Effects of toxic smoke worry troops returning from Iraq
By Adam Levine
December 15, 2008
CNN Supervising Pentagon Producer
WASHINGTON (CNN) — The pervasive smoke spewing from the junk heap at Balad Air Force Base in Iraq is causing many returning troops to be concerned about the effects on their long-term health.
Studies of the smoke from the burn pits suggests it contains dioxin and other toxins.
For four years, the burn pit was a festering dump, spewing acrid smoke over the base, including housing and the hospital.
Until three incinerators were installed, the smelly pit was the only place to dispose of trash, including plastics, food and medical waste.
“At the peak, before they went to use the real industrial incinerators, it was about 500,000 pounds a day of stuff,” according to a transcript of an April 2008 presentation by Dr. Bill Halperin, who heads the Occupational and Environmental Health Subcommittee at the Defense Health Board. “The way it was burned was by putting jet fuel on it.”
A lawsuit filed against the burn pit operators, KBR, by a contractor alleges the burn pit also contained body parts. 
Watch burn pits spew black smoke »
“Wild dogs in the area raided the burn pit and carried off human remains. The wild dogs could be seen roaming the base with body parts in their mouths,” says the lawsuit filed in Texas federal court.
Aside from Balad, there are similar pits at bases elsewhere in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some still have no incinerators. Click HERE to read the rest of this amazing story!!
….and I still can’t get the video to embed.
Are you having any luck with that?
Ms Sparky’s Response:
I got it.
the incinorator is almost ready
we are hiriong for it good base pay
Ms Sparky’s Response:
I’ll bet. Are they requiting HAZMAT certs or can just anyone run it?
The incinerators are not working at full capacity. Things are still going into the burn pit. Styrofoam cups and plates and plastic utensils from the DFAC. God know what else goes in there.
You know, it’s interesting…, with two runways here, they should have had a clue which way the prevailing wind was from. Yet they put it in the area where the wind would blow the smoke towards the camp. Idiocy on KBR’s part. Most of times you go to the O&M camp you’re breathing this stuff. You should see the smoke hanging like a pail over the base.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
I wish the media could get into Iraq and document what is REALLY going on!
For three years I worked across the road from these burn pits.. I have been home one week and have nosebleeds everynight.. joint pain and sores all over my body.. they canceled my insurance the day I arrived in the USA.. so much for three years of being lied too
Ms Sparky’s Response:
For KBR? Those bastards!! Get in touch with a good DBA Attorney. I have heard good things about Aaron Walter. http://www.chestnutlegal.com/aaronwalterbio.html
Mspms: You have disability/injury benefits under the Defense Base Act . . contact an attorney to get your application started ASAP!!! There are numerous websites with attorney information depending on where you live. Check out the links on this site for American Contractors in Iraq and the Defense Base Act Comp. If you still need more information contact Ms Sparky directly and she will give you my email address.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
Thanks Krash!
Just a comment: How do you get anyone to believe you? That you feel you have issues from the burning pits? I fear that it is going to be an uphill battle just to get someone to help document these issues? I drove through the smoke as I passed the burn pits each night. It smelled horrible and I had to cover my mouth and nose. Now I have a chronic cough and can’t seem to shake it. I feel weak, headaches, my right arm seems to be weaker hurts to lift it. Will anything good come of this?
P.S. I just got home from Iraq on November 25th 2008 and I can tell you the incinerators are not to full capacity as everyone thinks they are. Still black rising smoke is going into the air. And it stinks!!
Deb,
Get the medical symptoms completely documented especially showing where you worked and what you were exposed to, then just stick to your guns and don’t give up. Make sure that you file your DBA claim now so that in case your symptoms get worse (and I pray they don’t) you will have filed within the time parameters. AIG’s tactics are to stall until you go away . . . don’t give up!!!!
I recommend Herb Chestnut or Aaron Walter. .
Keep us posted on how you are doing.
Deb, I should have read your other post first . . the illnesses stemming from being exposed to the burn pits have been recognized by the VA as far as I know . . just stick to your guns that the symptoms are caused by the toxins you were exposed to.
Hi Krash
Thanks for your comments on my post. I will do as you said stick to my guns. I had another question and thought Ms Sparky could comment on as well. I was speaking to my husband and talking about all the issues I am learning on line now. And it dawned on me…
JBB is also known to poison the birds on base due to the air field. I have personally witnessed a huge amount of dead birds laying around (their carcases) are never disposed of. They mostly just decompose right where they are. I mean in one day I thought how can they just kill off so many birds. I really didn’t notice them stinking due to the dry heat there. It mostly was birds like the Doves getting it.
Now I hate to admit this but I will we had a dog. Yes we had a dog in our company. And she would run across the street and sometimes she would bring back a dead bird to eat it, and it was an all out chase to get them away from her. I mean we didn’t just pick them up with our hands but if she ate the birds and we naturally were exposed to her. I just wonder what exposure we had to the residue? She was a “bird dog” and not her breed if you know what I mean.. Does anyone know anything about this issue? As far as what they used to kill a bird?
Let’s count everything that is an exposure. I mean it just dawned on me and I find this to be a little nerving to say the least.
Thanks again your advice is well taken into account.
Do you know if the military vector guys were doing the poisoning or was it KBR vector guys?? Maybe someone from KBR vector will read this post and might know of the chemicals used on the birds.
Krash,
I really don’t know who was in charge of poisoning if I had to guess I would say it was KBR vector. The reason I had asked about the birds is due to this being over looked. It can’t be good to see dead birds lying around and know they had been poisoned to death. This could contaminate the ground etc…
It’s even the small things we over look. I think there should be more awareness for the troops on these issues. So again if they take it for granted and just allow dead birds to lay around, then of course they are just assuming the burn pits are safe. If we truly break it down to common things that we were around we should be surprised at what we will find.
Just a thought.
Ms Sparky’s Response:
If Vector Control would have just stayed taking care of spiders, snakes and scorpions that would have been fine with me. But…they killed our rabbits. We had two domestic bunny’s running around Camp Hope. They wouldn’t let you pet them but we did sneak them salad. Yep…they were pretty vicious. Yep…pretty dangerous to catch a glimpse of the bunny’s on the way to your hooch at the end of the day and crack a smile. Now that I think about it. It probably wasn’t the bunny’s at all. It was probably the smiling KBR didn’t like!
Ms. Sparky,
I am not a fan of the Vector Control. But the issue I do wonder is the fact that the animals at “any” base might be subjected to spreading rabies. I know that we had snakes, camel spiders, lots of lizards, and our dog. I was so worried if she would have bitten anyone would she have caused rabies since she (at first) wasn’t vaccinated. I know any animal we have here in the states we vaccinate our pets. But over in Iraq they don’t do this as a rule since their dogs run wild and free.
I know how an animal will raise your morale and boost your spirit. AS with your bunnies. I am so sorry to hear they were distroyed. KBR does alot to bring morale down. I am glad you did have something to make you smile.
Just thought maybe it was more the rabie issue than having a pet? Sometimes a little risk makes it worth while doesn’t it? A smile says alot.