I’ve written a lot about the Balad, Iraq burn pit (with my personal photos) that has poisoned the soldiers and civilians stationed next to it at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Questions are being asked my the soldiers who are reporting mysterious illness that are naturally being linked to the smoke plume that burned plastics, paint cans, BODY PARTS, and all other forms of nastiness 24/7.
We finally have an official response from the U.S. Army and, surprisingly, General Petraeus himself:
“As part of the on-going occupational and environmental health surveillance program, a second comprehensive study of the air quality at Joint Base Balad was conducted and the results will be published soon and help guide recommendations for the frequency and extent of future air quality monitoring,” Petraeus wrote.
He also said service members have health monitoring data included in their medical records.
The Joint Staff and other agencies will “continue to collect air, water and soil samples for scientific analysis in an effort to monitor potential exposure levels to our personnel and local Iraqis,” Petraeus wrote.
This quote by Petraeus tells us two things: First, the military acknowledges the problem and is monitoring it. Second, the military confirms that soldiers will have notations in their medical file which tells me that the military is willing to “bone up” to future health problems that could be linked to the burn pit.
My only concern is that the findings will NOT be representational of the air quality from 2003-2006 prior to incinerators becoming opperational and won’t be procide accurate data. The only study (that we’re aware of) that was published is now classified by the military for “opperational security”.
More to come as I’ve been advised by a CNN producer that the burn pit story was finally publicised today on CNN at 4pm CST. I wasn’t able to catch the broadcast but I’m on the hunt for the video online. If you come across it, leave a link!
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I was thinking the same thing reading this…are they going to declassify the 2006 report?
I was stationed in Balad from July 2003 thru Jun 2004, I can tell you that the burn pit was really bad, not only the burn pit keeping a black cloud about 6′ off the ground, but with 15K plus soldiers having to burn their own waste in diesel and gas only added to the toxic air we were breathing. I spent many days over the burn barrel stirring this mixture. We also had urine tubes. There were tubes we placed at a slant and was inserted about 10’ in the ground. The Men would use these instead of the “Outhouses” so there would be limited liquid to try and burn. The flies were bad around the “Piss Tubes” Back to the burn pit. I saw everything from vehicle engines to ammunition that was thrown into the burn pit in Balad.
I had lung surgery 2.5 years before I was deployed to Iraq and had recovered about 70% before the deployment, After 7 months,I was MEDAVAC’ed out of Iraq and spent 3 months recovering State Side before re-deploying back to Balad to finish my deployment.
Now I am on several daily breathing medications a day and have to take daily pain meds for the pleurisy. I retired after 26 years of service due to these health issues. I have just gotten into the VA health system last month. Upon taling to the OEF/OIF rep they scheduled me for an environmental workup. I have this workup next week. I can truly say the Medical Side of the VA in Memphis Tennessee are great folks and I really think they care about the Vets. Now on the VA Compensation side… That is a whole other story and I have lost all faith and think the rater (At least the person that rated me) don’t care at all about the Vet.
It’s Very Interesting Article And I have Enjoyed Reading it , I’m From Iraq And I can tell you that that 90% from this info is true . The Station is hard in Iraq now and as you know we had election not long ago and we all wish everything will be find soon .