R 250130Z JAN 01 ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//L//
TO MARADMIN
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UNCLAS //N05090//
MARADMIN 054/01
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASH DC/LFL//
SUBJ/CLARIFICATION OF MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE HEALTH SURVEY//
REF/A/MARADMIN 394/00//
RMKS/1. MARADMIN 394/00 ANNOUNCED THE MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP
LEJEUNE HEALTH SURVEY AND EXPRESSED THE NEED FOR ELIGIBLE
INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY. SINCE THE RELEASE OF THE
ORIGINAL MARADMIN, SEVERAL MEDIA EVENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE. WHILE WE
HAVE RECEIVED MANY CALLS, WE HAVE NOT ACHIEVED SUFFICIENT
PARTICIPATION IN THE SURVEY. TO BE SUCCESSFUL, WE HOPE TO REACH AT
LEAST 80% OF THE ESTIMATED 16,500 ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS. TO DATE, WE
STILL NEED TO REACH APPROXIMATELY 4,000 PEOPLE. ALL READERS SHOULD
SHARE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WITH ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE
FOR THE SURVEY AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE PART IN IT.
2. THIS MESSAGE IS FOR MARINES, SAILORS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO
CONCEIVED CHILDREN WHILE LIVING ABOARD MARINE CORPS BASE (MCB) CAMP
LEJEUNE FROM 1968 THROUGH 1985. A PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE AGENCY, THE
AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND DISEASE REGISTRY (ATSDR), IS
CONDUCTING A HEALTH SURVEY ABOUT CHILDREN. IN SUPPORT OF THIS
SURVEY, THE MARINE CORPS IS ASSISTING ATSDR IN REACHING FORMER
RESIDENTS OF CAMP LEJEUNE WHO WERE PREGNANT WHILE LIVING IN BASE
HOUSING BETWEEN 1968 AND 1985. THE MARINE CORPS IS FULLY SUPPORTING
THE ATSDR IN ITS EFFORTS.
3. THE HEALTH SURVEY FOCUSES ON COMPOUNDS WHICH ARE OFTEN USED IN
DRY CLEANING OR AS DEGREASERS AND THAT MAY HAVE EXISTED IN THE MCB
CAMP LEJEUNE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM BETWEEN 1968 AND 1985. ALL
WELLS THAT WERE FOUND TO CONTAIN THESE SUBSTANCES WERE CLOSED IN
1985.
4. THE HEALTH SURVEY ATTEMPTS TO GATHER DATA FOR USE IN A SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH STUDY ABOUT THE EFFECTS THAT THESE SUBSTANCES MAY HAVE ON
CHILDREN WHEN EXPOSED BEFORE BIRTH. THE AIM OF THIS SURVEY IS TO
ENHANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE OF THESE
SUBSTANCES ON UNBORN CHILDREN.
5. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW WERE PREGNANT AND LIVED ABOARD MCB
CAMP LEJEUNE BETWEEN 1968 AND 1985, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS SURVEY WHETHER OR NOT YOUR CHILD HAS EXHIBITED
ANY ADVERSE HEALTH SYMPTOMS. TO PARTICIPATE, CALL THE NATIONAL
OPINION RESEARCH CENTER (NORC) AT 1-800-639-4270. CURRENTLY MANY
INDIVIDUALS ARE CALLING NORC, SO IT MAY TAKE UP TO A WEEK TO GET A
RETURN CALL. NORC CAN BE REACHED VIA E-MAIL AT:
4827-LEJEUNE@NORCMAIL.UCHICAGO.EDU NORC IS CONDUCTING THE SURVEY ON
BEHALF OF ATSDR.
6. IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SURVEY, CALL THE
ATSDR AT 1-888-422-8737, EXTENSION 5132. THE MARINE CORPS HAS
ESTABLISHED A TOLL-FREE NUMBER AT 1-877-261-9782. ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGES:
WWW.LEJEUNE.USMC.MIL/WATER/WATERSURVEY.HTM
WWW.USMC.MIL/CAMLEJWATERSURVEY
WWW.ATSDR.CDC.GOV.//
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