The Environmental and Individual Health Impacts of Military Burn Pits

Letitia Travaglini, PhD; Nancy Hausterman, PhD - Military & Veterans’ Health SIG

Military toxic exposures have occurred in most major military events and include chemicals (e.g., Agent Orange), radiation (e.g., nuclear weapons), air pollutants (e.g., burn pits), warfare agents (e.g., biological weapons), and occupational hazards (e.g., asbestos). Airborne hazards, like smoke from burn pits, have been common in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Southwest Asia. Burn pits involved open burning of waste, chemicals, and waste materials used during wars like Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) to avoid transporting waste in combat zones. Due to health concerns, the Department of Defense/Department of War has been closing all burn pits.^1,2

Environmental Impact: While war in general greatly contributes to climate change, burn pits specifically can contaminate the air, groundwater, and soil in the surrounding area. There is little regulation or oversight to ensure minimal environmental impact; some efforts are made to place burn pits downwind from military bases, and there are occasional restrictions on outdoor activity during heavy smoke. However, burn pits were not typically regulated regarding the level of toxins/pollutants emitted. With the closure of burn pits, there has been a need to remove waste and regularly monitor groundwater, soil, and air quality in the areas to assess ongoing impact. Environmental contamination is often the indirect cause of health problems observed among those exposed to burn pits.^3-5

Individual Health Impact: The short- and long-term health impacts of burn pits vary based on many factors, including the types of waste burned, the degree of exposure, weather/wind conditions, and the presence of other nearby hazards. Short-term health concerns, including eye and skin irritation, coughing, and difficulty breathing, typically resolve once a person is no longer exposed to the smoke. However, there are several long-term, presumptive conditions related to burn pit exposures, including many types of cancer and respiratory diseases.  Burn pit exposure has also been linked to birth defects and pre-term pregnancy.^1,2

Clinical Initiatives: Military Environmental Exposures (MEEs) are considered critical care needs. As such, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) has initiated efforts to address health concerns related to toxic exposures. The PACT Act was enacted in 2022, expanding medical access to Veterans exposed to burn pits and other military-related exposures. The telehealth Veteran Exposure Team – Health Outcomes Military Exposures (VET-HOME) program evaluates exposure history and concerns and refers Veterans for additional testing as appropriate. Additionally, the Exposure Ed smartphone app is an educational tool for providers to access information about military-related exposures as well as resources for proper assessment and treatment (e.g., PACT Act information, VET-HOME).^6-8

Research Efforts: The VA has prioritized studying toxic exposures, creating the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBP) in 2014 for Veterans to report exposure and related health issues. In 2019, the VA established the Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence (AHBPCE), where specialists use AHOBP and other methods to explore burn pit-related health conditions. The VA also has a Notice of Special Interest announcement for a Military Exposures Research Program (MERP) Actively Managed Portfolio, that oversees laboratory, clinical, and health systems-level research related to military-related exposures.⁹

For more information:

• VA Information on Military Burn Pits: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/index.asp
• Publications & Reports on Military Exposures: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/publications/index.asp
• American Public Health Association: https://www.apha.org/policy-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-briefs/policy-database/2015/12/16/08/56/cleanup-of-us-military-burn-pits-in-iraq-and-afghanistan

References:

1. US Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Military Exposures. Retrieved 9 June 2026 from https://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/index.asp.
2. US Department of Veterans’ Affairs.  Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Exposures. Retrieved 9 June 2026 from https://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/burnpits/index.asp.
3. American Public Health Association. Cleanup of U.S. military burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. Policy Briefs and Advocacy. 2015;20155.  https://www.apha.org/policy-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-briefs/policy-database/2015/12/16/08/56/cleanup-of-us-military-burn-pits-in-iraq-and-afghanistan
4. Brown University Watson School of International Affairs. The Costs of War: Environmental. Retrieved 9 June 2026 from https://costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/costs/environmental.
5. Reiss M. Actually, we did start the fire, and it keeps on burning: the environmental health effects of military burn pits in Afghanistan and Iraq. Villanova University Environmental Law Commons. 2012;23(1):article 5. https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=elj
6. US Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Welcome to VET-HOME (Veterans Exposure Team - Health Outcomes Military Exposures). Retrieved 9 June 2026 from https://vethome.va.gov/.
7. US Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Mobile Apps: Exposure Ed. Retrieved 9 June 2026 from https://mobile.va.gov/app/exposure-ed.
8. Van De Graaff J, Poole JA. A Clinician's Guide to Occupational Exposures in the Military. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2022;22(12):259-264. doi:10.1007/s11882-022-01051-0
9. US Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Exposures Research. Retrieved 9 June 2026 from https://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/burnpits/research.asp.