Military Occupational Exposures

Throughout their service, members of our military face a wide array of occupational exposures. Some general occupational hazards include, but are not limited to, exposure to hazardous materials, toxins, air pollutants, chemicals, radiation, warfare agents, and other dangerous substances (see gen. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Exposure Categories). Importantly, Such exposure can occur during training exercises, combat missions, or even at times when military members are not actively engaged in service, but exposed instead due simply to proximity.

 Because potential exposure to the occupational materials and agents listed above can significantly impact the health and well-being of our service members, it is imperative to educate our service members and raise awareness about the potential for exposure. Our government is responsible for the wellbeing and safety of our servicemen and woman, therefore it is also important to keep a watchful eye and hold these agencies accountable.

Types of Occupational Exposure in the Military

Occupational exposure to military service members is not just related to hazardous material. Importantly, the conditions encountered by members of the military during their service contributing to such exposures are just as important. When considering both of these factors, it becomes more clear why exposure may vary depending on the type of work being performed and the environmental conditions that are present at the time. With these things in mind, exposure to hazardous materials may present various complications to a service member’s health.  For example, hazards such as aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), asbestos, lead, fuel, and radiation may result in side effects such as respiratory disorders, reproductive problems, and cancer. Moreover, prolonged exposure to hazards like noise, radiation, or extreme temperatures can result in hearing loss, skin diseases, or heat-stroke.

As one might suspect, the level of exposure to occupational hazards may also vary depending on the specific job function being performed. For instance, construction workers often face a greater risk of exposure to asbestos than those employees that work in the customer service industry. Likewise, the level of exposure may also vary depending on a variety of environmental factors like pressure, temperature, humidity, ventilation, food, and water. This means that laborers working in poorly ventilated areas, confined spaces, extremely high or low elevations, and near hazardous waste, face an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, dementia, chemical burns, or genetic mutations. It should also be noted that preexisting health conditions may exacerbate the effects of occupational exposures. 

For these reasons, it is essential for our government officials to implement appropriate safety guidelines and provide adequate training to our military service members in order to reduce the risk of exposure to these hazards and prevent the development of adverse health conditions. What’s more, military service members that are placed at a higher risk of exposure to these hazards – due to their job function, working conditions, proximity, or preexisting health conditions – should be aware of the potential dangers associated with their function of service and take the appropriate precautions to protect their health and safety.

Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)

 AFFF is an agent used to help extinguish liquid based fires. That is, those fires that either begin by or sustained by jet fuel, oil, and gasoline. The use of AFFF is criticized because it contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFASs are engineered chemicals that do not easily break down and accumulate in the environment and our bodies. In fact, PFASs have been referred to as “forever chemicals,” for this very reason. The two most common modes of occupational exposure to AFFF and the PFAS contained therein, are through inhalation of smoke, fumes, and dust during firefighter training and suppression exercises, as well as physical contact between the foam  and the eyes, mouth, or the skin during cleanup or regular maintenance.

Exposure to AFFF has been associated with several health side effects, including:

Military service members who are frequently exposed to AFFF may be at a higher risk of developing these illnesses. As a result of the growing concern surrounding the safety of AFFF, increasing effort is being made to find safer alternatives.

 Military Asbestos Exposure

Although its history is lengthy, exposure to asbestos in the military is a dangerous and life threatening occupational hazard that affected countless veterans that served in the military prior to the 1980s. Because the material was resistant to high heat, durable, and cost effective, the military used asbestos to construct military housing, construct office buildings, build ships, make clothing, and insulate. In short, asbestos was used to make everything from brake pads to paper. The health hazards associated with the use of asbestos would not be known until some time after its wide-spread use. By this time though, diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma (which have since been causally related to asbestos exposure) had already spread at extremely high rates. 

Given its prevalence in so many materials, it is hard to pinpoint areas of military service that did not pose a risk of occupational exposure. To be sure, occupational exposure to asbestos extended to vehicles, aircraft, general military equipment, barracks, and shipyards. Therefore, it affected service members who labored as mechanics, shipbuilders, demolitionists, and general contractors. That is, positions normally involving hands-on contact with materials made with asbestos.

 Lead Poisoning in the Military

Yet another serious occupational exposure hazard for  military personnel is lead poisoning. Because military service members are exposed to lead through their frequent use of firing ranges and various other lead-containing military equipment, they are at a higher risk of lead poisoning. Some sources of exposure include, but are not limited to, dust or fume inhalation given off by military weaponry, and the handling of explosives as well as other forms of ammunition that contain lead. Therefore, service members who are frequently exposed to these materials through combat, or training are most certainly placed at a higher risk of exposure.  

The damages of lead poisoning on the health of our military service members are grave indeed. Some potential effects are: brain damage, kidney damage, damage to the reproductive system, nervous system, cardiovascular system, and anemia to name a few. Although Military service members are now required to take special training courses that teach the proper handling and safety protocols associated with lead-based material, as well as undergo frequent medical testing, they were not always required to do so.

Military Jet Fuel Exposure

Another occupational risk for military service members is exposure to military grade jet fuel which can come by way of physical contact or inhalation. Although exposure to such propellants is less common than other occupational hazards, the risk of exposure to this hazard, like other occupational hazards, increases with proximity and job duty. In this, military service members that perform job functions such as cleaning fuel leaks and spills, refueling, general maintenance operations on aircraft and other related equipment, are at a higher risk of exposure. This includes most aviation specific job titles as well as supporting ground crew.

Once exposed, military jet fuel has the potential to cause an array of health concerns. For example, exposure to such propellants may cause respiratory damage, damage to the nervous system, neurological disorders, and gastrointestinal problems. As with other sorts of occupational hazards, prolonged exposure may lead to even more serious health concerns as well as progressive symptoms. Just as appropriate job training and health screening is required for lead, so too is it required for the proper handling, use, and safety of military jet fuel.

Diesel Fuel Contamination

Similar to military jet fuel, occupational exposure to diesel fuel contamination also triggers many of the same health concerns and can occur during transportation, storage, use and handling. Additionally, there is a danger for contamination when diesel fuel is improperly stored. When this happens, there is a potential for bacterial and fungal growth that may compound the health risks associated with exposure. 

Occupational exposure for military service members may therefore occur during combat, training exercises, vehicle maintenance, and during the warehousing/storage of such fuel. Some general health concerns that service members should be aware of when working with or around diesel fuel are: irritations to the skin, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, respiratory damage, gastrointestinal problems, damage to the liver and kidneys, as well as a higher risk of cancer. To be sure, the World Health Organization has classified diesel fuel exhaust as a carcinogen (i.e., cancer causing).

Military Occupational Exposure to Radiation

Among the most dangerous military occupational exposure risks to service members is exposure to radiation. Though the risks of exposure faced by military service members to radiation are significantly less than other exposure risks, the potential for this type of exposure is always a possibility for any active service member. Exposure to radiation can happen through nuclear weapons testing, accidents, nuclear waste clean up, nuclear power facility leaks, therapy and even environmental disruptions. Service members who labor as or in, nuclear power/weapons technicians,  nuclear power/weapons development, nuclear power/weapons testing, facility maintenance, or medical staff all carry a greater risk of exposure to radiation. 

The health risks associated with this sort of occupational exposure are among the most serious. These include: burns to the skin, leukemia, other forms of cancer, genetic mutations, damages to the reproductive system, birth defects, and damage to the cardiovascular system, central nervous system, and gastrointestinal damage. It should also be said that there are strict regulations that surround radiation because the health risks of exposure are so dangerous.

Most Common Occupational Exposures

As stated above, some service members face higher risks of occupational exposure to particular materials or substances than others depending upon their job function. And, the inverse is also true, that some service members face lower risks of occupational exposure to particular materials or substances than others depending upon their job function. In particular, though, it is important for each military service member to familiarize themselves with the specific occupational exposure risks that are associated with their particular job functions. Additionally, it is just as important, if not more, for military service members to seek medical attention if they believe they have experienced any of the above related occupational exposures or the health effects associated with these types of exposures. 

For all of the reasons listed, the risks of occupational exposure can come in many different forms and under many different environmental conditions. The above list of potential occupational exposures in the military can therefore be taken as a quick reference to some of the most common exposures that military members might face throughout their service. To reiterate, some of the most common occupational exposures service members may encounter are exposure to: aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), asbestos, lead poisoning, military jet fuel, diesel fuel contamination, and radiation. Additionally, the specific job functions most closely related to these forms of occupational exposure are as follows: Firefighters, Mechanics, Shipbuilders, Demolitionists, General Contractors, Pilots (and other aviation specific job titles, as well as Ground Support), Armor Crewman, Infantrymen, Utilitiesmen (or, Clean-Up Crew), Firing Range Instructors, Maintenance Operators, Nuclear Power/Weapons Technicians, Nuclear Power/Weapons Development, Nuclear Power/Weapons Testing, Facility Maintenance and, Medical Personnel. Again, it is worth mentioning that this list of occupations subjected to higher risks of exposure is by no means meant to be an exhaustive one. Indeed, job functions in the military are constantly in flux and may require assuming alternate responsibilities, especially during times of war.

Prevention of Occupational Exposures in the Military

With all of these considerations in mind, it is important to be aware of the steps that third-party civilian organizations, equipment manufacturers and the military itself have taken to mitigate the risks of occupational exposure to military service members. Outside of legal regulations, the military, along with other third-party organizations and equipment manufacturers, have recognized the need for procedural safeguards and practices to help mitigate the risks of exposure posed to service members. 

Some important steps these agencies have taken to address these concerns include the introduction and implementation of strict safety protocols, and regulations that govern the handling of hazardous materials, required personal protective equipment, job specific training, frequent medical testing, check-ups and, healthcare monitoring of all military personnel who have have a risk of exposure and, research and development into new technologies and safety equipment that may be used to mitigate the risks of exposure.  

Lastly, collaborative efforts by these agencies have been made to both identify and remedy the risks of occupational exposure and to develop new guidelines and procedures that work to ensure the health and safety of our service members. Reducing these risks has, therefore, become a key priority for the military and its subsidiary agencies and has been given increasing attention in recent years.