Petraeus: Military studying burn pit fumes - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Petraeus: Military studying burn pit fumes

In response to a question about the burn pit at Joint Air Base Balad, Gen. David Petraeus, the chief of U.S. Central Command, said the need for burn pits will continue, but the military is trying to minimize exposure to possible toxins.

“Much effort has gone into locating/relocating pits in remote areas of the operating bases to minimize exposure, training personnel on proper operation, developing/circulating operating procedures and assessing burn pit operations to include corrective action,” Petraeus wrote.

After Military Times investigated possible chemicals and dioxins troops may have been exposed to in Afghanistan and Iraq from giant open-air pits that were burning everything from plastic bottles to used petroleum products, Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., wrote a letter to Petraeus asking if the burn pits were being investigated.

Petraeus said thousands of air, water and soil samples have been tested. However, Military Times has learned that the Balad is the only base where the burn pit specifically has been checked.

A military report found toxin levels in the plume at acceptable levels; however, data on testing for particulate matter in that plume has not yet been released.

More than 100 service members have contacted Military Times saying they became sick with asthma, sleep apnea, heart palpitations, bronchitis, and lymphoma or leukemia while at Balad.

Disabled American Veterans is working to see if there are any trends in their illnesses, as well as to help people file claims with the Veterans Affairs Department.

An initial report from the burn pit, which remains classified, showed high levels of cancer-causing dioxins; however, military officials say that was due to a computer error and that dioxin levels are actually within normal limits. A second unclassified report shows the toxin levels are safe, if the data on particulate matter is excluded. However, the second report also states that reliability is low due to the number of samples.

“As part of the on-going occupational and environmental health surveillance program, a second comprehensive study of the air quality at Joint Base Balad was conducted and the results will be published soon and help guide recommendations for the frequency and extent of future air quality monitoring,” Petraeus wrote.

He also said service members have health monitoring data included in their medical records.

The Joint Staff and other agencies will “continue to collect air, water and soil samples for scientific analysis in an effort to monitor potential exposure levels to our personnel and local Iraqis,” Petraeus wrote.

He also said he expects 23 incinerators, in addition to the 17 now operating in Iraq, to be completed by December 2009. In Afghanistan, treatment and disposal facilities are “in the process” of being designed.

“Additionally, I am establishing an environmental program team ... to help identify and resolve environmental issues from operations in Afghanistan,” Petraeus said.

Feingold said he had hoped to see more.

“I look forward to reviewing the results of the study of the air quality at Balad Air Base,” Feingold said by e-mail. “But based on the preliminary briefings my staff has received, I remain concerned that service members may become sick as a result of exposure to fumes at Balad Air Base and potentially other bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Feingold said he wonders about service members who spent more than 12 months, as well as Iraqis who spend years, breathing in the fumes.

“I will continue to work to ensure that the military does what it can to reduce exposures and ensure that any service member who becomes ill receives all necessary treatment,” he said.