Senator wants answers on dangers of burn pits

[unhappycamper]

Senator wants answers on dangers of burn pits
By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Nov 7, 2008 12:35:50 EST

Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., has written to Gen. David Petraeus, the new chief of U.S. Central Command, demanding to be informed about any pending investigations into health problems for troops exposed to burn pit smoke in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“After years of helping veterans of the Vietnam and Gulf wars cope with the health effects of toxic battlefields, we have learned that we must take exposures to toxins seriously to ensure that this generation of service members does not face the same difficulties,” Feingold wrote in a letter dated Oct. 31.

“While I appreciate the nearly overwhelming set of challenges we face in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is no excuse for exposing service members and local civilians to preventable hazrds.”

Feingold said he read about the issue in a Military Times paper. Another Military Times story showed hazardous waste is a problem throughout Iraq and Afghanistan.

Since the stories came out, more than 50 service members have written to Military Times expressing concern about the burn pits, some saying they’re fearful that a litany of ailments they have — asthma, allergies, headaches, even cancer — may be linked to the burn pit smoke that they inhaled for prolonged periods.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/military_burnpits_feingold_110708w/%2e