Camp Lejeune

The contamination of drinking water at Camp Lejeune started in the early 1950s, and the most contaminated wells were shut down in 1985. ATSDR has been assessing the health risks from hazardous substances in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune since the late 1980s.

As many as one million military and civilian staff and their families might have been exposed to the contaminated drinking water.

Learn more about benefits related to Camp Lejeune from the Department of Veterans Affairs by visiting their webpage at this link:

https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/camp-lejeune-water-contamination/external icon

If you would like to speak to a staff member of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Camp Lejeune Family Member program, call 866-372-1144.

Page last reviewed: September 25, 2019