Health Tips

Did burn pits used by the military to dispose of waste including computer parts and plastic water bottles cause long-term health effects in soldiers stationed nearby?

A much anticipated Institute of Medicine report, sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs, says there aren’t enough data to conclude a link between burn pits and long-term health consequences, but what data are available do suggest that particles in the air — whether from burn pits or other sources like industry, explosive devices or other pollutants — appear tied to soldiers’ respiratory problems. (The WSJ has the full story.)

David Tollerud, chair of the IOM committee, tells the Health Blog that the military provided air samples taken from around the Balad air base in Iraq, but could only provide a certain amount of information about how many people were exposed and to what extent. A study with better data would be needed to figure out if there is a specific connection between burn pits and health, he said.

Tollerud, who also previously chaired a number of committees that examined the effects of Agent Orange and hasn’t ever been in the military, said that compared to Vietnam and the Gulf Wars, there has been “increased attention from the [Defense Department] on the potential health effects of environmental exposures.”

To better figure out if burn pits are linked to long-term health consequences, some groups, like the Disabled American Veterans, say that there needs to be a registry of soldiers exposed to burn pits so their health can be monitored over time.

“We have to have a way to make the connection between military service and disabling conditions, especially when it comes to toxic exposure,” John Wilson, assistant national legislative director at DAV, tells the Health Blog. “This first step by the IOM gives us that opportunity. The next critical step though is a registry.”

Photo: Agence France-Press/Getty Images

from: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/wsj/health/feed/~3/RaDPlyp03SA/

Occupy Oakland protesters have reclaimed the grassy plaza outside City Hall, just days after police forcefully removed their encampment citing safety and health concerns.By Saturday morning, about 60 tents had resurfaced as protesters discussed the logistics of staging a citywide strike on Wednesday. Many said they are more resolved to participate [...]

from: http://online.worldmag.com/2011/10/31/protesters-re-occupy-oakland/

Amazingly, despite the widespread fear of Halloween poisonings, no evidence of a genuine Halloween poisoning can be located. A professor of sociology and criminal justice at the University of Delaware, Dr. Joel Best, has tried to debunk this myth repeatedly. After scanning major newspapers between 1958 and 1993 for stories about Halloween candy tampering, Dr. Best found nearly 100 stories that he followed up with phone calls to police and hospitals. Of those stories, Dr. Best found absolutely none that could be positively attributed to random Halloween violence. The majority were the result of pranks. The reported incidents usually involved the discovery of contaminated treats, but with no actual injury to the children. When these cases were followed up, even the contamination usually turned out to be a hoax – often one initiated by the children themselves.

Full Aaron Carroll post.

from: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheJohnGoodmanHealthBlog/~3/1h-TSDGQYi8/