Site background and past studies at Camp Lejeune

From the 1950s through the mid-1980s, individuals residing or working at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune were potentially exposed to drinking water contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs were detected in two water distribution systems during the base's 1980-85 sampling program: tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in one system with the maximum detected level of 215 parts per billion (ppb) and trichloroethylene (TCE) in the other system with the maximum detected level of 1,400 ppb. Other major contaminants in the second system included trans-1,2-dichloroethylene (DCE), PCE, and benzene. The heavily contaminated wells were shut down in February 1985. We will present details on the site background and drinking water contamination.

Cutting-edge ground water fate and transport and distribution system models were used to estimate the spatial and temporal distribution of the contaminants at locations (such as residences or worksites) serviced by each water distribution system. We will present preliminary results of two ATSDR studies using exposures based on these models: (1) a study of births that occurred at the base evaluating whether associations exist between maternal exposure to the drinking water contaminants at the base and preterm birth (<37 weeks gestational age), small for gestational age, and mean birth weight deficit adjusted by gestational age and (2) a study of specific birth defects and childhood cancers among births occurring during the period 1968-1985 to mothers residing at the base anytime during their pregnancy.