For years, open-air burn pits were used at U.S. military installations overseas to dispose of large amounts of waste. Civilian contractors working on or near these installations could be exposed to smoke generated by burning plastics, fuel, electronics, rubber, chemicals, medical waste, and other materials. Unlike controlled waste incineration, open burning can release a complex mixture of gases, particles, and potentially hazardous substances into the surrounding air.
The exact composition of burn pit smoke varies depending on what is being burned, how completely it burns, weather conditions, and the contractor’s proximity to the source. This makes it difficult to identify a single chemical responsible for a particular illness. Instead, contractors may have been exposed to mixtures of pollutants over extended periods, potentially affecting the respiratory system and other parts of the body.
Fine Particulate Matter
One of the major concerns associated with burn pit smoke is particulate matter. These extremely small particles can remain suspended in the air and be inhaled deep into the lungs.
Fine particulate matter can irritate the respiratory system and contribute to inflammation, with repeated exposure presenting potential health concerns even for individuals without a previously diagnosed respiratory condition. Workers with asthma or other respiratory conditions may be particularly vulnerable to its effects.
Contractors who spent months working near burn pits may have experienced repeated exposure rather than a single isolated event.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Burning fuels, plastics, solvents, and other materials can release volatile organic compounds, commonly called VOCs. Depending on the materials burned, emissions may include compounds such as benzene and other hazardous air pollutants.
Short-term exposure to certain VOCs can cause headaches, dizziness, irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, and other symptoms. Some compounds are also associated with more serious health concerns following sufficient long-term exposure.
Because burn pits contained changing mixtures of waste, the type and concentration of VOCs could vary significantly.
Benzene
Benzene is a chemical associated with petroleum products and combustion and can be released when certain materials are burned. It is a well-established human carcinogen, with long-term exposure associated particularly with harmful effects on bone marrow and an increased risk of certain blood disorders and cancers.
The presence of a hazardous chemical in burn pit emissions does not mean that every exposed contractor will develop a related disease. Actual risk depends on factors such as concentration, duration, frequency, and route of exposure.
For a Defense Base Act claim, the individual contractor’s medical condition and exposure history remain critical.
Dioxins and Furans
Burning certain plastics and chlorinated materials under uncontrolled conditions can produce dioxins and furans. These persistent environmental pollutants have been studied for their potential effects on the immune, reproductive, developmental, and endocrine systems, and some are associated with increased cancer risk.
Open-air burning can be especially concerning because temperatures and combustion conditions are not controlled in the same manner as properly operated industrial incinerators.
Determining an individual worker’s actual exposure years later, however, can be difficult.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, are a group of chemicals formed during incomplete combustion of materials such as fuel, wood, plastics, and other organic substances.
Exposure to certain PAHs has been associated with respiratory irritation and other health concerns, while some PAHs are known or suspected carcinogens.
Contractors working near persistent smoke may have inhaled PAHs along with many other substances contained in the airborne mixture.
Metals and Other Contaminants
Depending on the waste being burned, smoke and ash may also contain metals and other contaminants. Electronics, batteries, painted materials, mechanical components, and other discarded items can introduce additional substances into the waste stream.
Certain metals can affect the nervous system, kidneys, cardiovascular system, or other organs when exposure reaches harmful levels.
This is another reason why a complete occupational history can be important when evaluating unexplained symptoms following overseas employment.
Health Effects May Not Appear Immediately
One of the major challenges surrounding burn pit exposure is that health problems do not necessarily appear during deployment.
Some contractors may experience coughing, headaches, eye irritation, or breathing problems while overseas. Others may not notice significant symptoms until months or years after their exposure has ended.
Delayed symptoms can make diagnosis more complicated because contractors and physicians may not immediately connect a current illness with environmental conditions from a previous overseas assignment.
Why Medical Evaluation Is Important
Contractors who believe they were exposed to burn pit smoke should provide healthcare professionals with as much information about their overseas employment as possible. Deployment locations, approximate dates, proximity to burn pits, job duties, and the frequency of smoke exposure may all be relevant.
Depending on the symptoms involved, physicians may recommend pulmonary testing, imaging, laboratory work, or evaluations by specialists.
A medical professional is best positioned to determine whether symptoms require further investigation and whether an occupational exposure may have contributed to a particular condition.
Burn Pit Illness and the Defense Base Act
Civilian contractors covered by the Defense Base Act may potentially pursue benefits for occupational diseases connected to conditions of their overseas employment. Burn pit cases can be particularly complex because exposure may have occurred years before a diagnosis.
Medical records, employment history, evidence of exposure, diagnostic testing, and medical opinions can all become important when evaluating whether an illness is related to overseas work.
Contractors should not assume that a delayed diagnosis automatically means a condition cannot be connected to an earlier occupational exposure.
Understanding the Risks of Burn Pit Smoke
There is no single substance that defines burn pit exposure. Contractors may have encountered a changing mixture of particulate matter, combustion products, VOCs, PAHs, metals, and other contaminants depending on what was being burned.
Understanding that complexity is important when unexplained health problems develop after overseas employment. Contractors experiencing persistent respiratory or other concerning symptoms should seek appropriate medical evaluation and make sure their healthcare providers understand their history of overseas environmental exposure.
For more information about Defense Base Act claims involving burn pit exposure and occupational illness, contact Barnett, Lerner, Karsen, Zobec, P.A..
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Each Defense Base Act claim is unique, and the presence of a particular substance in burn pit emissions does not establish that it caused an individual’s medical condition. For advice specific to your situation, consult appropriate medical and legal professionals.