‘Witch’s Brew of Toxic Chemicals’

(9 am. – promoted by ek hornbeck)

For those that seem to have a problem with the facts of how we humans live and readily do damage to our environment, and really seem not to care, that around us as well as adding to what everyone else has done making it a global problem, this post, and the links etc. that it contains, may educate you some, and this is only about what our military does, knowingly or not, and corrects or not.  

Yesterday, October 8 2009, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs held a hearing, VA/DOD Response to Certain Military Exposures. You can click on the link to get the backlinks to each of the two panels that participated and what they said. You will also find the link to watch the hearing, now archived, parts of which will be found below. I would suggest that the hearing be watched.

This is only about our recent history, some going back to the sixties to eighties as to water contamination at Camp Lejeune, most about burn pits and other contaminants in Iraq and Afghanistan and other bases, and not covering that which goes back decades, like Agent Orange Defoliants etc..  And while those testifying are from this Country where much of the testimony talks about are incidents in others Countries, no testimonies from those who live there yet will be suffering the long term effects of our actions.

Debate Over U.S. Soldiers Deaths, Senate panel hears about chemicals dumped by American Forces in Iraq

Enduring War and ‘Witch’s Brew of Toxic Chemicals’

Veterans to Congress: Investigate, Ensure Medical Care for Chemical Exposure

When Laurie Paganelli and her son Jordan, 5, moved to the U.S. Naval Air facility at Atsugi, Japan, in 1997, they felt safe — free from the dangers of the front lines of war.

Little did they know, Paganelli says, a silent killer was lurking above the base, putting the health and safety of her family at risk: A giant plume of toxic smoke, drifting from a nearby Japanese incinerator, floated through the homes where U.S. military families lived and the schoolyards where children, including Jordan, played, experts say.

In 1990, a U.S. Department of the Navy document reportedly called the cloud a “witch’s brew of toxic chemicals.”…>>>>>Rest can be found here

‘Burn pits’ in Afghanistan caused illness, says Enterprise man

Richard Guilmette was once a physically fit personal trainer at Gold’s Gym, active in taekwondo and kickboxing.

But just a month after a National Guard deployment in 2004 to Kandahar, Afghanistan, Guilmette says he began to experience breathing difficulties, stomach problems, headaches and dizziness, even extreme fatigue during normal exertion.

“It started happening pretty quickly after we got over there,” said Guilmette, who lives in Enterprise. “A lot of the people in the tent (where we lived) were coughing a lot.”

Snip

Guilmette has filed one of at least 17 lawsuits against KBR Inc., claiming KBR “knew or should have known” that operating the open-air pits put soldiers and contractors in danger. The suits represent 21 current and former military personnel, private contractors, and the families of men who allegedly died as a result of exposure to toxic emission from the burn pits.

Guilmette said he kept a journal while he was deployed in Afghanistan from March 31, 2004 until March 31, 2005, which shows a health condition that gradually worsened…..>>>>Rest found here

Man with breast cancer testifies that he blames Marine base

A man who was raised at Camp Lejeune told lawmakers Thursday that he blames contaminated water at the U.S. Marines training base for his breast cancer.

Michael Partain, who was diagnosed two years ago at the age of 39, told the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs that his parents were stationed at the base in North Carolina when he was born.

At least 40 former U.S. Marines or sons of Marines who lived at Camp Lejeune have been diagnosed with the cancer that strikes fewer than 2,000 men a year, compared with about 200,000 women….>>>>Rest found here

Camp Lejeune Families Speak to Senate

Committee hears from those sickened by water

Military families who were exposed to contaminated water while living at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina had the chance to tell their stories on Capitol Hill on Thursday.

A Senate committee heard testimony from those families affected. The Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs heard from military officials and families about what’s been done in the last eight years to make sure what happened to these families never happens again.

Stacy Pennington’s brother, Staff Sergeant Steven Ox was just 32 years old when he returned from serving his third tour of duty in Iraq.

“Then just 10 months later, he’s in ICU and dies in this condition,” said Pennington as she showed FOX 5 a picture of her brother in the hospital….>>>>Rest found here