonald determined there is sufficient scientific and medical evidence to establish a strong association between exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and eight medical conditions.

We have a responsibility to take care of those who have served our nation and have been exposed to harm as a result of that service, McDonald said, adding that the VAs decision will make it easier for veterans to receive the care and benefits they earned.

Beginning in March, the disability benefits may supplement VA health care already being provided to eligible veterans who were stationed at the Marine base for at least 30 cumulative days between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987. Veterans will have to submit evidence of their diagnoses and service information.

The estimated taxpayer cost is $2.2 billion over a five-year period. As many as 900,000 service members were potentially exposed to the tainted water, although the VA estimates that roughly 23,000 veterans will apply and qualify for the benefit. 

Theres no doubt that the people of Camp LeJeune were poisoned, said retired Marine Master Sgt. Jerry Ensminger, who was stationed at Camp Lejeune when his daughter, Janey, was conceived in 1975. Janey died of leukemia when she was nine, CBS News' Mark Strassmann reported.

I cant tell you the level of frustration that has engulfed me over these years, Ensminger said. None of this is going to help Janey. Janey is dead.

CBS Evening News

But Ensminger, who heads a veterans group, The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten, which advocates for those seeking disability compensation, told the Associated Press the new development is good news

This has been a hard, long slog, said Ensminger who argues the government must go further in covering additional diseases. This is not the end of the issue. 

The new rule covers active duty, Reserve and National Guard members who developed one of eight diseases: adult leukemia, aplastic anemia, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and Parkinsons disease.

It allows veterans to qualify for government disability aid based on toxic harm sustained while at a garrison, as opposed to a battlefield. In 2015, McDonald also agreed to award disability benefits for another category of veterans who werent on the ground, those who had developed medical conditions after exposure to Agent Orange residue on planes used in the Vietnam War.

Its a major first, said Dr. Ralph Erickson, a chief health consultant at the VA and former commander of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. Most disability awards, he said, involve exposures that occurred during deployment.

Documents uncovered by veterans groups over the years suggest Marine leaders were slow to respond when tests first found evidence of contaminated groundwater at Camp Lejeune in the early 1980s. Some drinking water wells were closed in 1984 and 1985, after further testing confirmed contamination from leaking fuel tanks and an off-base dry cleaner. The Marine Corps has said the contamination was unintentional, occurring when federal law didnt limit toxins in drinking water. 

Spurred by Ensmingers case, Congress in 2012 passed a bill signed into law by President Barack Obama extending free VA medical care to affected veterans and their families. But veterans were not automatically provided disability aid or survivor benefits. The issue has prompted lawsuits by veterans organizations, which note that military personnel in Camp Lejeune housing drank, cooked and bathed in contaminated water for years. 

Ensminger credited North Carolina Republican Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis for their efforts. Burr introduced the 2012 legislation to provide free VA medical care.

Its about time, Burr said, welcoming the VA news Friday. These veterans put their lives on the line for our nation and they were negligently poisoned by the government.

Affected veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune may now submit applications for benefits. Roughly 1,400 disability claims related to Lejeune are already pending, and will be reviewed immediately, according to the VA.

© 2017 CBS Interactive Inc.  

Camp Lejeune: Past Water Contamination

From the 1950s through the 1980s, people living or working at the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, were potentially exposed to drinking water contaminated with industrial solvents, benzene, and other chemicals.

Learn about research on past chemical contamination.

Disability compensation

VA has established a presumptive service connection for Veterans, Reservists, and National Guard members exposed to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune from August 1, 1953 through December 31, 1987 who later developed one of the following eight diseases:

Adult leukemia

Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes

Bladder cancer

Kidney cancer

Liver cancer

Multiple myeloma

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Parkinson's disease

Presently, these conditions are the only ones for which there is sufficient scientific and medical evidence to support the creation of presumptions; however, VA will continue to review relevant information as it becomes available.

Read the final rule. (246 KB,PDF) The rule will become effective either 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, or following conclusion of the 60-day Congressional Review, whichever is later.

Veterans who are experiencing other health conditions that they think may be related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune are encouraged to contact their primary care provider and to file a claim. VA reviews and decides disability compensation claims on a case-by-case basis.

Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012

Veterans health care
In accordance with the 2012 Camp Lejeune health care law, VA provides cost-free health care for certain conditions to Veterans who served at least 30 days of active duty at Camp Lejeune from January 1, 1957 and December 31, 1987.

Qualifying health conditions include:

Veterans eligible for health care under the 2012 Camp Lejeune health care law may enroll in VA health care and receive medical services for the 15 covered health conditions at no cost (including copayments).

Not yet enrolled in VA health care? Apply online or call 1-877-222-8387 for help. Inform VA staff that you served on active duty at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days during the covered time period.

Family member health care reimbursement

Family members of Veterans who also resided at Camp Lejeune during the qualifying period are eligible for reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical expenses related to the 15 covered health conditions. VA can only pay treatment costs that remain after payment from your other health plans.

What type of evidence can I submit with my application?

Documentation showing dependent relationship to a Veteran who served at Camp Lejeune, such as marriage license or birth certificate

Documentation showing you lived on the base for 30 days or more between Aug. 1, 1953 and Dec. 31, 1987 such as copies of orders or base housing records

You paid health care expenses for a covered condition respective to the following date ranges.

If you lived on Camp Lejeune between January 1, 1957 and December 31, 1987, then you can be reimbursed for care that you received on or after August 6, 2012

If you lived on Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1956, then you can be reimbursed for care that you received on or after December 16, 2014

When evidence is not submitted, VA will use all relevant evidence from internal sources and the Department of Defense (DoD) to support your application. Please be aware it may take longer to review your application.

From: Aquathin Corporation 
Sent: Friday, November 03, 2000 1:50 PM
To: Aquathin Corporation
Subject: FYI--Warmest Regards, Alfie

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