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Study Examines Connection Between Camp Lejeune Water & Veterans Disability

The water contamination at Camp Lejeune has affected thousands of people-including some who have had to seek veterans disability benefits. Between now and December, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will mail out 300,000 surveys in an attempt to study how the toxic water impacted the lives of those who came into contact with it.

At the same time, a bill that would have the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide health care benefits for Camp Lejeune veterans and their family members faces an uncertain future. The carcinogens that caused the contamination were leaked into the base wells for 30 years-between 1957 and 1987-meaning the potential population affected by the contaminated water is immense.

ATSDR researchers are now attempting to "create a historical reconstruction of the wells" through a technique called "water modeling." They are hoping to create a "snapshot" of the various poisons in the wells at specific time periods over the 30-year period of contamination.

They have found problems determining specific chemicals in the wells, however, because everything mixes together. Once that mixture is pumped out to where the people are, it likely travels through multiple other pumps. Researchers, then, are attempting to determine what is included in the mixture at the end of the pump.

Researchers also sent surveys to veterans and their families who worked at Camp Pendleton. Their hope is they can draw a "presumptive link" between cancers and diseases caused by the contaminants in Camp Lejeune's water. The ATSDR will release some of its results next summer, and the final results in 2014.

Contacting a South Florida Disability Attorney

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.