Camp Lejeune Update June 22, 2007

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Public Health Assessment (PHA) for USMC Base Camp Lejeune, published in 1997, evaluated information available at that time and made recommendations for follow-up health actions. Since the release of the PHA, additional information and data that clarify the dates and levels of contamination in the drinking water systems on base have been obtained. This information is being used in the water modeling efforts to estimate historical drinking water contamination levels in support of the current epidemiological health study, "Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Drinking Water and Specific Birth Defects and Childhood Cancers at the United States Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina".

The Tarawa Terrace system serving the family housing units at Tarawa Terrace and intermittently at the Knox Trailer Park was contaminated with tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchloroethylene or PCE) at estimated levels above 5 micrograms per liter (mg/L) from November 1957 through February 1987, except for the months of July and August 1980, January and February 1983, February 1985 and May 1985. The maximum level of PCE was estimated at 183 mg/L in March 1984.

The Hadnot Point system was the original water system for the base which began operating in 1942. It served family housing units in Berkeley Manor, Midway Park, and Paradise Point until June 1972. The Hadnot Point system also served family housing units at Hospital Point as well as the old Naval Hospital, the Bachelors Officers Quarters, and the Bachelors Enlisted Quarters. The Hadnot Point system was contaminated primarily with trichloroethylene (TCE) but also was contaminated with other solvents such as dichloroethylene and benzene. The contaminated wells were shut down by mid-February 1985. Currently, ATSDR is modeling the movement of contaminants from the multiple sources of pollution on base to the drinking water wells to determine when the contamination of the Hadnot Point system began. This work should be completed by spring of 2008.

The Holcomb Boulevard system began operation in June 1972, according to available information. It served the family housing units in Berkeley Manor, Midway Park, Paradise Point, and Watkins Village. It also served the new Naval Hospital. The water in this system was free of contamination from the solvents that contaminated the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point systems. However, during a 12-day period from January 27, 1985 to February 7, 1985, the system was shut down for repairs and contaminated Hadnot Point system water was used.

For the most updated information on the contamination of the drinking water systems at Camp Lejeune, go to the ATSDR Camp Lejeune website:

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/watermodeling.html