Published in JAMA Neurology on Monday, the research concluded that the risk of Parkinson's was 70% higher for Camp Lejeune veterans compared to their counterparts stationed at another Marine Corps base in California.
The study encompassed more than 300,000 service members, with those at Camp Lejeune having been stationed there for a minimum of three months between 1975 and 1985.
Even undiagnosed veterans exhibited a "significantly higher" risk for early indications and symptoms of Parkinson's disease, as reported by the researchers.
### Toxic Chemicals in Drinking Water
The study's authors attribute the heightened Parkinson's risk to exposure to trichloroethylene, a colorless cleaning chemical with a chloroform-like odor, as identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Hadnot Point treatment plant at Camp Lejeune was where trichloroethylene was first detected in drinking water in 1982, as documented by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
Other harmful chemicals, such as PCE, benzene, trans-1,2-DCE (t-1,2-dichloroethylene), and vinyl chloride, were also present in the water. The ATSDR reported that these contaminants infiltrated the drinking water system through "leaking underground storage tanks, industrial area spills, and waste disposal sites."
Both the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs have previously recognized trichloroethylene exposure at Camp Lejeune.
While reports of water contamination at the camp have persisted for decades, leading to lawsuits and damages, the PACT Act of 2022 specifically addresses Camp Lejeune veterans who may have been exposed to these chemicals.
The VA also provides disability and healthcare benefits for service members stationed at the base between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.
This article was initially published by Business Insider.
Written by Chatsonic
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