Research: Evaluation of mortality among marines and navy personnel exposed to contaminated drinking water at USMC base Camp Lejeune: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Two drinking water systems at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina were contaminated with solvents during 1950s-1985.

Conclusion

The study found elevated HRs at Camp Lejeune for several causes of death including cancers of the kidney, liver, esophagus, cervix, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin lymphoma and ALS. CIs were wide for most HRs. Because <6 assess="" at="" base.="" be="" cohort="" comprehensively="" died="" drinking="" effects="" exposures="" follow-up="" had="" long-term="" nbsp="" necessary="" of="" p="" the="" to="" water="" would="">

Continue Learning:  http://www.ehjournal.net/content/13/1/10/abstract

Camp Lejeune Study Finds Higher Cancer Death Risk

"The study found elevated (risks) at Camp Lejeune for several causes of death including cancers of the kidney, liver, esophagus, cervix, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin lymphoma and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease)"” Frank Bove of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and colleagues wrote in their report, published in the online journal Environmental Health.

Not very many people who drank the contaminated water have died yet, and so more study will be needed to really nail down the risks, said Bove, a senior epidemiologist at CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

But the findings add to evidence that cancer-causing chemicals such as benzene and trichloroethylene (TCE) caused severe illnesses. TCE is used as a degreaser and a dry-cleaning solvent.

Continue Learning:  http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/camp-lejeune-study-finds-higher-cancer-death-risk-n33991

The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013: Blue Water vets

TAKE ACTION - CONTACT YOUR SENATOR!
VISIT CAPWIZ at this link>>>
http://capwiz.com/military/issues/bills/?bill=62521131

The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013, introduced in February, is stuck in a committee in the U.S. Congress. 

If passed, the bill would make those is the Navy and Marines who served at sea eligible for VA benefits, including compensation.

Continue Learning:  http://triblive.com/opinion/letters/4839871-74/veterans-navy-congress#axzz2kvq4nTr1


VNVETS - HR 543, HR 1494, The IOM, The VA, and the House of Representatives

Flap continues over Lejeune health assessment

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators and congressmen is urging the Centers for Disease Control to complete a new, comprehensive report on the health effects of toxic tap water at the Camp Lejeune Marine base.

The lawmakers also want the agency to investigate whether people were exposed to airborne toxins inside buildings after contaminated wells at the North Carolina base were closed in 1985. And they asked the agency to look into the feasibility of a "cancer incidence study" for Lejeune.

As many as 1 million Marines, dependents and civilian workers are believed to have been exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), benzene and other toxic chemicals that leeched into ground water from a poorly maintained fuel depot, dumping and an off-base dry cleaner. Last year, President Barack Obama signed a law providing medical care and screening for those exposed between 1957 and 1987. But Ensminger and others fear that cutoff date is too early

Continue Learning:  http://townhall.com/news/politics-elections/2013/08/16/flap-continues-over-lejeune-health-assessment-n1666310