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A Pilot Study of Airborne Hazards and Other Toxic Exposures in Iraq War Veterans

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  • Chelsey Poisson

    (Emergency Medicine, SMG Norwood Hospital, Norwood (Greater Boston Area), MA 02062, USA
    School of Nursing, Rhode Island College, Providence, RI 02908, USA
    HunterSeven Foundation, Providence, RI 02906, USA)

  • Sheri Boucher

    (School of Nursing, Rhode Island College, Providence, RI 02908, USA
    HunterSeven Foundation, Providence, RI 02906, USA
    Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI 02905, USA)

  • Domenique Selby

    (HunterSeven Foundation, Providence, RI 02906, USA
    Joint Trauma System, Defense Center of Excellence (CoE), Fort Sam Houston, Houston, TX 02905, USA
    Emergency Medicine, Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), San Diego, CA 92134, USA)

  • Sylvia P. Ross

    (School of Nursing, Rhode Island College, Providence, RI 02908, USA)

  • Charulata Jindal

    (Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle (UoN), Newcastle 2308, Australia)

  • Jimmy T. Efird

    (Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Health Services Research and Development, DVAHCS (Duke University Affiliate), Durham, NC 27705, USA)

  • Pollie Bith-Melander

    (Department of Social Work, California State University, Stanislaus, Stanislaus, CA 95382, USA)

Abstract

During their deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) , many Veterans were exposed to a wide array of toxic substances and psychologic stressors, most notably airborne/environmental pollutants from open burn pits. Service members do not deploy whilst unhealthy, but often they return with a multitude of acute and chronic symptoms, some of which only begin to manifest years after their deployment. Our findings, while preliminary in nature, suggest that Iraq War Veterans who participated in our survey reported a decrease in overall physical fitness and increased respiratory clinical symptoms compared with pre-deployment periods. The objective of this report is to provide information that will benefit how combat Veterans are cared for post-deployment. Strategies for a wider and more comprehensive assessment and medical screening process post-deployment are recommended.

Suggested Citation

  • Chelsey Poisson & Sheri Boucher & Domenique Selby & Sylvia P. Ross & Charulata Jindal & Jimmy T. Efird & Pollie Bith-Melander, 2020. "A Pilot Study of Airborne Hazards and Other Toxic Exposures in Iraq War Veterans," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:9:p:3299-:d:355796
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anthony R. Mawson & Ashley M. Croft, 2019. "Gulf War Illness: Unifying Hypothesis for a Continuing Health Problem," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Patricia A. Janulewicz & Ratanesh K. Seth & Jeffrey M. Carlson & Joy Ajama & Emily Quinn & Timothy Heeren & Nancy Klimas & Steven M. Lasley & Ronnie D. Horner & Kimberly Sullivan & Saurabh Chatterjee, 2019. "The Gut-Microbiome in Gulf War Veterans: A Preliminary Report," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Clara G. Zundel & Maxine H. Krengel & Timothy Heeren & Megan K. Yee & Claudia M. Grasso & Patricia A. Janulewicz Lloyd & Steven S. Coughlin & Kimberly Sullivan, 2019. "Rates of Chronic Medical Conditions in 1991 Gulf War Veterans Compared to the General Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-16, March.
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