National opinion: Contaminants threaten military, families

In April 1999, Congress designated the month of May to be the National Military Appreciation Month, creating a unique opportunity for communities nationwide to show their appreciation to our more than 1.3 million active-duty military men, women, their families, and approximately 15.8 million veterans of the US Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force, Space Force, National Guard, and Coast Guard.

In addition to the many ways we have spent this month honoring veterans, our fallen heroes and their families, it’s the perfect occasion for raising much-needed awareness of the military community’s challenges. Toxic exposure and related disabilities affect thousands of active members and veterans, and the associated health risks are among the most severe dangers these courageous men and women have to face.

Military personnel and their families living on military bases were exposed to several contaminants, ranging from air pollutants (burn pits, sand, dust) and toxic chemicals (Agent Orange, industrial solvents like PFAS) to radiation and occupational hazards, like asbestos.

Many of these toxic agents are silent and unknown enemies still lurking on military bases in the air, soil, landfills, groundwater, and drinking water. Asbestos is one of the most dangerous substances to veterans, especially those who served during WWII, the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Exposure to asbestos, a durable, cost-effective, and heat-resistant mineral, was an everyday occurrence in all branches of the US Armed Forces, especially in the Navy, which relied on large amounts of asbestos until the 1980s. Even if the EPA regulated asbestos use, its microscopic mineral fibers could still be found in the barracks, warships, and fighter planes, exposing service members to the malignant asbestos conditions of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. The rare but deadly mesothelioma, a cancer exclusively linked to asbestos exposure, affects veterans in a disproportionate manner: about 30 percent of all mesothelioma patients in America are veterans.

Past, present military personnel at risk

Arizona’s veteran and active-duty military population is also affected by the risks of toxic exposure, a health hazard with devastating consequences which have intensified in the past few decades. It’s a sad fact shown in statistics stating that, in 2022, around 30 percent of the state’s veterans had a disability. These men and women were and still are exposed to chemical pollutants on Arizona’s military bases, some of which have appeared on the list of superfund sites. Furthermore, family members are also in danger due to indirect contamination, while the health of those living on military installations is undoubtedly at risk.

In 2022, the Senate passed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act) to acknowledge toxic exposure as a significant occupational hazard in the US Armed Forces. The PACT Act expanded VA health care and benefits for veterans, adding 20+ more toxic chemicals and related illnesses to the list of presumptive conditions.

The PACT Act brought significant change for those exposed to harmful substances by making the application process for disability benefits and health care services more straightforward. However, despite evidence linking contaminants, such as volatile organic compounds, to severe health conditions, the Act leaves behind veterans suffering from exposures not yet included in the law.

Additionally, the VA faces challenges and bureaucratic shortcomings in handling the many compensation claims, leading to significant delays in VA healthcare and disability benefit claims. Many veterans live with aggressive or incurable conditions. For them, timely diagnosis, appropriate care, and compensation are the only options for spending their last years in dignity. The National Military Appreciation Month could and should be a platform for raising awareness and fostering dialogue about the experiences and challenges of military members, veterans and their families with toxic exposure.