Public Health Activities
ATSDR completed the following public health activities:
- Conducted a public health assessment of Camp Lejeune in 1997,
- Completed a study in 1998 on adverse pregnancy outcomes of mothers exposed to VOC-contaminated drinking water, and
In 2005 ATSDR began a full study of specific birth defects and childhood cancers in children born to mothers who lived on base any time during their pregnancies from 1968-1985.
Health Studies FAQs
- New! Male Breast Cancer Study
- Adverse Birth Outcomes Study Results
- Mortality Study of Civilian Employees
- Birth Defects and Childhood Cancers Study
- Mortality Study of Marine and Naval Personnel
- Male Breast Cancer Study
- Health Survey
- 1997 Public Health Assessment
Reports and Studies
Evaluation of contaminated drinking water and male breast cancer at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: a case control study
The purpose of this study was to determine if Marines who were exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune were more likely to have male breast cancer.
Evaluation of mortality among Marines and Navy personnel exposed to contaminated drinking water at USMC Base Camp Lejeune: A retrospective cohort study
The purpose of this study was to determine whether residential exposures of Marines and Navy personnel to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune increased risk of mortality from cancers and other chronic diseases.
Mortality study of civilian employees exposed to contaminated drinking water at USMC Base Camp Lejeune: A retrospective cohort study
The purpose of the study was to determine whether potential exposures to the drinking water contaminants at Camp Lejeune are associated with increased risk of death from specific cancers and other chronic diseases among civilian workers employed at the base.
Birth Defects and Childhood Cancers Study
The current study is entitled Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Drinking Water and Specific Birth Defects and Childhood Cancers, United States Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Interviews of parents started in April 2005. The study will try to determine if children exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune in utero any time from 1968-1985 had specific health effects.
Final plans: Contaminated Drinking Water and Health Effects at Marine Base Camp Lejeune, August 2009[PDF, 550 KB]
This document considers the recommendations and evaluations from several expert panels and external reports and defines ATSDR's plans for completing our research activities at Camp Lejeune.
An Assessment of the Feasibility of Conducting Future Epidemiological Studies at USMC Base Camp Lejeune [PDF, 543 KB]
ATSDR is planning to conduct a mortality study and a health questionnaire survey of active duty personnel, dependents, and civilian employees who were at the base during the period of drinking water contamination. Information on these proposed studies can be found in the report.
1998 Study on Volatile Organic Compounds in Drinking Water and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
In 1998 a study titled Volatile Organic Compounds in Drinking Water and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes was conducted to determine if there was a link between mothers who were exposed to contaminated drinking water supplies from Camp Lejeune and infants who were small for gestational age (SGA). The study also looked at preterm birth and lower birth weight babies. The study showed that exposure to VOC-contaminated drinking water was linked with higher risk for SGA among male infants. Exposure to VOC-contaminated drinking water was also linked with SGA and lower birth weight among infants born to subgroups of the mothers.
- Page last reviewed: January 16, 2014
- Page last updated: September 21, 2015
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