Breathing dust, fumes, and other toxic substances from burn pits, exposed troops deployed overseas, and those who worked for government contractors abroad and other civilians, to a serious hazards. Some of the chemicals were a very toxic carcinogens and are deadly.
At US Senate hearings it was revealed that the toxic carcinogen, Sodium Dichromate (CAS 10588-01-9), was spread across a ruined water-injection facility in Qarmat Ali, Iraq, when the soldiers were there in the spring and summer of 2003. Thousands of individuals may have been exposed.
A simple evaluation may assist in assessing your exposure and disease which includes: a history which characterized the exposure and preexisting medical conditions of each individual exposed; a physical exam that identified any findings potentially related to a chromium exposure, and medical tests including blood, urine, chest X-ray, and a breathing test (called a pulmonary function test).
An exposure to this chemical may produce:
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- Allergy-like symptoms
- Asthma
- Breathing restrictions
- Cancers (lung, brain, bone, skin)
- Chronic bronchitis
- Chronic coughs
- Chronic respiratory infections
- Constant Infections
- Cramps and severe abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Emotional Distress
- Gastrointestinal illness and distress
- Leukemia
- Long term shortness of breath
- Lung Cancer
- Nose Bleeds
- Pulmonary injuries
- Reactive Airway Disease
- Restrictive Airways Disease (Bronchiolitis)
- Serious heart conditions
- Severe Headache
- Skin infection
- Sleep apnea
- Throat Infections
- Ulcers
- Unexpected weight loss
- Vomiting
- Weeping lesions on extremities
As a supporter for the improved health and welfare of individuals against hazardous occupational and environmental exposures, Jon L. Gelman advocates for changes in safety standards and safer use of chemicals. If you have been exposed to burn pit dust, smoke or fumes or Sodium Dichromate, contact Jon Gelman via e-mail or call +1 973-696-7900.
Known Burn Pit Locations
Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq
Camp Adder, Talil Air Base, Iraq
Al Asad Air Base, Iraq
Ali Air Base (formerly Talil Air Base)
Al Quo, Iraq
Al-Sahra, Iraq aka Camp Speicher
Camp Al Taji, IQ (Army Airfield)
Al Taqaddum, Iraq (Ridgeway)
Camp or LSA Anaconda, Iraq
Camp Anderson, Iraq
FOB Andrea
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait(Camden Yards)
Camp Ar Ramadi, Iraq
Baghdad International Airport (BIAP), Iraq
Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan
Balad Air Base, Iraq
Baqubah, Iraq (See Warhorse)
Camp Bastion Airfield, Afghanistan
Camp Bucca, Iraq
FOB Caldwell, Kirkuk, Iraq
Camp Cedar I and I, Talil Air Base, Iraq
Camp Chesty, Iraq
Camp Courage, Mosul, Iraq
Camp Cropper, Iraq
Camp Delta, Al Kut, Iraq
FOB Delta, Al Kut, Iraq
Diwaniya, Iraq
Djibouti, Africa
Camp Echo, Diwaynia, Iraq
FOB Endurance - Qayyarah Airfield West/Saddam Air Base
Fallujah, Iraq
FOB Fenty, Jalalabad, Afghanistan
FOB Hammer a/k/a Butler Range
FOB Freedom, Kirkuk, Iraq
FOB Gabe, Baqubah, Iraq
Former FOB Gains Mills
Camp Geiger, Iraq
Green Zone or International Zone, Iraq
Jalalabad, Afghanistan
Kabul, Afghanistan
Kalsu, Iraq
Kandahar, Afghanistan
Kirkuk, Iraq
Kut Al Hayy Airbase, Iraq
Camp Liberty, Iraq (aka Camp Trashcan)
Camp Loyalty, Iraq
FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq
FOB McHenry
COB Meade, Camp Liberty, Iraq
Mosul, Iraq
Navstar, Iraq
Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait
Doha, Qatar
Q-West, Iraq - Qayyarah Airfield West/Saddam Air Base
Camp Ridgeway, Iraq (Al Taquaddum)
Camp Rustamiyah, Iraq
FOB Salerno, Afghanistan
Camp Scania, Iraq
Scania, Iraq
Camp Shield, Baghdad, Iraq
Camp Speicher, Iraq aka Al Sahra Airfield (formerly FOB)
Camp Stryker, Iraq
FOB Sykes, Iraq (Tall' Afar)
Taji, Iraq
Tall’ Afar, Iraq
Talil Air Base, Iraq (now is Ali Air Base)
Camp Victory, Iraq
FOB Warhorse, Baqubah, Iraq
FOB Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq
Additional Resources:
Blog: Burn Pit Claims
Additional Internet Resources:
Mssparky.com
The Defense Base Act Workmans Compensation Blog
Click here to see more articles on Iraq and occupational exposures.
Click here to read more about burn pit claims for benefits and lawsuits. Call Jon L. Gelman at 973.696.7900 or e-mail jon@gelmans.com