Anyone who has been deployed in either Iraq or Afghanistan has probably been exposed to burning trash in one form or another, either from the burn pits on military posts or citizens burning their own trash. It is a putrid and unforgettable smell. The burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan provided a relatively easy way to dispose of the unwanted trash, feces, medical waste, and debris left over from years of fighting. According to data from the Government Accountability Office and the Department of Defense, there were at at least 230 burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Many veterans are claiming that the burn pits are the source of many health issues, such as cancer and respiratory issues. KBR, or Kellogg Brown and Root, LLC, took over responsibility of managing some of the burn pits on a daily basis early on in both wars. Many testified to Congress in 2009 that KBR violated safety regulations regarding the burn pits. Some moved to sue KBR as early as 2008, however, there has not been a settlement or judgment as of yet. KBR still owes the court the exact locations of the burn pits they managed. KBR released the following statement:
At the limited number of bases where KBR operated burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, KBR personnel did so safely and effectively at the direction and under the control of the US military,” KBR said in a statement. “Government studies and reports show that military personnel deployed to south-west Asia were exposed to many hazardous conditions, including the harsh ambient air. The government’s best scientific and expert opinions have repeatedly concluded there is no link between any long term health issues and burn pit emissions.”
This is contradictory to what the EPA has released on burning garbage in general:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that burned waste, even in a small pit in one’s own backyard, releases harmful toxins that contribute to a slew of illnesses. Dioxins, which the EPA says can come from metal smelting, are capable of altering the development of cells and causing cancer.”
The VA created a registry for veterans to file their complaints, but they still fail to recognize a link to long-term health issues. When NPR wrote an article highlighting the links between many of the health issues and the burn pits, the VA responded with this statement:
At this time, there is conflicting and insufficient research to show that long-term health problems have resulted from burn pit exposure. VA continues to study the health of exposed veterans. The burn pit registry, which helps participants to become more aware of their health, while helping researchers to study the health effects of burn pits and other airborne hazards, is one of several research projects currently underway at VA.”
The burn pits, in combination with the toxins many of our service members and civilian contractors were exposed to, seem to have a link to serious health issues. The VA will probably continue to drag their feet on this issue, much like they did with Agent Orange following Vietnam. The negative effects of Agent Orange are still debated, as the symptoms that many attribute to it vary from person to person.
Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Robert Lang
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As I know a fair amount about epidemiology, I'm going to be the curmudgeon here. What we have here is a nebulous "I was exposed to the dangerous (fill in the blank) and I deserve (fill in the blank)" First of all, the hazard of almost all natural and man-made dangerous materials depends on the dose. I dare anyone here to show me a study of what level of chemical doses were supposedly received from burn pits and also show me what chemicals were being released. Some person gets a cancer and then finds a nebulous blame mechanism. Well guess what? 25% of us will get a cancer without any help from man made issues. I can go on all day on this subject but until I see some definitive studies of the burn pits, I am going to be highly, highly skeptical of the claims. PatG: the second hand smoke bullshit has been thoroughly discredited by some very good studies. I was a corpsman in Nam and had to burn off the shitters when I was with a security team at our remote radio relay station. Stood right over barrels stirring the crap and sucking in burning diesel fumes. Think I was treated to some toxic emissions doing that job? A big whoop-tee-do compared to the other "interesting" situations my teams got into. On the other hand, maybe I'll start a movement to get the VA to give me disability for crapper emission symptoms syndrome - CESSpool.
I have read several stories of Vets who are suffering the ill effects of burn pits and have had their benefits denied by the VA including one who recently died due to his illness. It is heartbreaking. One had insurance through his current employer and another who did not. The one who did not is the one who passed and now his wife with 3 children is having to pay off a medical bill debt that will cripple her financially for life. So not only does she have to suffer the loss of her husband, she will get a monthly reminder (if not more) from a collection agency that will dog her for life trying to get payment. It is incredible to me that there is even a question about the ill effects of a burn pit. Just as with Agent Orange, I fear the plan is to deny, deny, deny until those who complain are dead. This seems to be the method of cost control for the VA. Disgusting, disgraceful, and dishonorable. We owe our Veterans and their families so much more than this idiotic response.
Thanks T3, it was dreadful how poorly our vets who suffered from the effects from Agent Orange were treated, this just can't happen again. We owe our vets so much more than this, and it is detestable to add to their suffering by denying the obvious cause. At least this seems to be coming to light pretty quickly. Agent Orange was swept under the carpet for decades.
Added... Vets allowed to sue KBR... www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/02/possible-relief-for-vets-sick-from-war-zone-burns-pits.html More reporting... www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/16/us-military-burn-pits-chemical-weapons-cancer-illness-iraq-afghanistan-veterans www.theverge.com/2013/10/28/4771164/the-next-agent-orange-why-burn-pits-are-making-soldiers-sick
It is unbelievable to me that in the civilian climate, businesses are bombarded with a plethora of regulations from OSHA and otherwise, yet for the military this is even a question. Those regulations are drawn from years of experiences and studies of everything from inhalation of fumes of various kinds to exposures of toxins. Below are just a few of the sources carrying this reporting and this story. Notably, the agreement is across party lines, and there are numerous complaints (valid) regarding the methodology of data collection on the surveys of the VA. This is including, but not limited to, that those parties deceased from complications cannot be added posthumously to the tabulation. This inherently is counterintuitive. The individualized components of fumes and toxins that are carcinogenic are also not studied or considered. If the individual compound exposure is carcinogenic, the whole is. This is also counterintuitive. Anywhere else would have seen mass litigation and outcry. One can hope that a generation that grew up in the shadow of those living with the impact of Agent Orange to our parent's and grand parent's generation can do better by our veterans. www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/health-care/2015/07/22/new-burn-pit-report-lung-disease-high-blood-pressure-common-exposed-vets/30517071 www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/12/18/455350571/u-s-veterans-burn-pits-created-toxic-clouds-that-led-to-ailments www.foxnews.com/us/2016/04/09/thousands-iraq-afghan-war-vets-sickened-after-working-at-burn-pits.html www.businessinsider.com/military-open-air-burn-pits-with-rare-cancers-and-respiratory-diseases-2016-2 www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/iraq-war-vet-lived-see-birth-burn-pit-registry-ill-n147801 www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-anne-mercer/military-burn-pits-the-new-agent-orange_b_9322334.html