Marines Open Camp LeJeune Investigation

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

The following article can be viewed online at:
http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,FL_water_031104,00.html
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MILITARY.COM
Marines Open Camp LeJeune Investigation
United Press International
March 11, 2004,

WASHINGTON - The Marine Corps Wednesday created a panel to investigate
decisions made in closing polluted drinking water wells at Camp LeJeune,
N.C., from 1980 to 1985.

Contaminated drinking water may have caused birth defects and childhood
cancers in children born to mothers at the Marine Corps base between
1968 and 1985, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.

The wells were first discovered to be contaminated during routine
testing in 1982. All polluted wells were shut down by 1985.

The panel will include former Congressman Ronald Packard of California;
former Assistant Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Richard Hearney, and
former Assistant Secretary of the Navy Robert Pirie Jr.

A CDC survey of 12,600 children born to mothers pregnant on base during
the 17 year period found 103 specific childhood cancers and birth
defects. The CDC opened an investigation into the possible link to
drinking water, a study that will be completed in 2006.

The children variously suffered from anencephaly, spina bifida, cleft
lip, cleft palate, childhood leukemia or childhood lymphoma.

The contaminated wells were found to contain two compounds --
trichloroethylene, which is generally used to degrease metal parts, and
tetrachloroethylene, also known as perchloroethylene, a dry-cleaning
solvent.

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