A Pilot Study of Airborne Hazards and Other Toxic Exposures in Iraq War Veterans

Abstract

During their deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), many Veterans were exposed to a wide array of toxic substances and psychologic stressors, most notably airborne/environmental pollutants from open burn pits. Service members do not deploy whilst unhealthy, but often they return with a multitude of acute and chronic symptoms, some of which only begin to manifest years after their deployment. Our findings, while preliminary in nature, suggest that Iraq War Veterans who participated in our survey reported a decrease in overall physical fitness and increased respiratory clinical symptoms compared with pre-deployment periods. The objective of this report is to provide information that will benefit how combat Veterans are cared for post-deployment. Strategies for a wider and more comprehensive assessment and medical screening process post-deployment are recommended.

A Workshop on Cognitive Aging and Impairment in the 9/11-Exposed Population

“…Potential smoke hazards associated with burn pits include burning plastic, polystyrene, paper, wood, rubber, petroleum oil and lubricants, non-medical waste, metals, paints and solvents, and incomplete combustion of byproducts. Emissions from the pits may include particulates, dioxins, furans, lead, mercury, volatile organic compounds, and PAHs, among other hazardous substances [ 78 , 79 ]. The toxic exposures experienced by WTC responders and survivors may be similar to those experienced by veterans exposed to burn pits.…”

Gross Hematuria and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Associated With Military Burn Pits Exposures in US Veterans Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan

“…Military JP-8 jet fuel was routinely used to maintain combustion in burn pits. 4,6,29 Use of JP-8 results in environmental exposures to carcinogens, including benzene and naphthalene. 4,6,29 Serdar et al 30 demonstrated that heavy exposure to JP-8 contributed roughly the same amount of benzene and more than three times the amount of naphthalene compared with cigarette smoking.…”

“…4,6,29 Use of JP-8 results in environmental exposures to carcinogens, including benzene and naphthalene. 4,6,29 Serdar et al 30 demonstrated that heavy exposure to JP-8 contributed roughly the same amount of benzene and more than three times the amount of naphthalene compared with cigarette smoking. This was done by measuring benzene, naphthalene, and 1-and 2-naphthol levels in urine samples obtained from 322 US Air Force personnel with exposure to JP-8.…”

“…6 Burn pit smoke has been shown to contain heavy metals and harmful substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, furans, lead, volatile organic compounds, mercury, dioxins, as well as carcinogens benzene and naphthalene. 4,6 Exposure to burn pits raises concerns about increased risk of multiple diseases. [5][6][7] While the major emphasis in research on the potential long-term effects of burn pits smoke relates to respiratory system effects, the Department of Veterans Affairs has released a list of 33 presumptive conditions involving multiple organ systems that may result from burn pits exposure, including kidney cancer, lymphoma, and reproductive cancer.…”

“…4,6 Exposure to burn pits raises concerns about increased risk of multiple diseases. [5][6][7] While the major emphasis in research on the potential long-term effects of burn pits smoke relates to respiratory system effects, the Department of Veterans Affairs has released a list of 33 presumptive conditions involving multiple organ systems that may result from burn pits exposure, including kidney cancer, lymphoma, and reproductive cancer. 8 These conditions are incompletely studied with reference to burn pits.…”