Families, DOD spar over dangers of burn pit smoke

[unhappycamper]

Army Staff Sgt. Matt Bumpus poses with family (wife Laura, sons Nate and Aaron). Bumpus died in August 2008 after a two-year battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a rare and aggressive cancer his family believes was caused by exposure to burn pits during his year-long deployment in Iraq in 2003-2004. But military and veterans officials maintain there is no connection between the illness and his military service.


Families, DOD spar over dangers of burn pit smoke
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, November 6, 2009

WASHINGTON — In 2004, Staff Sgt. Steven Ochs regularly inhaled toxic fumes from burn pits beside his base in Balad, Iraq. So did a colleague, Staff Sgt. Matt Bumpus.

In 2006, Ochs developed a rare, aggressive form of leukemia. So did Bumpus.

In 2008, Ochs died from the cancer. So did Bumpus, 22 days later.

Defense and Veterans Affairs officials say that’s a coincidence. Pentagon health experts insist that burn pits overseas — used to dispose of trash, broken furniture, and even some excess combat equipment — do not pose a serious health risk to troops.

Bumpus’ widow calls that “a slap in the face” to the families who have seen the effects firsthand. Family members say hundreds of other soldiers, some who served with Bumpus or Ochs and some who simply were stationed in other areas with burn pits, have developed rare cancers and chromosome mutations, all ailments linked to chemical exposures.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=65885