For Veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, or other areas of Southwest Asia, exposure to airborne hazards like burn pits might be a serious concern. Even if you don't think you were exposed to a specific hazard, you can take steps to proactively monitor your own health and help other Veterans.
Understanding the science of airborne hazard exposures
We all interact with thousands of substances in our daily lives. Some substances are only harmful if they get into our bodies in large quantities. Others are toxic even in the smallest amounts. Determining whether potentially harmful substances have a negative impact on our health requires understanding the amount, frequency, and intensity of the exposure.
How an exposure occurred – whether it was ingested, inhaled or touched your skin – can also be a factor. Because people rarely stay in one place, do just one job or engage in the same activities throughout their lives, it can be hard to determine with certainty that exposure to any one substance or source directly causes a given health condition.
This is also true of exposure to airborne hazards. Many health conditions related to these hazards are temporary and should disappear after the exposure ends. Other longer-term issues may be caused by a combination of hazardous exposures, injuries or illnesses, including:
The smoke and fumes from burn pits.
Fuel, aircraft exhaust, and other mechanical fumes.
Sand, dust, and particulate matter.
General air pollution common in certain countries.
Fuel, aircraft exhaust, and other mechanical fumes.
Smoke from oil well fires.
Blast or noise injuries.
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