EPA ban represents progress for families at Camp Lejeune

Jerry Ensminger’s world was turned upside down when his six-year-old daughter, Janey, was diagnosed with leukemia.

There was no family history of childhood cancer, no obvious risk factors – just grief and confusion. He watched his daughter suffer for three years before she died in 1985 at the age of nine.

“Why her? “Why us?” Ensminger asked himself again and again.

The unanswered questions haunted him for 14 years until one evening in 1997, while watching the evening news and eating a plate of spaghetti, the truth emerged.

A report revealed contamination at Camp Lejeune, where Janey was born. Toxic chemicals, including trichlorethylene (TCE) and perchlorethylene (PCE), had polluted the base’s water supply for decades. Ensminger dropped his plate to the floor, overwhelmed by realization.

Since then, Ensminger has spent the last 28 years advocating for justice and accountability and is determined to spare other families the pain he suffered.

There was a significant victory in this fight this week. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a ban on TCE and PCE, chemicals linked to cancer, reproductive harm and other serious health risks.

Chemicals with a dark legacy

TCE and PCE are commonly used in dry cleaning, metal degreasing and industrial applications.

Despite their benefits, their dangers have been documented for nearly a century. Both chemicals are considered likely carcinogens and have been linked to a range of health problems, including leukemia, kidney disease and birth defects.

Contamination at Camp Lejeune – caused by fuel leaks, improper disposal practices and other industrial activities – exposed nearly a million Marines, their families and workers to these toxins between 1953 and 1987.

The effects are far-reaching. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that exposure to contaminated water has resulted in thousands of illnesses. To date, more than 480,000 lawsuits have been filed against the Navy Department.

Stories of survival and advocacy

Mike Partain was one of the countless children born at Camp Lejeune. Partain was diagnosed with male breast cancer at age 39 and defied the odds – breast cancer in men is extremely rare. He attributes his illness to the contaminated water his family relied on in his early years.

“One of our big goals in this fight is to take TCE off the market,” Partain said. “The use of this chemical is too dangerous. The health risks are devastating and this ban is a major achievement.”

“But the fight is not over yet. Justice has yet to be served to the families who suffered.”

Ensminger was also tireless in his efforts. His advocacy led to the passage of the Janey Ensminger Act in 2012, signed by President Barack Obama, which expanded medical care for veterans and families affected by the contamination.

A step forward

The EPA’s ban is a long overdue recognition of the risks posed by TCE and PCE. For families like the Ensmingers and Partains, it’s a bittersweet milestone — a measure of progress overshadowed by the lasting effects of decades of exposure.

As the Trump administration prepares to take office, many fear the focus on deregulation will lead to rollbacks of the ban. For now, advocates are celebrating this victory even as they continue their fight for full accountability and justice for all affected by the contamination at Camp Lejeune.

“This is about protecting our future,” said Ensminger. “No family should ever have to endure what my family did.”