Birth Defects and Childhood Cancer Study (FAQs)

1. What progress has ATSDR made on its study of contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune and specific birth defects and childhood cancers?
2. Which conditions does ATSDR's study of specific birth defects and childhood cancers include?
3. Why does the ATSDR study on specific birth defects and childhood cancers examine only the period from 1968 to 1985?
4. Why does the study of specific birth defects and childhood cancers focus only on a few birth defects rather than all birth defects?
5. Can you add me to the study of birth defects and childhood cancers?
6. Why isn't ATSDR studying other diseases or health problems that might be related to the water contamination at Camp Lejeune?

1. What progress has ATSDR made on its study of contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune and specific birth defects and childhood cancers?

ATSDR’s study on specific birth defects and childhood cancers includes children born from 1968 through 1985 to mothers who for some time during their pregnancy were exposed to drinking water contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at Camp Lejeune. The study looks at whether these children have increased risk for specific birth defects and childhood cancers. Participants were interviewed in spring/summer 2005 about where they lived at Camp Lejeune, their medical history, and their personal habits.

Currently ATSDR is also completing its water modeling of the base. Water modeling is a scientific method that will help ATSDR estimate water-system conditions prior to March 1987. Water modeling will help identify where and when certain areas at Camp Lejeune received VOC-contaminated drinking water.

We will use the water modeling results to determine which mothers were exposed to contaminated water. The study on specific birth defects and childhood cancers should be completed in 2011.

2. Which conditions does ATSDR's study of specific birth defects and childhood cancers include?

The study includes neural tube defects (NTDs), consisting of anencephaly (absence of a major portion of the brain) and spina bifida; oral cleft defects; and childhood leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

A 1999–2002 telephone survey identified 106 parent-reported cases of these birth defects and cancers in children born between 1968 and 1985 to women who for some time during their pregnancies lived at Camp Lejeune. The parents reported:

• 35 neural tube defects;
• 42 oral cleft defects; and
• 29 childhood cancers.

The status of the reported cases is:

• 52 were confirmed to have the reported disease consisting of
• 15 neural tube defects,
• 24 oral cleft defects and
• 13 hematopoietic cancers
• 32 were confirmed not to have the reported diseases
• 8 refused to participate
• 7 could not be verified (there were no medical records)
• 7 were ineligible

3. Why does the ATSDR study on specific birth defects and childhood cancers examine only the period from 1968 to 1985?

The study is restricted to children born between 1968 and 1985 because:

1) North Carolina began computerizing birth certificate information in 1968, and
2) the heavily contaminated wells were shut down in 1985.

However, any findings from the study would also apply to children born before 1968 if the mothers lived in housing that received contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. Searching for those born prior to North Carolina's system going on-line would have been extremely difficult.

4. Why does the study of specific birth defects and childhood cancers focus only on a few birth defects rather than all birth defects?

The study includes neural tube defects, cleft lip, and cleft palate, and two childhood cancers: leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. ATSDR chose to study these birth defects and childhood cancers because previous studies suggest that the chemicals in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune might cause these health effects.

5. Can you add me to the study of birth defects and childhood cancers?

The current study is closed. Data collection for this study ended in July 2005.

6. Why isn't ATSDR studying other diseases or health problems that might be related to the water contamination at Camp Lejeune?

ATSDR decided to focus first on specific birth defects and specific childhood cancers because the fetus and very young children are the most vulnerable to chemical exposures. However, ATSDR next plans to study a wide range of health problems among adults. In 2009, ATSDR will begin conducting a mortality study and a health survey study that will include former Marines and Navy personnel, dependents, and civilian workers stationed at Camp Lejeune during the period of drinking water contamination.

Former residents and employees of Camp Lejeune can now register at the official Marine Corps water study website for notification and information regarding past drinking water contamination. The address is https://clnr.hqi.usmc.mil/. The health survey will be sent to everyone who registers with the USMC.

Each study we conduct will help us understand more about the health effects from exposure to the water contamination at Camp Lejeune. These studies will also add to the limited scientific information that is available about the health effects of drinking water contaminated with volatile organic compounds. The studies will also provide support for preventing such exposures to other communities in the future.