The water supply at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina was contaminated with toxic chemicals from 1953 until 1987. This contamination exposed service members, their families, and civilian employees to numerous toxic chemicals. The exposure has been linked to a broad spectrum of severe health issues, including specific problems affecting the nervous system and resulting changes in behavior. Approximately one million individuals lived or worked on the base during this period.
Defining Neurobehavioral Effects
The term “neurobehavioral effects” refers to conditions arising from damage to the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). These effects manifest as measurable changes in how a person thinks, feels, and moves. The category encompasses symptoms resulting from organic damage rather than purely psychological factors. These effects can alter cognitive function, mood, and motor control, including issues with memory, attention, reaction time, or emotional changes like depression.
Specific Neurological and Cognitive Disorders
Exposure to the contaminated water has been linked to several debilitating neurological and cognitive conditions. One recognized presumptive condition is Parkinson’s disease, a progressive disorder affecting movement due to the death of dopamine-producing neurons. Studies indicate service members stationed at the base may have a significantly higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Other severe neurodegenerative diseases, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), have also been associated with the toxic water exposure. ALS progressively paralyzes voluntary muscles, and scientific literature suggests a link between exposure and an increased risk of this motor neuron disease.
Beyond these major diseases, affected individuals often exhibit a range of cognitive impairments. These deficits include chronic headaches, trouble concentrating, memory lapses, sensory disturbances, visuomotor coordination decline, and slower reaction times, which impact daily functioning.
Toxicological Mechanisms of Harm
The primary contaminants responsible for these neurological issues were volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chiefly Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and Trichloroethylene (TCE). Other neurotoxins, such as benzene and vinyl chloride, were also present in the water supply. These chemicals easily dissolve in fat, allowing them to readily cross the blood-brain barrier.
Once in the central nervous system, VOCs disrupt the normal function of neurons. A primary mechanism involves inhibiting mitochondrial complex I, which is crucial for cellular energy production. This energy disruption leads to oxidative stress and the excessive production of reactive oxygen species, damaging cellular components. This damage can lead to the death of specific neurons, such as the dopaminergic neurons associated with Parkinson’s disease. Furthermore, these solvents interact directly with neuronal receptors, resulting in neurobehavioral changes.
Recognition for Health Care and Benefits
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) formally recognizes “neurobehavioral effects” as a health condition linked to the contamination. This recognition, established under the Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012, allows eligible veterans and family members to receive cost-free health care. Eligibility requires a minimum of 30 days of service or residency at the base between August 1953 and December 1987.
For specific neurological diseases, the VA offers disability compensation by listing them as presumptive conditions, simplifying the claim process. Parkinson’s disease is included on this presumptive list. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) of 2022 further provides a mechanism for affected individuals, including civilians, to file a legal claim seeking compensation.