Military Environmental Exposures

Abstract

The passage of the PACT Act of 2022 expanded the services veterans receive through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), ensuring they now qualify for benefits if they've been exposed to certain toxins during their military service. This significant expansion of VA benefits also highlights the need for nurses and other health providers working outside the VA system—who care for millions of veterans—to be well-informed about their patients' military experiences and any potential environmental exposures and health impacts. In this article, the author raises awareness of military environmental exposures and offers guidance about exposure-informed care.

Serving Those Who Served: Enhancing Colorectal Surgery Care for Veterans

“…15 An additional factor affecting colorectal care for veterans includes exposure to various environmental hazards such as oil well fires, burn pits, and toxic embedded fragments. 16 Four million veterans have been screened for potential service-connected environmental exposures and as many as 43% report having experienced at least one such exposure during active duty. 16 Some exposures are known to be carcinogenic while others, such as burn pit exposures, are considered by the VA to be presumptively implicated in the development of several gastrointestinal cancers, including anal and colorectal cancer.…”

“…16 Four million veterans have been screened for potential service-connected environmental exposures and as many as 43% report having experienced at least one such exposure during active duty. 16 Some exposures are known to be carcinogenic while others, such as burn pit exposures, are considered by the VA to be presumptively implicated in the development of several gastrointestinal cancers, including anal and colorectal cancer. 17 With the passage of the PACT Act of 2022, health care services have been expanded to ensure veterans who have experienced such exposures during their military service are able to qualify for benefits.…”

“…17 With the passage of the PACT Act of 2022, health care services have been expanded to ensure veterans who have experienced such exposures during their military service are able to qualify for benefits. 16 Environmental exposures have also been suspected to cause nonmalignant systemic issues, such as Gulf War Illness (chronic multisymptom illness), which encompasses a wide range of symptoms that can include gastrointestinal effects that might affect colorectal surgery care. 16…”

“…16 Environmental exposures have also been suspected to cause nonmalignant systemic issues, such as Gulf War Illness (chronic multisymptom illness), which encompasses a wide range of symptoms that can include gastrointestinal effects that might affect colorectal surgery care. 16…”