United States veterans who served prolonged deployments to military bases with open burn pits may be at an increased risk of developing asthma, COPD, hypertension and ischemic stroke. That’s according to the results of the new study published in JAMA Network Open, “Deployment to Military Bases With Open Burn Pits and Respiratory and Cardiovascular Disease.”
Lead author David A. Savitz, PhD, a professor of epidemiology at Brown University School of Public Health in Providence, Rhode Island, said this work represents one of few research efforts tracking the long-term health consequences of exposure to open burn pits. During Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan (2001-2014) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in Iraq (2003-2011), the U.S. military used open burn pits on some military bases to dispose of solid, medical and hazardous materials. Despite a 2009 directive by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) restricting materials allowed in burn pits, the U.S. military continued to use them until transitioning to alternative methods, including incineration, recycling and landfill waste segregation.
Researchers used U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) data to identify 459,381 OEF and OIF veterans who had been deployed between 2001 and 2011 and were enrolled in VA health care. This retrospective cohort study used DOD data to pinpoint where veterans had been stationed and the duration. Veterans were followed through 2020. Covariates included demographics, BMI, smoking status, priority category for VA care, branch of service and rank, year of initial VA care and total days of deployment.
Approximately 86% of the study cohort had been assigned to bases with burn pits for an average of 244 days. Additionally, the study noted that despite elevated risks for asthma, COPD, hypertension and ischemic stroke, there was no elevated risk for interstitial lung disease, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure or hemorrhagic stroke (for every 100 days of deployment to bases with burn pits).
The mean age of study participants was 32 years at the time of entry into VA care and participants were predominantly male (87%) and ethnically diverse (16% Black, 11% Hispanic).
Researchers lacked data on burn pit characteristics at each base, such as volume, frequency and content as well as data to adjust each veteran’s likely exposure intensity based on their base location or job tasks. However, they believe the study results underscore the potential adverse health outcomes of exposure to open burn pit emissions and the need for proper VA health care for OEF/OIF veterans.
The study was funded by the VA Center of Innovation in Long-Term Services and Supports (COIN) for Vulnerable Veterans.
