Toxins Killing U.S. Troops: From Agent Orange in Vietnam, to Burn Pits in Iraq to Karshi Khanabad (K-2) Air Base in Uzbekistan

in an article by CBS investigative reporters, titled “Acting defense secretary drafts executive order to help those who served at toxic base,” hope has been given to those affected by toxins at Base K-2

“Let’s err on the side of the veteran,” Acting Secretary Miller told CBS The executive order will be forwarded to President Trump.

Of the 15,000 service members who passed through K-2 between 2001 and 2005, more than 2,000 have flooded a Facebook page used for self-reporting illnesses, including rare cancers. CBS reported.

What is troubling is that the research on DOD websites reveals that the military was aware of the exposures and basically dismissed the threat. The following reports are from the VA and the Army

American Service members began working at K-2 (Stronghold Freedom) in October 2001, and the air base was vacated in November 2005. K-2 was located on a portion of an old, Soviet-era air base in Uzbekistan. It was a very active site supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Thousands of Service members (mostly Army and Air Force, but some Marines) from various Guard, Reserve, and Active Duty units were stationed at K-2. Currently, K-2 Airbase is home to the 60th Separate Mixed Aviation Brigade of the Uzbek Air Force. This updated information sheet provides background information and answers to some questions regarding environmental exposures at K-2 and risk of potential long-term adverse health effects associated with being at K-2.

Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, also known as K-2, or Camp Stronghold Freedom, was used by U.S. Army, Air Force, and Marine forces for support missions into Afghanistan. The base was one square mile in southeastern Uzbekistan, near the border of Tajikistan.

The military supposedly researched any effects of asbestos, radiation and other toxins and found the levels acceptable:

Could these exposures adversely affect my health?
Jet fuel vapor. Although the odor was unpleasant, air samples revealed that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the jet fuel vapor did not exceed Military Exposure Guidelines (MEGs) or other health exposure criteria. Adverse long-term health effects are not expected from exposure to the fuel vapors.

Asbestos. Although asbestos was present in the roof tiles of buildings used by U.S. and coalition forces and in localized areas of surface dirt, long-term adverse health effects would not be expected as air samples did not detect the presence of any airborne asbestos fibers. This indicates that personnel were not exposed to inhalable asbestos fibers. Additional protective measures are mentioned below.

Depleted Uranium. DU was present in localized areas, but long-term adverse health effects would not be expected from depleted uranium contamination based on site assessments and the proper use of protective measures by personnel to prevent DU exposure.

Particulate matter. The evidence to date is inconclusive regarding increased risk of chronic respiratory conditions associated with military deployment to the CENTCOM AOR, which includes K-2. Some previously deployed personnel may however experience persistent symptoms or develop chronic respiratory conditions which may be due to their combined deployment exposures, unique experiences, and/or individual susceptibilities. The DOD acknowledges the concern regarding potential respiratory health effects associated with deployment and is collaborating with the VA and independent researchers to further evaluate and quantify potential long-term health risks related to deployment exposures.

Noise. Personnel could have been exposed to hazardous levels of noise that may lead to hearing loss. This risk is higher for individuals working near major noise sources without proper hearing protection.

What protective measures were taken?

The jet fuel contaminated trench was filled with clean soil to create a cap to hold the vapors underground. Areas contaminated with depleted uranium and asbestos were covered with a thick layer of clean dirt to mitigate exposure. These areas remained off-limits to everyday activity with restricted access, and both permission and protective equipment were required before any digging could occur. Air monitoring and other follow-up sampling continued to ensure that conditions did not change and that these protective measures remained effective.

What about chemical warfare agents?

In June 2002, news media reported that trace amounts of nerve and blister agents were detected in hardened aircraft shelters of the K-2 complex. After extensive confirmatory testing of new samples using specialized testing equipment, there were negative results for chemical warfare agents (CWA). The initial field tests using less specific equipment gave false positive results most likely due to contaminants from recent painting and other refurbishing activities. Under these circumstances, it is not unusual to get false positive CWA test results from initial field testing. There was ongoing monitoring at K-2 to ensure Service members remained protected and to provide early detection and reporting if conditions changed.

Army troops follow an airman at Karshi-Khanbad Air Base 
United States Air Force, photo by Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol

The U.S. military occupied the base from 2001-2005. K-2 is currently the home of the 60th Separate Mixed Aviation Brigade of the Uzbek Air Force.

Potential Exposures

Service members at K-2 may have encountered several hazardous exposures: 

Jet fuel: Exposure to jet fuel may have occurred as a result of a leaking Soviet-era underground jet fuel distribution system.

Volatile organic compounds – Air samples collected during environmental assessments contained concentrations of volatile organic compounds from jet fuel vapors that did not exceed military exposure guidelines or other health exposure criteria.

Particulate matter and dust –All service members who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations were exposed to particulate matter and dust. The levels in the air varied depending on the season and weather conditions.

Depleted uranium – Several years before the U.S. occupied K-2, Soviet missiles were destroyed there, contaminating some areas of surface dirt with low-level, radioactive, depleted uranium.

Asbestos – Asbestos was present in roof tiles and dirt but was not detected in air samples.

Lead- based Paint: K-2’s one-stop, In-processing Center was the only structure identified on the base with lead-based paint.

Environmental assessments also confirmed the absence of chemical warfare agents and ionizing radiation on K-2.

The Army Public Health Center K-2 fact sheet contains more information about potential exposures.

DoD conducted an initial study to look at cancer outcomes among service members deployed to K-2 and found a higher risk of malignant melanoma and neoplasms of the lymphatic and hematopoietic tissues (excluding Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Leukemia). These results, however, were based on only a few cases of each type of cancer and should not be viewed as definitive evidence of an association with service at K-2.

VA and DoD are conducting follow-up to assess the health of those who deployed to K-2. VA and DoD hope this research will provide more definitive scientific evidence on the relationship between health and exposures at K-2.

Health concerns?

If you are concerned about possible health issues related to service at K-2, talk to your health care provider.

In November 2020, Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, held a hearing to examine how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) are working to address the health concerns of veterans and servicemembers who deployed to Karshi-Khanabad (K2) Air Base in Uzbekistan between 2001 and 2005. 

Today’s hearing marked the first time VA and DOD testified before the Subcommittee regarding K2 since the start of the Subcommittee’s nearly year long investigation.  The Subcommittee heard testimony from Dr. Patricia R. Hastings, Chief Consultant of Post Deployment Health Services at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Dr. David J. Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Readiness Policy and Oversight at the Department of Defense.

Chairman Lynch and Ranking Member Grothman both expressed disappointment that the VA did not agree to the Subcommittee’s bipartisan request for an assistant secretary-level policymaker to testify at today’s hearing.

Subcommittee Members on both sides of the aisle urged the VA to grant presumptive status and service-connected benefits to K2 veterans:

• Chairman Lynch said, “I see the duty and honor that we owe to these veterans as being primary, and I see a great disservice being done to these families and these veterans for a bureaucratic mis-ordering of priorities.  Maybe you can explain it to me?  Why would we deny this presumption with the evidence in hand, when we owe these veterans so much, and the consequences of not providing them benefits and care are devastating to these families, and in my opinion, disrespectful to their service as well.”

• Rep. Clay Higgins said, “I don’t understand why the VA would not just grant presumptive conditions to K2 veterans that present with conditions and diseases that very well may have been [due] to their service exposure to conditions at K2.  None of us argue against, none of us on this committee are saying don’t study.  By all means conduct your long-term studies, but in the meantime grant these veterans the presumptive coverage that they need to address the diseases that they very likely contracted while in service to their country at K2.”

DOD and the VA must be more transparent with servicemembers and veterans about the potential health risks of having served at K2: 

• Dr. Hastings testified that, “VA is very aware that we owe those who served at K2 an understanding of possible health outcomes.”  However, Dr. Hastings later conceded that the VA has not yet sent a previously-drafted letter to veterans providing them with additional resources about K2.  When Chainman Lynch pressed Dr. Hastings to explain why the VA has not yet sent the letter, Dr. Hastings committed to doing so.

• Rep. Elaine Luria said, “It seems that there is information provided to veterans that does not instill their trust in the system, both within DOD healthcare and within the VA,”  referencing an Army document, which advised DOD healthcare providers to tell concerned K2 servicemembers. “There were no K2 exposures of health consequence, the protective risk control measures were effective … and ongoing monitoring ensures continued protection.”   She continued, “So for our veterans who are watching today who have concern about this, this information that they [the Army] provided is directly in conflict to what you’ve been discussing today.”

The longer it takes to complete its epidemiological study, K2 veterans and servicemembers will be left without critical healthcare and disability benefits:

• Although the VA told the Subcommittee in April 2020 that it planned to complete an epidemiological study on K2 in 12-18 months, Dr. Hastings testified that it may not be completed within the original timeline, “I will tell you that we are doing it with a very small staff … at this point in time, I would say that by next December is when I’m hoping that we would be able to give you at least a preliminary report on our findings, if not completion.”

• Chairman Lynch stated, “Many of these veterans who have cancer, some have already passed away, the longer the VA and DOD extend the time out for this, it sort of—it’s moot and meaningless to a lot of these families.”  Rep. Clay Higgins added, “You have veterans who don’t have time.  They don’t have time for a long-term study.”