A growing number of US troops stationed overseas are raising concerns about their exposure to toxic “burn pits”. Among these soldiers are members of Houston’s 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, roughly 3,000 of who were sent to carry out missions for nine months in Iraq. At Camp Taji, which is just north of Baghdad, many of these brave Texan soldiers are concerned about their health. Open-air burn pits release so much ash, smoke, and other debris that they have been compared to a heavy snowfall.

These burn pits are used to dispose of garbage and debris, with each pit consuming as much as 120 tons of garbage per day. “[The ash] hovers over like a blanket,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Ethier. “After it rains, you’ll get puddles of stuff. It’s like a yellowish, brackish color. It looks metallic. It’s just disgusting.”

Soldiers at Camp Taji complain of migraines, breathing problems, sore throats, irritated eyes and skin rashes. Lawsuits related to the operation of similar pits in the area allege contractors and others dumped “a human arm, other body parts, batteries, tires, asbestos and a variety of toxics into burn pits”. All these items can cause serious health problems. Asbestos-laden materials are most dangerous when they become airborne. Inhaling or ingesting airborne asbestos particles can lead to the development of mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive form of cancer that can kill within months of being diagnosed.

The burn pit at Camp Taji is operated by KBR, a company that operates many pits throughout Iraq and one in Afghanistan. According to one company official, “KBR operates burn pits in accordance with guidelines approved by the Army. Further, it is the Army that also decides where on base to locate the living and working facilities for base personnel.”

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.