Illness from burn pits a health issue for returning vets

(CBS News) ROBSTOWN, Texas - A mysterious illness is afflicting veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's a crippling lung disease that targets soldiers assigned to work near burn pits. One wife of a stricken soldier is watching her husband suffer and fighting the battle he no longer can.

LeRoy Torres was a Texas state trooper and a captain in the Army Reserves when he deployed for a year-long combat tour to Iraq in 2007.

"The minute he got back," said his wife Rosie,"he was hospitalized, right when he got back. It was like, 'Okay, it's the Iraqi crud,' that's what we kept hearing. After a few weeks, he started having these breathing attacks. It was the scariest moment ever for us."

Rosie said her husband's health issues resulted from exposure to open-air burn pits, which the U.S. military used in Iraq and Afghanistan to torch everything from batteries to body parts.

The Department of Veterans Affairs acknowledged Balad, where Torres was based, disposed of "several hundred tons per day."

"I was very close to the burn pits," said LeRoy from his bed. "That's where I was housed in. But we didn't think nothing of it."

Read More: After War: Eye on Veterans Affairs

Today, at age 40, LeRoy is barely able to leave bed most days. His doctors have diagnosed him with a lung disease: constrictive bronchiolitis. He has a lesion on his brain and cysts in his spleen and groin.

"Sometimes the headaches will last for three hours," said LeRoy, "Sometimes I've had a headache for eight days. Eight days straight. It's unexplainable.

"I remember one night thinking, 'Who am I holding?'" said Rosie. "'What happened to the man that I married?' It was at that moment that I thought, 'This is it, I'm going to have to be his advocate.'"

She launched a web site where veteran burn pit victims can register. She also lobbied Congress to take action.

In January, President Obama signed a law giving the Secretary of Veterans Affairs one year to create a national registry to track potential burn pit victims.

Dr. Anthony Szema, a professor at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, thinks that if it wasn't for Rosie Torres, the law wouldn't be in existence. He's been analyzing dust from near burn pits.

Szema said 14 percent of veterans he's studied return with some sort of lung complications.

"I think clearly we don't allow people to burn things in an unregulated fashion in the United States," said Szema, "and we have EPA limits against the number of particles in the air." He added: "They should not be doing it over there."

As LeRoy Torres' condition worsens, he may not benefit from the new law. His dream job is gone already.

"It ended his career as a trooper," Rosie said, crying.

The national registry of burn pit victims won't be out until at least 2014. In the meantime, doctors are relying on Rosie Torres' unofficial registry: her information and her continuing search for answers.

[PowerTenInc]

The burn pit problem is real. What CBS News didn't mention is the solution is available to this problem. There is a solution to this problem that is harming our troops. A team of highly respected former active duty Marines, from Power Ten, Inc., is bringing the solution to the Department of Defense, through the USMC, in the form of MAGS™. MAGS™ is Micro Auto Gasification System, is a small gasification system designed to breakdown waste at the point of origin in an environmentally sound manner, without the toxic emissions, while harvesting the waste energy and eliminating the transportation burden. A single MAGS destroys up to 100 pounds per hour of as-received waste and reduces the waste volume by more than 95%, exporting more than twice the energy it consumes in the form of hot water and air.

For the rest of the story: http://www.powerteninc.com/MAGS_CBS-story-now-for-the-rest.html

[philaflyers]

Hey jtdev do you have the guts to say this face to face to this man and his wife? or are you just tuff enough to hide behind your keyboard.

[jtdev1]

Sure do. (As long as I'm not Killed for speaking my mind.)

Whats the problem, We now can't disagree with a "War Veteran"?

Look, did he or did he not sign on the dotted line to essentially give his life away to the US Government? Where in that contract does it say that he will be returned in the same condition he left in?

He isn't even happy he's alive while so many others are NOT! What about being happy with returning with all his limbs and ALIVE?

If you sign a contract (with the Devil in my opinion) you have nothing to complain about. He signed his life away, didn't he???


So to say that the Government owes him cause he now has a breathing problem after VOLUNTARILY going to a WAR ZONE is pretty stupid.

I'm sure he was all too happy to get the signing bonus and pay, housing, healthcare from the government, wasn't he?

You people are morons who think we should all feel sorry for him and the CHOICES he made with his life. Why are you bashing me for telling the TRUTH??? Look at it realistically, would you feel so bad for me signing for a mortgage I couldn't afford, or buying a car??

Just because he voluntarily decided to go fight in wars for pay, education, health care, housing, and all the fringe benefits doesn't mean he's GOD. Its time we all look at this realistically and see the truth in it.

Okay, I'm done - Bash away!

[desertmarine]

jtdev1 is this Veterans situation any different than someone working STATESIDE IN A UNION FACTORY any different? its called RESPONSIBILITY ON THE EMPLOYER!! this case the Military. the Military TAKES RESPONSIBILITY, when a service-member gets injured, sick, etc. and thats WHY the VA exists, to CARE FOR VETERANS!!

[desertmarine]

jtdev1 the GOVERNMENT DOES owes these service-members for VOLUNTEERING, its called EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITY. just like YOUR EMPLOYER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU!! WHEN YOU ACCEPTED THEIR JOB OFFER!! go ahead and agrue with me in this, i'll find you and personally present you the Congressional Committee of Veterans Affairs and you can TESTIFY before them!!

[philaflyers]

It goes with any occupation that has a risk, folks who work in the civilian sector who incurr injury from hazards are entitled by law to recieve compensation, and people receive it so they can offset the costs associated by their inability to provide for themselves and their families. I'll bet you would claim if you could to, and if you say you wouldnt your not being honest. And all the benefits you talked about is the least we can do for these brave americans who lay down their lives for unfortunately peple like you who dont appreciate it. Maybe you would like it better somewere else were you have to ask permittion to leave your county to visit a relative or get thrown in prison for speaking at a protest. I think I earned the right to speak here after 21 years of military service and serving three tours supporting OIF and three for OEF. I would do it all over in a New York minute. And finally I can't believe what a self absorbed selfish individual you are, totally un-american.

[jtdev1]

I'd like to see any "State Side" job contract include you signing your life away with a great possibility of being blown to bits.

I don't remember hearing about any of those jobs here in the States.


He signed his life away, he knew there was a great possibility he could be killed, hurt, etc... He knew what he was getting in to.

There are no EPA laws in wars, No OSHA, no nothing like that.

How come you have very little compassion for those Vietnam Vets on the street corner with whats now called PTSD. Heck they were DRAFTED with NO CHOICE in the matter. How many times do you stand up for them, or do you just call the cops when they ask you for spare change.

Think about it. but then again I don't think anyone could change your mind or make you weigh the facts.

[desertmarine]

jtdev1, here' a STATE SIDE job where you can be "blown to bits" Lumber-Jack, Law Enforcement, EMT's, Fire-Fighter, i'm sure there's plenty more where a STATE SIDE JOB is plenty DANGEROUS, and would require extra "compensation" for employment. WANT TO CONTINUE ARGUING WITH ME!!

[philaflyers]

Yo Desert Marine you hit the nail on the head right there, unforunatly I think jtdev is to self absorbed and ignorant to get it, you cant fix stupid ya know?

[sepa2]

scorch earth policy coming home to roost. And US is policing (selectively) world human rights status

[cjpaityn1977]

My husband was stationed in FOB Rustimaya. (2-16 rangers fort Riley Kansas) They were one of the last to serve an 18 month deployment. They were exposed to burn pits all of the time. In fact I still have the pictures of it!!! He has had nothing but health problems that he did not have before going to Iraq. 2-16's exposure to these burn piles was all of the time. They were burning basically 24 hours a day. Now he does have "PTSD" (I am not so sure that his problems are due to that) so he has his 70% rating. He is having problems with his G.I. tract, breathing, colon, kidneys, infections (he always shows an infection when they do blood work). He was riding in the car the other day and was winded just sitting in the car. It sounded like he ran a marathon. He also has short term memory loss. He has never had a brain injury or head trauma to explain this. The doctors say it is due to his PTSD.

He will get lost going to a place that he has been many times before but for some reason cannot remember where the place is. He forgets names and faces of people he has known for years. I have on my own for some time been doing research and know it is from these chemicals he has been exposed to. I am glad to see the V.A. finally opening their eyes to see the effect this is having on our soldiers. It is sad, my husband is 36years old and I am worried that he is going to die from all of the toxins that he was exposed to. The bathing water was filled with cat urine due to the overwhelming wild animal population there. He gets strange rashes that come and go. He bloats around the abdominal and back area of his left side. He has an area on the left lower back that looks as though his veins are turning black. I have attached a picture. It appears a different color on the camera but is almost a blackish color. He says his insides just hurt. I am very concerned with my husband's health and wondering why no one else is. Please share my husband's story. I know he is just one of many that we will hear about. I have posted this on as many burn pit sites that I could find. We need to all share our stories.

[desertmarine]

cjpaityn1977 you need to APPEAL your husbands VA disability rating until it goes to 100% WITH Aid and Attendance (since you are his permanent health attendant now). since i don't know where you live, contact you local VFW, IAVA and/or American Legion posts (branches) and have them represent you and your husband on you claims and such.

and remember you are NOT ALONE in this, many more Veterans are with you.

[DMSW]

Please contact me!!! My husband and I were stationed at the same FOB (same time? 07-08)I would like to discuss/compare his symptoms with your husbands. I can be reached at 703-864-3167

[desertmarine]

Captain and Mrs Torres please contact your local VFW (veterans of foreign wars), IAVA (iraq and afghanistan veterans of america) and American Legion. they can be your Congressional Advocate. they will also help compile the information needed to properly track other incidents of this type (i know i'm a desert storm and OIF-2 veteran). additionally there IS a database for "Gulf War Syndrome" within the VA. you MUST insist they add you (i know since i was added). each of these with greatly help in getting the best resources available.

on a side note i also know that people (lower and mid level on-site managers, whether military or civilian) often VIOLATED environmental laws, policy, and procedures regarding the disposal of hazardous material in Iraq and Afghanistan.

so you two DO YOU BEST and OOH RAH!

[JAIMEAUT]

Too much aggressiveness and hostility displayed in too many comments. You don't have to call someone a moron or ignoramus or etc. because you don't agree with someone's facts or conclusions.
Anyway,"contractors" = mercenaries
mercenary
adj.
1. Motivated solely by a desire for monetary or material gain.

Is that what all our troops have become?

[AIG_LEISHMANIA_DEATH]

Mercenaries is what they want-to-be, but have not the Sack to Carry to these War Zones.
The Military of today is the Greatest Resource that this Nation has to offer. The Military of Today is the Few Freedom Fighters that is Protection the Rights of Everybody That's Downing Them!!
The Civilians is the Brothers, Sisters, Mothers and Fathers of these Freedom Fighters that's doing a Mission from Washington DC, not what they want to do. They are only doing a Job that is Offered for these Freedom Fighters!!
Put it Plain, they are American doing what is told to them from the people that You Voted In Office! Get Mad At Them in Washington DC!!!!
God Bless America

[AIG_LEISHMANIA_DEATH]

AIG knows about these Burn Pits and Leishmania. This Trooper needs to be tested for Leishmania. Leishmania is from the bit of a Sand Fly, that feeds on Wild Dogs. Type in, idri.org on Google find Leishmaniasis, read all three pages. This affects both Military and Civilians working on these Fire Bases, defending this Great Nation!

[venusvegasvada]

Contractors? Do they count too?

[venusvegasvada]

@GrumpyOldPhart

Stick to commenting on things you know about. You know nothing about contractors, what they go through, how much they make or what drives them.

Contractors have been around supporting our military since the Revolutionary war and most are ex-military. You really don't know jack @$@$ about it. The reality of it is they save the American taxpayer money. They don't get paid as much as you think. They die just like anyone else does. Because of uninformed morons like yourself, they don't get the support they need.

[DLWR]

It is no secret our country uses us up then tries to casts us aside. A few examples are:
Nuclear radiations test on our troops
Gas tests on our troops
Agent Orange
Chemical and biological test on our troops
Gulf war syndrome
The list goes on and on. Anybody can do an internet search if interested.
Then there are idiots like GrumpyOldPhart making matters worse spouting ignorant crap.
As previously stated contractors have been the cohesion in every war. Their tours are indefinite; contractors support our troops up close. When our boys rotate our contractors are their sharing their common experience.
B-T-W Old phart when my reserve unit was not activated I took a 50% salary cut to go help as a contractor.
I to am a vet but by the grace of Allah I have never had need to file for VA benefits
K Company 75th Inf Reg
C trp 7/17th aerial scouts
196th Inf bde. S3 Air ....

[rokeni]

I am a recently retired 25yr combat veteran of the Army National Guard with 2 deployments to Iraq and Kuwait. I do know what this young Captain is going through. During OIF III, our Hawaii unit was stationed at LSA Anaconda, Balad, Iraq for one year. During that time, the only way to dispose of anything on base that was not to be used against us by the locals or TCN's was the burn pit (to include bio-hazardous waste).
Tower#5 guard tower was right in the middle of it (I have pictures) and at times it got so bad that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face for the orange fog, and it constantly seeped underneath the door in our trailers.
Shame on the government for turning their backs on the very people who put their lives on the line every day; to give them and their families the very freedoms that they seemed to have taken for granted; by ignoring this soldier and others with their basic right for medical care and their difficulty trying to get assistance for problems that incurred while they were on duty.
My thoughts and prayers are with this and other soldiers. You are never forgotten!
Please send me the email address of Mrs. Torres so that I might be able to confer with her about this situation. Thank you so much.

[rwsmith29456]

I hope somebody picks up on the idea that burning toxic materials in an uncontrolled manner can do great harm to people that breathe it and hopefully stop doing it.

[foo8259]

Lots of people out here in the county, even within subdivisions, burn all their garbage. It produces dioxin and nothing is done about it if it's an "controlled burn" ie. done in a burn barrel out of the city limits.