Burn Pits
Burn pits were a method of open-air waste disposal used at U.S. military bases, primarily in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas in Southwest Asia after September 11, 2001.
Burn Pits
What are burn pits?
A burn pit was a large, open-air trash fire, sometimes spanning several acres, used to eliminate all types of waste generated on a military installation. Because there were often no incinerators or other waste management alternatives, these pits were a practical, though hazardous, solution. Jet fuel was typically used as an accelerant, creating plumes of thick, black, toxic smoke that could linger over bases and be inhaled by service members 24 hours a day.
When did the military stop using burn pits?
The use of burn pits was significantly phased out in the mid-to-late 2010s after Congress passed laws restricting their use. While the Department of Defense has not formally issued a complete ban, regulations now require commanders to seek safer alternatives, like incinerators, whenever feasible. Today, their use is extremely limited and is considered a last resort in temporary, non-enduring locations where no other options exist.
What was burned?
Items commonly disposed of in burn pits include:
- Plastics, including Styrofoam and water bottles
- Medical and human waste
- Paints, solvents, and other chemicals
- Ammunition, unexploded ordnance, and other metals
- Petroleum, oils, and lubricants
- Rubber tires and batteries
- Electronics and asbestos
What do burn pits do?
Inhaling the toxic smoke from burn pits has been linked to severe, long-term health problems. Under the PACT Act, the VA now recognizes many of these illnesses as “presumptive conditions,” meaning it assumes the condition is service-connected if a veteran served in a specific location and during a specified timeframe.
The health consequences of burn pit exposure include:
- Causing cancer: Burn pit smoke is linked to numerous cancers, including brain, neck, pancreatic, reproductive, and all types of respiratory cancers.
- Triggering respiratory diseases: Exposure can lead to serious and chronic conditions like asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, chronic sinusitis, and constrictive bronchiolitis.
- Damaging the lungs: The particulate matter in the smoke can cause permanent lung damage and conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis and granulomatous disease.
- Creating other chronic illnesses: The toxins can affect multiple body systems, leading to a wide range of health issues that may develop years after exposure.
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