Science

Hurricane Florence dealt a severe blow to the Carolinas. Not only is our organization…

The following is a basic overview of pollutants, drinking water, and impacts on health.…

A new article on water-modeling used to support epidemiological studies at Camp Lejeune has been published in the international peer-reviewed journal WATER. The title of the article is: “Reconstructing Historical VOC Concentrations in Drinking Water for Epidemiological Studies at a U.S. Military Base,” by M.L. Maslia, M.M. Aral, P.Z. Ruckart, and F. J. Bove.

PFOA/PFOS are starting to emerge as a potential contaminant for military bases. Many military bases have used firefighting foams that include these chemicals, adding yet another potential health hazard to the toxic groundwater contamination cocktail on bases across the country.

Tetrachlorethylene, also known as tetrachloroethylene, perchloroethylene, PCE, or “perc,” is a commonly used solvent (a substance, usually a liquid, capable of dissolving another substance). It has been in commercial use since the early 1900s:

Although this data has been posted for a while, we thought we’d share for those who have yet to see them. According to the CDC, these tables show the estimated monthly average levels of the contaminants in the finished drinking water from the Tarawa Terrace, Hadnot Point, and Holcomb Boulevard treatment plants.

One of our subscribers/followers posed an interesting question at one of the recent Camp Lejeune contamination meetings that stuck out in our minds.  Their question was intriguing. Does this contamination impact DNA, and if so, could that damage cause issues for generations to follow?

We found this fascinating article regarding research being conducted by the Mayo Clinic on cancer cells and their activities.  Essentially, they believe they may have uncovered certain mechanisms that control the cellular growth of tumor cells in aggressive forms of cancer.  While they stress this is not a magic bullet, it is certainly an intriguing step in moving towards isolating potential seeds of a future solution.

In a recent release from researchers in Oregon and LLS.org, a potential breakthrough may be in the making concerning the understanding of the proliferation of acute leukemia (AML).

We’re happy to report that the ATSDR is moving ahead with several studies that will broaden our knowledge and give us insight into the full scope of contamination aboard Camp Lejeune from the ’50s to the ’80s.  From health surveys to a full Cancer Incidence Study for Camp Lejeune, we believe these will lend a more definitive collection of scientific data and evidence of what happened.