A Pilot Study of Airborne Hazards and Other Toxic Exposures in Iraq War Veterans

Chelsey Poisson, Sheri Boucher, Domenique Selby, Sylvia P. Ross, Charulata Jindal, Jimmy T. Efird and Pollie Bith-Melander
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Chelsey Poisson: Emergency Medicine, SMG Norwood Hospital, Norwood (Greater Boston Area), MA 02062, USA
Sheri Boucher: School of Nursing, Rhode Island College, Providence, RI 02908, USA
Domenique Selby: HunterSeven Foundation, Providence, RI 02906, USA
Sylvia P. Ross: School of Nursing, Rhode Island College, Providence, RI 02908, USA
Charulata Jindal: Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle (UoN), Newcastle 2308, Australia
Jimmy T. Efird: Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Health Services Research and Development, DVAHCS (Duke University Affiliate), Durham, NC 27705, USA
Pollie Bith-Melander: Department of Social Work, California State University, Stanislaus, Stanislaus, CA 95382, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: During their deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) , many Veterans were exposed to a wide array of toxic substances and psychologic stressors, most notably airborne/environmental pollutants from open burn pits. Service members do not deploy whilst unhealthy, but often they return with a multitude of acute and chronic symptoms, some of which only begin to manifest years after their deployment. Our findings, while preliminary in nature, suggest that Iraq War Veterans who participated in our survey reported a decrease in overall physical fitness and increased respiratory clinical symptoms compared with pre-deployment periods. The objective of this report is to provide information that will benefit how combat Veterans are cared for post-deployment. Strategies for a wider and more comprehensive assessment and medical screening process post-deployment are recommended.

Keywords: burn pits; Iraq War; physical health; toxic exposures; Veterans (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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