By MC Veterans Coalition member, Christina Hicks, MS, CRC

During Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, burn pits were a common way to dispose of trash and human waste. Though this may have been the norm since waste management facilities weren’t available, it has been identified as another hazard service that contractors and service members may have been exposed to during deployment.

Most service members who had direct contact with burn pits may have found that the immediate side effects were short-term, dissipating rapidly once no longer exposed. These include:

• Eye irritation and burning
• Cough and throat irritation
• Difficulties breathing
• Skin irritation and rashes

Unfortunately, the long-term consequences may be less noticeable at first and much more severe. Current research continues as scientists try and decipher what long-term health effects may occur due to Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits. In an effort to gain information on this growing concern, VA has an open registry for veterans and service members to sign up. Veterans are encouraged to document their exposures and report health concerns through an online questionnaire ; thus far, over 170,000 veterans and service members have completed the 40-minute survey between 2014 and April 2019. This is not a health screening – it is for documentation purposes only, as VA is trying to conduct research on long-term effects. However, you can schedule a free health exam with a VA provider once completed.

If you are a veteran who was exposed to toxic chemicals or hazardous materials such as burn pit smoke, depleted uranium, sulfur fire, chemical warfare agents, chromium, or suffered injuries due to extreme heat, toxic embedded fragments, explosions, noise, or became ill due to infectious diseases (such as malaria, brucellosis, West Nile Virus, rabies, etc.), you are highly encouraged to contact your VA primary care provider OR your local VA environmental health coordinator to receive appropriate health assessments and determine if you qualify for disability benefits. You may consider joining the Gulf War Registry and the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry.

An organization in the fight is Burnpits 360. One of MCVC’s own members, Stacey Pennington, lost her brother, SSG Steven Ochs, to the effects of burn pits. Stacey and Rosie have worked determinedly side-by-side, testifying before Congress, to not only get this issue recognized, but to advocate for research and treatment.

For more information about MC Veterans Coalition, go to www.vetcoalition.org.

See references below for more information or further reading:
https://www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/education/exposures/burn-pits.asp
https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/registry.asp
https://www.vets.gov/health-care/health-conditions/conditions-related-to-service-era/iraq-war/