Toxic Exposures

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

In the early 1980s, two water-supply systems on the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina were found to be contaminated with the industrial solvents trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE).

Agent Orange

Agent Orange was a chemical herbicide and defoliant used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1971. It was part of the military's Operation Ranch Hand program, which sprayed more than 20 million gallons of herbicides over Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos to remove crops and forest cover that could provide cover for enemy forces. Agent Orange was a mixture of two herbicides, 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, in equal parts by weight, and was stored in 55-gallon drums with orange stripes, which is how it got its name.

Gulf War Illness

Gulf War Illness (GWI), also known as Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) or Chronic Multi-symptom Illness (CMI), is a group of chronic, unexplained, or ill-defined symptoms that affect Veterans who served in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield (1990–1991). Symptoms can vary from person to person and may resemble other medical conditions. About one-third of Gulf War Veterans suffer from (CMI). The VA recognizes that certain illnesses and diseases are presumed to be related to military service in the Gulf War, including GWI. Scientists have debated the underlying cause of GWI for three decades. A Duke University-led study found that GWI significantly reduces white blood cells' ability to make energy and creates a measurable biochemical difference in Veterans who have the disease.

Burn Pits

A burn pit is a large open-air area where the US military has burned waste products to dispose of them. The practice has been used for decades at military bases overseas, including in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. Burn pits can contain a variety of waste. Burn pits often use JP-8 jet fuel, which contains benzene, as an accelerant. The open-air burning process creates large amounts of toxic smoke and other substances that can cause short-term irritation and long-term health problems. The length of exposure and the type of waste material burned can affect a person's exposure. Other factors include seasonal weather patterns and wind direction.

Ionizing Radiation

Ionizing radiation is a type of energy released by atoms that travels in the form of electromagnetic waves (gamma or X-rays) or particles (neutrons, beta or alpha). The spontaneous disintegration of atoms is called radioactivity, and the excess energy emitted is a form of ionizing radiation. Unstable elements which disintegrate and emit ionizing radiation are called radionuclides. All radionuclides are uniquely identified by the type of radiation they emit, the energy of the radiation, and their half-life.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure occurs when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed or damaged, releasing microscopic fibers into the air. These fibers can be inhaled or swallowed, and can remain in the lungs for a long time. Over time, they can accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation, which can lead to serious health problems.

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TOXIC EXPOSURES