Health and Medical Questions (FAQs)

  1. Why do the ATSDR survey and study look only at the time period from 1968 to 1985?
  2. Will having been exposed to these chemicals make children more susceptible to cancer as they get older?
  3. At what age would children be affected by exposure to these contaminants? What will exposure to these contaminants do to children?
  4. How is the study going to benefit those children who have already been diagnosed with a birth defect or cancer?
  5. Why wasn’t a study done on the adults or children that were already born? Were there no possible adverse health effects to these individuals?
  6. Why aren’t you interested in other children who lived on the base during the time period being studied? While fetuses may be more susceptible, very young children would seem to be almost as susceptible.
  7. What about the effects to offspring born to those children (now grown) that were exposed to the polluted drinking water while they were in utero?
  8. Is there any way that I can be added to the present survey? I was not born there / I didn’t have any kids there, but I was stationed there during the years that the wells were contaminated. I think I could have been eligible.
  9. Are there any tests I can have done to see if my family/kids/husband/wife may be affected by these contaminants?
  10. Is there anyone I can talk to who may be able to connect me with others that have similar health situations such as mine or my children’s?
  11. I’m sick. Are these contaminants to blame?
  12. My child/family member has a medical condition. Is this related to the contaminated water?
  13. I am a retiree. How can I get copies of my medical records?

1. Why do the ATSDR survey and study look only at the time period from 1968 to 1985?

1968 was the earliest year in which electronic birth certificates were available for the eligible group from the State of North Carolina. Research indicated that searching for those born prior to North Carolina’s system going online would have been extremely difficult.The end date of 1985 is based on when the wells were confirmed to be polluted and were taken out of service.

You may wish to follow the study that ATSDR is conducting using information from the survey. Study findings will also apply to

  • people who did not participate in the survey or study but who had or have the same conditions, and
  • people for whom the water modeling shows they were exposed to contaminants.

2. Will having been exposed to these chemicals make children more susceptible to cancer as they get older?

It is not known whether being exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while in utero will make children more susceptible to cancers as they get older. At this time, research has only linked these chemicals with childhood cancers and birth defects.

3. At what age would children be affected by exposure to these contaminants? What will exposure to these contaminants do to children?

The time of exposure ATSDR is focused on is during the pregnancy of the mothers living on-base at Camp Lejeune during 1968 – 1985. Research shows that the most likely health effects of in utero exposure to these volatile organic compounds (VOCs) would be birth defects or childhood cancers.

4. How is the study going to benefit those children who have already been diagnosed with a birth defect or cancer?

While there is no direct benefit to those children potentially harmed by the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune, the information gained during the survey and study will help advance research on this topic and may help future children. [this part moved up]

Only a small number of studies have looked at the risk of birth defects and childhood cancers among children born to mothers exposed during pregnancy to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in drinking water. During the proposed epidemiological study and water modeling, ATSDR will evaluate whether there is a relationship between the contaminants and the higher incidence of childhood cancers and birth defects.

5. Why wasn’t a study done on the adults or children that were already born? Were there no possible adverse health effects to these individuals?

Current scientific knowledge, including the public health assessment produced by ATSDR in 1997, suggests that the health of adults exposed to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the base drinking water during the period studied does not appear to be at risk as a result of that exposure. The amount of VOCs present, combined with the duration of exposure to the water would likely not have resulted in an adverse health effect among adults and children.

However, the effects on children in utero (in the womb) are in question. That is why the Camp Lejeune survey was done and why the study is being planned.

Children in the womb are particularly sensitive because of the amount of cell division which occurs during development. Prior research has shown that if a chemical insult (exposure) occurs during cell division, there is a possibility that the baby may not form correctly, resulting in a birth defect. Research also shows that these children may be more prone to childhood cancers such as leukemia and lymphomas.

6. Why aren’t you interested in other children who lived on the base during the time period being studied? While fetuses may be more susceptible, very young children would seem to be almost as susceptible.

The survey looked at children conceived or carried at Camp Lejeune and who were born some time from 1968 through 1985. Studies shows this group is the most sensitive to possible effects from exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE).

We do not know if more surveys or studies will be done. Any information you share about your family will be considered if another survey is done.

7. What about the effects to offspring born to those children (now grown) that were exposed to the polluted drinking water while they were in utero?

At this time, ATSDR knows of no scientific evidence that says these offspring could be affected.

8. Is there any way that I can be added to the present survey? I was not born there / I didn’t have any kids there, but I was stationed there during the years that the wells were contaminated. I think I could have been eligible.

The survey is closed. Data collection for this survey officially ended on January 26, 2002. Only people who were pregnant while living at Camp Lejeune from 1968 to 1985 were eligible for that survey.

You can send ATSDR your concerns, however. Write a letter stating when you were at Camp Lejeune, the person you are concerned about, and information regarding the health concerns. Please send this information to ATSDR at this address:

Camp Lejeune Survey
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Mailstop E-31
Atlanta, GA 30333

9. Are there any tests I can have done to see if my family/kids/husband/wife may be affected by these contaminants?

Usually, these chemicals leave the body within two to four weeks after the last exposure (which likely was many years ago). Therefore, there is no test to see whether the chemicals are still there because they are most certainly gone by now.

There are no specific medical tests that are recommended for these exposures. Instead, it is recommended that you monitor your health by having routine, regular medical check-ups. We encourage you to discuss this information with your physician. He or she can advise you on your personal health questions.

10. Is there anyone I can talk to who may be able to connect me with others that have similar health situations such as mine or my children’s?

Yes, some people who feel they were affected by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune have created a Web site. This site is not affiliated with ATSDR in any way, however, and ATSDR cannot verify the validity of any statements made on the site. The Web site address is: www.watersurvivors.com.

11. I’m sick. Are these contaminants to blame?

Currently, no definitive scientific evidence links the presence of TCE or PCE in drinking water at the levels found at Camp Lejeune with any known condition or disease except for children exposed in utero.

Also, ATSDR can never confirm whether an individual’s illness is caused by specific contaminants. Many factors – such as genetic make-up, age, sex, lifestyle, frequency of exposure, time of exposure, quantity of exposure, and others – combine to determine whether a person will become ill from exposure to a toxic substance.

We encourage you to contact your family physician regarding any health concerns you may have regarding your or your family’s health.

12. My child/family member has a medical condition. Is this related to the contaminated water?

Currently, no definitive scientific evidence links the presence of TCE or PCE in drinking water at the levels found at Camp Lejeune with any known condition or disease except for children exposed in utero.

Also, ATSDR cannot confirm whether an individual’s illness is caused by specific contaminants. Many factors – such as genetic make-up, age, sex, lifestyle, frequency of exposure, time of exposure, quantity of exposure, and others – combine to determine whether a person will become ill from exposure to a toxic substance.

We encourage you to contact your family physician regarding any health concerns you may have regarding your or your family’s health.

13. I am a retiree. How can I get copies of my medical records?

You can get your medical records by contacting the National Personnel Records Center. The National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records (NPRC-MPR) is the repository for military personnel, health, and medical records of discharged and deceased veterans of all services. NPRC-MPR also stores medical treatment records of retirees from all services, as well as records for dependent and other persons treated at naval medical facilities. Information from the records is made available upon written request (with signature and date) to the extent allowed by law.

Requests must contain enough information to identify the record. This information includes

  • Veteran’s complete name used while in service
  • Service number or social security number
  • Branch of service, and
  • Dates of service.
  • Date and place of birth may also be helpful, particularly if the service number is not known.

If the request pertains to a record that may have been involved in a fire in the facility in 1973, also include place of discharge, last unit of assignment, and place of entry into the service, if known. Send the written request to the following address:.

National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100

The NPRC-MPR Web site has additional information. Its address is

www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records.htmlexternal icon.

Page last reviewed: July 6, 2009