Burn pits were a common method of open-air waste disposal used during military deployments, particularly across Iraq and Afghanistan in the post-9/11 era. These pits incinerated massive amounts of waste, including plastics, chemicals, medical materials, and munitions, creating plumes of toxic smoke. Service members and civilian contractors inhaled smoke containing particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and dioxins, which are known to be harmful. The resulting exposure has led to a wide array of health problems, ranging from temporary physical irritations to serious chronic diseases and malignancies. Understanding the full spectrum of symptoms is the first step toward diagnosis and treatment for those who served near these hazardous sites.
Immediate Physical Irritations
Initial exposure to the dense, acrid smoke often caused immediate physical reactions. Service members frequently reported burning or watering of the eyes, a direct response to the chemical irritants and fine particulate matter. These irritants also prompted acute symptoms in the upper respiratory tract, including a scratchy or irritated throat and sudden bouts of coughing.
Temporary headaches and acute sinus congestion were also common, often resolving shortly after moving away from the smoke plume. Skin reactions manifested as itching or the development of rashes. While these acute symptoms typically subsided once the individual was no longer near the active burn pit, for those with prolonged exposure, these irritations were often precursors to more serious, long-term health complications.
Long-Term Respiratory Damage
Chronic respiratory conditions are among the most frequently reported and severe long-term health outcomes associated with burn pit exposure. The inhalation of ultra-fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and toxic substances causes persistent inflammation within the lungs. This leads to conditions like chronic bronchitis, characterized by a persistent, productive cough lasting for months or years after deployment.
Asthma can also develop or worsen significantly following exposure, presenting as recurring episodes of wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. The toxic exposure can cause permanent changes in the airways, contributing to the development of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD is a progressive lung disease that makes breathing increasingly difficult.
One of the most specific and challenging diagnoses is Constrictive Bronchiolitis, also known as Obliterative Bronchiolitis. This rare condition involves the progressive narrowing and scarring of the lung’s smallest airways, restricting airflow and leading to severe shortness of breath. Diagnosis is difficult because standard pulmonary function tests and chest imaging may appear normal or only show subtle changes in the early stages.
Lung biopsies have sometimes been necessary to confirm the condition, revealing deposits of burned oxidized metals, such as titanium, and carbonaceous materials deep within the lung tissue. These findings confirm the physical presence of burn pit byproducts and their role in causing fibrosis and small airway obstruction. These conditions are often categorized under the broader umbrella of Deployment-Related Respiratory Disease (DRRD).
Systemic Illnesses and Malignancies
Beyond the respiratory system, burn pit exposure has been linked to a range of systemic illnesses. Individuals may experience chronic, unexplained pain similar to fibromyalgia, alongside persistent chronic fatigue. Neurological symptoms, such as peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage causing numbness or weakness) and tremors, suggest an impact on the central and peripheral nervous systems.
The toxic compounds, particularly dioxins like TCDD (a substance also found in Agent Orange), are known to affect cellular processes and hormone regulation. This systemic disruption can contribute to the development of serious diseases affecting the cardiovascular system, the gastrointestinal tract, and the immune system. Exposure is also associated with chronic conditions like chronic rhinitis (persistent nasal irritation) and chronic sinusitis (long-term inflammation of the sinuses).
Of greatest concern is the increased risk of certain malignancies, which may take years or decades to appear following the initial exposure. Specific categories of cancer have been recognized as linked to the toxic smoke, including rare respiratory cancers that affect the lungs, bronchi, and trachea. Head and neck cancers, involving areas like the larynx, pharynx, and oral cavity, also fall into this category of presumptive conditions.
The link extends to various malignancies, including:
- Gastrointestinal cancers (pancreas, liver, and colon)
- Reproductive cancers
- Lymphomas, including various forms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Specific solid tumors like kidney cancer and brain cancer