The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) investigated the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and discovered extremely high levels of several dangerous toxins. Though there were a number of different toxins in the marine base water supply, the primary chemicals were volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. Specifically, the following chemicals were present in the Camp Lejeune water supply at dangerous levels.
Perchloroethylene or tetrachloroethylene (PCE) - an industrial solvent commonly used in dry-cleaning, metal degreasing and chemical manufacturing and the primary contaminant found in the Tarawa Terrace water supply. Health effects include bladder cancer and other conditions.
Trichloroethylene (TCE) - a degreaser used with machinery and the primary toxin present in the Hadnot Point water. TCE injected or absorbed into the body through the skin causes kidney cancer, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, cardiac problems and other cancers.
Vinyl Chloride - an industrial compound used to produce PVC pipes and other plastic products. Health problems include liver cancer and other cancers.
Benzene - an organic compound used in plastics manufacturing and other material production. Exposure can lead to leukemia, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and complications such as immune system compromise, birth defects and reproductive issues.
The above VOCs are not the only chemicals that were found in the Camp Lejeune water supply. In fact, almost 70 other hazardous chemicals, including mercury and lead, were present in the water and have been detected at unacceptable levels on the base. You can view the Environmental Protection Agency's complete list of the contaminants of concern, or COCs, online. These are dangerous chemicals that are hazardous and present in such volumes that the EPA considers them an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.