Australian veterans who served alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan say their health has suffered from toxic burn pits, but the government has yet to recognize a direct link between their illnesses and military service.
Angelique Donnellan reports for ABC News.
In short:
- Burn pits were widely used at U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan to dispose of waste, releasing toxic fumes that have been linked to respiratory diseases and cancer.
- The U.S. now presumes certain illnesses are service-related for veterans exposed to burn pits, but Australia has not adopted the same policy.
- Australian Army veteran Brett Green, diagnosed with brain cancer, says his claim for military-related compensation has been denied despite his exposure.
Key quote:
"I mean, from a child, I was told don't burn plastic, right? It's common knowledge."
— Amber Green, wife of veteran Brett Green
Why this matters:
The issue of toxic exposure from military burn pits has become a major health crisis for veterans, particularly those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the United States, the fight for recognition of burn pit-related illnesses has been long and fraught, but progress has been made. In Australia, however, the situation remains murkier. Scientific research into the long-term health effects of burn pits is ongoing, but the challenge lies in linking specific diseases to exposure.
Many conditions, including lung diseases and cancers, can take years to develop, complicating efforts to establish definitive causation. Meanwhile, as debates over recognition and compensation continue, veterans on both sides of the Pacific are left dealing with the consequences of an exposure they had little control over.
Related EHN coverage: Is the toxic legacy of the Iraq War deforming children near US bases?
