Marines with Breast Cancer: the Terrible Toxic Legacy of Camp Lejeune and Trichloroethylene

With the known toxic effects of TCE and this cluster of male breast cancer and the miscarriages, the evidence makes the connection impossible to ignore.

Image courtesy: johnwnickfoundation.org

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a very commonly used solvent for grease, etc. It is also well-known as an extreme toxin to humans and all other animals being toxic to all nerve systems, but also being toxic to the RNA/DNA system which provides the building blocks for everything manufactured in the body.

This includes all proteins, all hormones and in this case, all of the Sex Hormones.

The Sex Hormones probably all start out with cholesterol which everybody has heard about. From there, the adrenal gland makes cortisol and several other related hormones.

The ovaries make estrogen and another bunch of related structures. The testes make testosterone via several of the intermediate compounds of both the adrenals and the ovaries.

In other words, the intermediaries for all three systems are a very confusing bunch to endocrinologists, biochemists, and pharmacologists. For example, stallion urine contains the highest concentration of estrogen, the female hormone. One hundred times more than pregnant mare urine. Estrogens are required for breast development and cancer.

Strangely enough, the testes also produce estrogen, but normally not enough to alter normal male characteristics.

The ovaries also produce androgens which is the generic term for testosterone-like substances.

Because of the highly complex metabolic/synthetic progressions to form the intermediates, and the ultimate hormones, it only requires a slight modification/alteration in the metabolic sequence to produce some estrogens rather than testosterone with a substance as active as trichloroethylene.

With respect to the levels of toxicity at Camp Lejeune, it is also confusing why more Marines did not end up the same affliction as those 22 stricken with breast cancer. Another mysterious factor is that male breast cancer usually doesn't appear until about 60-years of age.

These Marines and others who lived at the base and contracted breast cancer, appear much younger and all were exposed to TCE at the Lejeune site known to be contaminated with TCE.

It is probable that the amount of exposure in duration of time and also the amount of drinking water, had to do with it. One other fact remains; many miscarriages and abnormal babies were born during the same time span.

With the known toxic effects of TCE and this cluster of male breast cancer and the miscarriages, the evidence makes the connection impossible to ignore.

********************************************************** Dr. Phillip Leveque has degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and minors in physiology and biochemistry.

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