Military burn pit exposure not tracked properly, DOD watchdog warns
By Noah Robertson
Jul 17, 2024, 05:02 AM
The U.S. military has not properly tracked whether service members are exposed to burn pits, according to a new report by Pentagon’s internal watchdog.
During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, American personnel regularly used these sites — essentially giant piles of trash set on fire — to dispose of waste. Some of that garbage included plastics, chemicals, rubber and other items that turned when burned.
As a result, military service members stationed near the pits have been found to be more likely to suffer from diseases like hypertension and asthma years later. And in 2022, the president signed a bill speeding up benefits for such personnel.
https://www.militarytimes.com/newsletters/2024/07/17/military-burn-pit-exposure-not-tracked-properly-dod-watchdog-warns/
