Prospective Assessment of Chronic Multisymptom Illness Reporting Possibly Associated with Open-Air Burn Pit Smoke Exposure in Iraq
Abstract
Background The open-air burning of trash and other waste in theater is a practical solution for trash and waste disposal at bases of operations. However, the unknown nature of the chemicals released in this process has many veterans concerned that illnesses they have developed post-deployment may be due to burn pit smoke exposure. Methods CMI (reporting at least two of the following symptom constructs: general fatigue; mood and cognition problems; and musculoskeletal discomfort) was assessed, differentiating by potential burn-pit exposure, among deployers who completed 2004 and 2007 Millennium Cohort questionnaires. Results Over 21,000 Cohort participants were deployed in support of the current operations, including >3,000 participants with at least one deployment within a 3-mile radius of a documented burn pit. After adjusting for covariates, no elevated risk of CMI was observed among those exposed. Conclusions There was no increase in CMI symptom reporting in those deployed to three selected bases with documented burn pits compared with other deployers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA563276
Entities
People
- Besa Smith
- Christopher J. Phillips
- Edward J. Boyko
- Gary Dean Gackstetter
- Isabel Gomez Jacobson
- Teresa M. Powell
- Tomoko I. Hooper
- Tyler Clain Smith
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center