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Military Burn Pits and Cancer Risk
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What is a burn pit?
A burn pit is an approach to waste disposal that has been used by the US military at bases in
the Middle East, mainly in Afghanistan and Iraq beginning in 2001. Burn pits are large areas
where tons of waste products (including trash, plastics, wood, metal, paints, solvents,
munitions, and medical and human waste) are burned in the open air. Typically, JP-8 jet fuel,
which contains benzene, has been used as an accelerant. Burn pits create large volumes of
toxic smoke and other substances. They give o! more air pollution than contained burning,
because the burning takes place in an open area and at lower temperatures.
Military personnel and contractors who have spent time near burn pits likely had high levels of
exposure to air pollution, especially those people assigned to tend the pits. However, other
people have been exposed as well, due to burn pit emissions being carried to surrounding
areas by the wind.
Toxic exposures linked with burn pits
Environmental sampling of the air and soil near burn pits has documented the presence of
several chemical compounds shown in studies to be linked with inflammation and body tissue
damage, particularly in the respiratory tract. Incomplete combustion of organic and inorganic
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material in burn pits results in high volumes of toxic particulate matter (PM) in the air that
includes metals, benzene, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-p-furans (PCDD/Fs),
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other
compounds.
There is extensive evidence in other situations that PM in air pollution is linked to heart disease,
asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and an overall increased
risk of death.
Although it’s almost impossible to prove that burn pits cause these same health issues, this
evidence suggests that the health issues reported by veterans with exposures from burn pits
and other chemicals linked to their deployment are reason for concern.
Personnel at these military bases have also been exposed to other air pollutants from a
combination of local and regional sources. This includes dust made up of industrial emissions
and waste, as well as aircra" and ground transportation emissions that mix with soil and are
spread by the wind.
Do exposures to burn pit emissions cause cancer?
Studying the health e!ects of exposure to burn pit emissions is di!icult. Ideally, there would be
records that show who was exposed to the emissions, exactly what they were exposed to, how
much exposure they had, and how long they were exposed. But in general, only indirect
assessments of exposure are possible. Because of this, studies of health problems possibly
linked with exposures to burn pit emissions fall into 3 main groups:
Studies that use information about the types of pollutants found in burn pit smoke to
estimate whether such exposures might cause cancer (and how likely this is)
Studies that measure the pollutants in the air, soil, and water around burn pits to
estimate exposure and cancer risk in military personnel
Studies of the blood or body tissue of military personnel with burn pit exposure that
measure the presence of pollutants known to be linked with genetic alterations
These types of exposures have also been studied in relation to health outcomes in other
occupational groups, such as firefighters, and for comparison, in civilian groups without these
exposures. These kinds of studies are especially important, given that cancers generally take
many years to develop, and military burn pit exposures have taken place relatively recently.
What do expert agencies say?
In general, the American Cancer Society does not determine if something causes cancer
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(that is, if it is a carcinogen), but we do look to other respected organizations for help with
examining the evidence.
A 2011 report from the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
(NASEM) found that there was limited/suggestive evidence of a link between exposure to
combustion products and reduced lung function in the populations studied, but there was
inadequate/insu!icient evidence of a link at that time between combustion products and
cancer. But because some of the chemicals linked with burn pit emissions can cause cancer,
and the fact that it can take many years for cancer to develop a"er an exposure, the authors of
the report concluded that they couldn’t rule out that veterans exposed to burn pit emissions
are at higher risk for cancer, and they suggested that further studies should be done.
Since then, NASEM has published other reports on burn pits and possible links to other health
outcomes.
Other expert organizations have not assessed the possible link between burn pit emissions and
cancer directly, but they have made determinations on some of the chemicals in burn pit
emissions:
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): IARC, which is part of the World
Health Organization, has classified some of the chemical substances found in burn pit
emissions as “known to be carcinogenic to humans.”
US National Toxicology Program (NTP): The NTP has classified at least one chemical
found in burn pit emissions (dioxin) as “known to be a human carcinogen.”
To learn more about how these organizations study and classify cancer causes, see
Determining if Something Is a Carcinogen and Known and Probable Human Carcinogens.
Can Afghanistan and Gulf War veterans be tested
for exposure to contaminants from burn pits?
At this time, there are no widely available, simple lab tests that can show if someone was
exposed to burn pit contaminants. Because of this, the US Department of Veterans A!airs (VA)
presumes that all veterans who served in certain places at certain times might have been
exposed, and therefore might be eligible for certain medical benefits for service-related
disabilities.
Benefits for exposed veterans
Military service is associated with a range of risks, especially in war zones. Although some of
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these risks are unique to military occupations, others may be similar to risks in civilian
occupations, but with higher exposure amounts or longer-term exposures in military settings.
Measuring exposures, especially in a war zone, is extremely di!icult and is therefore not done.
Pre-and post-deployment surveillance of exposures and health outcomes should be less
di!icult but is also typically not done. Thus, when veterans become ill with a condition that
might be related to their service, they o"en face the challenge of proving that their health
problems are service-related in order to receive health and disability benefits.
In the past, many Afghanistan and Gulf War veterans faced denial that their health problems
were associated with exposure to burn pit emissions, similar to the challenges faced by
veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Definitive evidence of disease
causation may not have existed – and may never exist – for these exposures, but gaps and
delays in the scientific evidence had le" veterans without access to treatment and benefits for
long periods of time. This was of particular concern because these associations are o"en
plausible, even if they’re not proven.
In circumstances where there is plausible (but not su!icient) evidence linking military service
to health problems and disability, Congress and the VA can rely on the presumption that these
problems are linked to a person’s service.
At this time, Afghanistan and Gulf War veterans may qualify for presumptive disability
benefits (compensation and health care) if they served at certain times and have developed
certain health conditions that have led to at least a 10% disability. For more details on the
conditions covered and other eligibility requirements, visit the VA website at
https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/specific-
environmental-hazards/.
In August of 2022, Congress passed the PACT Act, a new law that expanded VA health care
and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. This included
an expansion of the types of cancers that are now presumed to be service-connected
disabilities. These cancers include:
Brain cancer, including glioblastoma
Gastrointestinal cancer of any type
Head or neck cancer of any type
Kidney cancer
Lymphatic cancer of any type
Lymphoma of any type
Melanoma
Pancreatic cancer
Reproductive cancer of any type
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Respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type
The VA will process disability compensation claims for these and other presumptive conditions
for veterans who served any amount of time in the Southwest Asia theater of operations
(including Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and several surrounding areas) from August 2, 1990, to
the present, or Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Syria, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, or Yemen from
September 11, 2001, to the present.
Even if you’ve filed a compensation claim in the past that was denied, you can file a
supplemental claim for any condition now considered presumptive.
The Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry
In 2014, the VA launched the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBPR) in
response to concerns about respiratory illnesses linked with exposure to burn pits, and the
need to gather data on long-term health e!ects that may be linked with exposure to burn pit
emissions. This voluntary registry will help researchers study the long-term e!ects of exposure
to airborne hazards during deployments in Southwest Asia. For more information, go to:
https://veteran.mobilehealth.va.gov/AHBurnPitRegistry/#page/home, or
https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/registry.asp, or
https://www.publichealth.va.gov/docs/exposures/ten-things-to-know-fact-sheet.pdf
What veterans can do for their health
Be sure your doctor knows if you have a history of potentially hazardous exposures during your
military service. If there is a chance you might be at increased risk of cancer, your doctor might
advise you to get certain cancer screening tests and to promptly report any suspicious
symptoms.
Afghanistan and Gulf War veterans are at risk for many types of cancer just like everyone else,
even if they haven’t been exposed to contaminants during their deployment. You can help
lower your risk of cancer (and other diseases) by not smoking, staying at a healthy weight,
getting regular physical activity, and eating a healthy diet (including avoiding or limiting
alcohol).
If you are concerned about past exposure to burn pit emissions, you may want to join a support
group online or through your local VA hospital.
To learn more
Along with the American Cancer Society, other sources of information and support include:
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Department of Veterans A!airs
Toll-free numbers:
Special Health Issues: 1-800-749-8387
Benefits (including disability compensation): 1-800-827-1000
Exposure to burn pits and other specific environmental hazards:
https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/specific-
environmental-hazards/
The PACT Act and your VA benefits: https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-
benefits/
Written by
References
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as
editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Brown MA. Science versus policy in establishing equitable Agent Orange disability compensation policy. Mil
Med. 2011;176: 35-40.
Institute of Medicine. Long-Term Health Consequences of Exposure to Burn Pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.
2011. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/13209.
Mallon CT, Rohrbeck MP, Haines MK, et al. Introduction to Department of Defense research on burn pits,
biomarkers, and health outcomes related to deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan. J Occup Environ Med.
2016;58: S3-S11.
McLean J, Anderson D, Capra G, Riley CA. The potential e!ects of burn pit exposure on the respiratory tract: A
systematic review. Mil Med. 2021;186: 672-681.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Respiratory health e!ects of airborne hazards
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exposures in the Southwest Asia Theater of Military Operations. Washington, DC: The National Academies
Press, 2020.
Pugh MJ, Jaramillo CA, Leung KW, et al. Increasing prevalence of chronic lung disease in veterans of the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mil Med. 2016;181: 476-481.
Szema AM, Caruana DL, Sanfelici A, Promislo! R. Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits
and Other Toxins Act of 2021: Cadit qaestio. J Occup Environ Med. 2021;63: e250-e251.
US Department of Veterans A!airs. The PACT Act and your VA benefits. 2022. Accessed at
https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/ on August 25, 2022.
Last Revised: August 25, 2022
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests,
please see our Content Usage Policy.
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