Camp Lejeune and Parkinson’s Disease

What Is TCE (Trichloroethylene)?

TCE is a colorless volatile organic compound. It was widely used in industry as a cleaning agent and a degreaser, mainly for metal. TCE is also used when manufacturing some refrigerants and can be found in paints, sealants, coatings, and some automobile products like brake cleaners.

At Camp Lejeune, TCE was used, among other things, to clean machinery. It is likely the TCE contamination in the water came from that cleaning use, from spills at industrial sites on-base, and from leaks from storage drums and underground tanks. Another source of the TCE contamination was an off-base dry-cleaner named ABC One-Hour Cleaners. That dry cleaner used some of the TCE sludge left over from its cleaning process to fill potholes, and also simply dumped it into the drains. Rainwater then carried off the discarded sludge, which eventually leached into the drinking water.

TCE was first linked to Parkinson’s disease in 1969. Since then, numerous studies have indicated a link between exposure to TCE and the development of Parkinson’s disease.

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurological illness that affects the nervous system. Cells in the nervous system degenerate and break down, causing the movement disorder seen in Parkinson’s patients. While the cause (or causes) of Parkinson’s remains unknown, experts believe that genetic changes, exposure to toxins, and other environmental factors play a central role. Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease develop gradually. Early signs of the disease may include:

• A slight tremor (shaking) in one hand
• A feeling of stiffness in the body
• Movement changes, such as tremors (trembling or shaking)
• Difficulty with balance or coordination, which may cause the person to drop things or fall
• Changes in walking style, such as leaning over when walking or shuffling feet
• Loss of sense of smell
• Softer voice or shaky voice
• Handwriting changes, such as smaller or cramped letters
• Sleep issues caused by restless legs and other factors

These movement issues may only affect one side of the body early in the disease before moving to the other side as well.

Other common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are:

• Difficulty chewing and swallowing
• Tiredness/fatigue
• Mood changes
• Depression
• Skin problems
• Constipation

Over time, dementia, delusions, and hallucinations may develop.

Other conditions can produce the same symptoms, so people experiencing those symptoms need expert medical advice and evaluation. And there is no test for Parkinson’s, so it can be difficult to diagnose, especially in its early stages.

Five Stages of Parkinson’s Disease

As noted, PD is a progressive disease. It worsens over time. Experts tell us there are five stages of Parkinson’s disease:

• Stage one: The person may have mild symptoms that do not interfere with their daily life. They may have tremors or other movement symptoms on one side of their body. They may see changes in their posture or walking gait or facial expressions.
• Stage two: The symptoms get worse. Tremors, rigidity, and other movement issues occur on both sides of the body. Independent living is still possible, but successfully managing daily life independently gets harder.
• Stage three: This is considered mid-stage Parkinson’s. The person experiences slowing of movements and loss of balance that significantly impair basic activities such as eating, dressing and attending to personal hygiene. Falling is also more common by stage three.
• Stage four: People In stage four of Parkinson’s disease are unable to live independently. Their symptoms become severe. The person may be able to stand unaided but needs a walker to move.
• Stage five: Stiffness in the legs may make standing or walking impossible. At this point, the Parkinson’s patient may need a wheelchair or be confined to a bed. Skilled nursing care is required 24/7. The person may experience hallucinations and delusions.

Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease

There is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease, and treatment varies by patient according to their current symptoms. The range of treatments includes medication, surgery, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes, such as getting more rest and exercising.

Medications used for PD only treat and reduce the severity of the symptoms. People with Parkinson’s usually take a variety of medications to manage their symptoms.

Camp Lejeune, the PACT Act, Contaminated Water, and Parkinson’s Disease

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021 allows those affected by the toxic water and who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 consecutive days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, to file a lawsuit in federal court to be compensated for their pain and suffering and for expenses related to their diagnosis and medical treatment.

Even veterans who have had claims related to their service at Camp Lejeune denied by the Veterans Administration may qualify for compensation under this new law.

But there are strict time limits for filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit. People diagnosed before June 2020 will have to file their lawsuit within two years. And there are other requirements, too. So, if you served or worked at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, and have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, please contact a lawyer now.