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January 21, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – President Barack Obama has signed into aw S. 3302, federal legislation requiring the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to create a registry for military service members who lived and worked near burn pits in Afghanistan, Iraq and other locations.
“I am encouraged by this new development; however, we can do more,” said Assemblyman Rocky Chavez (R-Oceanside), a retired Marine Colonel and former Acting Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs. “We need to be proactive in taking care of the women and men who served our country overseas in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom. One way to do this is by launching additional studies into diseases that could already be affecting the gastrointestinal, respiratory and nervous systems of these Veterans.”
Chavez added that he plan on introducing a Resolution asking Congress to enact further studies and legislation that would address the large number of health issues these veterans are facing.
Illnesses related to burn pits and incinerators used to burn refuse in Iraq and Afghanistan are common causes to short term health effects including burning eyes, nose and throat irritation, cough, short-term nausea, headaches and skin rash. The long term health effects of exposure to burn pit smoke are unknown.
Links for more information on burn pits:
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/05/bagram-health-risk/
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/05/burn-pits/
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/11/burn-pit-legislation/
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/10/burn-pit-study/
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