Sulfur Burn Pits Sicken Soldiers

More than 1,000 soldiers are sick, and the cause could be from pollutants from open-air sulfur burn pits, fires and clean-up operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments are hoping to widen their understanding of these mysterious symptoms and warzone toxins. Ultimately, they hope to help suffering troops who have developed cases of severe asthma, joint pain and cancers. Some diseases potentially associated with overseas cleanup can only be diagnosed with invasive surgery

Meetings will be held to cover deployment-related airborne pollution, and organizers are optimistic the Joint VA-DoD Airbone Hazards Symposium will improve future efforts in clinical surveillance, medical testing and research in this area. Some organizers have deemed the situation a “health crisis.”

One topic up for discussion is whether troops should receive baseline tests of how well their lungs work before and after deployment.

If you or a loved one has served in the military and been harmed by toxins from a burn pit, call Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation regarding a military injury lawsuit.