Thousands of soldiers that served in Iraq and Afghanistan were exposed to smoke from open-air burn pits, landfills used for burning the military’s trash. Rarely were soldiers given equipment to protect themselves against the toxic smoke, which was a permanent fixture in many military bases. Soldiers exercised around the pits and made daily trips to the burn pits to dispose of trash, including medical and human waste, batteries, paint, plastics and solvents.

Numerous soldiers have health problems linked to burn pit exposures. Although their complaints prompted the government to shut most of the pits down, many soldiers are still fighting for their health, their lives and their benefits. Although the Veterans Administration acknowledges that burning solid waste generates carcinogenic and toxic compounds, they also continue to claim that there are no likely long-term effects from the burn pits and that “health monitoring and medical follow-up is not necessary for routine exposure to smoke from burning trash and human waste.”

As a response to the lack of monitoring and response to burn pits, Representatives Tim Bishop (D-NY) and cosponsor Representative Carol Shea-Porter (D-NY) introduced H.R. 4477, the Military Personnel Toxic Exposure Registry Act. This act will establish a medical surveillance system to identify members of the military exposed to the chemical hazards of burn pits, prohibit the disposal of waste resulting in the production of dangerous levels of toxins and help veterans get the care and benefits they deserve.

Urge your Representative to support the bill so veterans get the proper care and benefits they need and exposure to toxic burn pits is put to an end.  

Photo credit: octal