Vinyl Chloride is a colorless flammable gas. Under high pressure or low temperatures, vinyl chloride can be found in a liquid form. This VOC burns easily and has a mild, sweet odor. Vinyl chloride is a manufactured chemical that is not naturally found in the environment. Most of the vinyl chloride produced in the US is used to make PVC, which is commonly used to make plastic products including pipes, wire and cable coatings, and packaging materials.
The EPA and HHS have identified vinyl chloride as a human carcinogen. The EPA has set a maximum contaminant level for vinyl chloride in drinking water not exceed 0.002 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of water (0.002 ppm).
Vinyl chloride was found in the water supply at the Hadnot Point A water treatment plant. Hadnot Point water treatment plant provided finished water to enlisted-family housing, barracks for unmarried service personnel, base administrative offices, schools, and recreational areas. Hadnot Point also supplied water to the base hospital.
People who used the water contaminated with vinyl chloride could have been exposed by drinking the water or breathing vinyl chloride from the indoor air when the water was used indoors for showering, cooking, or doing laundry.
ATSDR has found that there is sufficient evidence for causation for liver cancer to vinyl chloride found in the Camp Lejeune water supply. ATSDR also has found health effects with positive findings in at least one study between vinyl chloride exposure and brain cancer, lung cancer, soft tissue cancer, and liver cirrhosis. ATSDR continues to conduct research on the link between vinyl chloride exposure at Camp Lejeune to health effects of those exposed to its contaminated water supply.
The Nations Law Firm is proud to help fight for our Veterans who served at Marine Base Camp Lejeune and all those injured by its contaminated water supply. We will continue to monitor the studies of chemical exposure at Camp Lejeune. To read more about the different chemicals that contaminated the water on base and their connection to serious health problems, please visit our Camp Lejeune information page or call our office at 800-800-1102.