New epidemiological studies at Camp Lejeune: Study designs and progress to date

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. Responding to public concerns about adult illnesses due to these exposures, ATSDR convened a scientific panel in 2005 to make recommendations for future health studies. Panel recommendations included that ATSDR assess the feasibility of identifying cohorts of individuals who lived or worked on the base for a mortality study and that future studies be conducted in full partnership with the exposed community. In response, ATSDR convened a community assistance panel in February 2006 that meets quarterly. ATSDR also completed a feasibility assessment of future studies at the base that included a literature review of the health effects of exposures to the drinking water contaminants and an evaluation of databases for identifying cohorts. In 2008, Congress mandated that a health survey be mailed to individuals possibly exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune.

Data collection has begun for two studies of individuals who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune during the period of drinking water contamination. A mortality study will evaluate about 200,000 former Marines and civilian workers. A health survey study will mail questionnaires to over 300,000 former Marines, their dependents, and former civilians. These studies will evaluate cancers and other diseases of interest confirmed by medical records or death certificates. The findings of the feasibility assessment, descriptions of the study designs, and preliminary results from the data collection will be presented.