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Pages 1-10

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From page 1...
... that prohibited the disposal of waste in open-air burn pits by DoD and called for the department to issue appropriate regulations concerning them. At that same time, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
From page 2...
... THE COMMITTEE'S INFORMATION-GATHERING AND ANALYSIS EFFORTS The scientific foundation for the report's findings, conclusions, and recommendations was developed through a number of information-gathering and data analysis activities. These included conducting a public workshop, directing the work of a consulting firm that performed analyses of registry data, and carrying out a review of relevant research literature, including previous National Academies studies on such topics as the use of military burn pits, efforts to monitor air quality in the Persian Gulf region, the state of the literature regarding the health effects of exposure to combustion products in general and burn pit emissions, and related topics.
From page 3...
... Even under the best of circumstances, there are substantial limits to the accuracy of the data and -- when the respondents make up only a small, unrepresentative fraction of the eligible population -- to the generalizability of analyses made with them. THE AIRBORNE HAZARDS AND OPEN BURN PIT REGISTRY VA was presented with a challenge when it was directed by the Congress to design, test, and implement an environmental health registry for "individuals who may have been exposed to toxic airborne chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits" in 12 months.
From page 4...
... available to the committee's contractor. However, VA data security and participant privacy protocols precluded these data from including any items that would allow for a description of the association between respondents' self-reported exposures and their Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
From page 5...
... Nearly all respondents report having encountered one or more airborne hazards in theater: 96% of all respondents reported being exposed to a burn pit on at least one deployment, and 85.6% of Gulf War era respondents reported exposure to smoke from oil-well fires, while 85.2% of all respondents reported being exposed to dust storms. The lack of data on those who were deployed and who do not believe they were exposed to burn pits precludes using the registry to compare exposed individuals with unexposed individuals.
From page 6...
... Given this and the committee's other findings regarding the registry, The committee recommends that VA's messaging be explicit about the limitations on the ability of the AH&OBP Registry to generate valid information that can be used to improve VA health and benefits programs or to inform treatment of individuals potentially exposed to burn pits or other airborne hazards in theater in order to ensure that participants and others do not form unrealistic expectations about the value of participation or the capabilities of the registry. OTHER FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS The committee was also asked to offer observations on some additional issues surrounding the registry and the actions being taken by DoD and VA to address airborne hazards and open burn pit questions.
From page 7...
... Two previous National Academies reports have offered recommendations on how more rigorous and useful data could be collected: Review of the Department of Defense Enhanced Particulate Matter Surveillance Program Report (NRC, 2010) and Long-Term Health Consequences of Exposure to Burn Pits in Iraq and Afghanistan (IOM, 2011)
From page 8...
... Adding a means of scheduling an exam as part of the questionnaire -- a capability that the committee understands is being implemented -- is a useful first step. CLOSING OBSERVATIONS The committee recognizes the great interest that active duty military personnel and veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the greater Southwest Asia theater of operations have in understanding potential threats to their health from airborne hazards and open burn pit exposures.
From page 9...
... 2010. Review of the Department of Defense Enhanced Particulate Matter Surveillance Program report.


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