Long-Term Health Consequences of Exposure to Burn Pits in Iraq and Afghanistan

Foreword: It is well understood how hazardous combat operations can be as a result of the kinetic forces associated with modern weaponry. What is less appreciated is how other environmental factors come into play that further complicate and increase operational hazards. Those environmental factors may include very hot humid or frigid climates, high elevations, or locations far under the sea. Or the environment may contain disease vectors that can ravage the military forces "visiting" their domains. In addition, there are many sources of toxic chemical, biological, or radiological agents-both manmade and natural-that may be lurking in the background. This latter type of threat is examined by an IOM committee in response to a request from the Department of Veterans Affairs to examine the health consequences to military forces deployed in proximity to potentially hazardous burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.