Veterans Show Elevated Toxin Levels
A peer-reviewed study led by Brown University reveals that many U.S. military veterans carry higher concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their blood compared to civilians. The research, which analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2003 and 2018, marks the first direct comparison of PFAS levels between veterans and non-veterans.
The disparity is most pronounced among younger service members. Veterans aged 20 to 39 showed blood levels of these chemicals ranging from 13% to 24% higher than their civilian counterparts. Approximately 23 million veterans in this age group exhibit these elevated levels. The study found that 58% of all veterans between 20 and 39 years old exceeded the medical monitoring threshold for PFAS exposure, totaling roughly 13 million individuals.
Exposure Sources and Health Risks
Researchers attribute the contamination to environmental pollution surrounding military installations. Soil and water near bases show significant PFAS pollution stemming from aqueous film-forming foam used during training exercises and emergency responses. The Department of Defense has identified contamination at more than 720 bases nationwide, with groundwater levels reaching as high as 1.1 million parts per trillion in some areas.
The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that one widely present PFAS compound increases cancer risk at concentrations as low as 0.004 parts per trillion. The broader class of chemicals includes at least 16,000 distinct compounds. Health problems associated with PFAS exposure include various cancers, kidney disease, liver dysfunction, immune system disorders, and birth defects.
Burn pits, which incinerate munitions and waste, also release toxic chemicals including PFAS into the air. Despite these known exposure pathways, blood levels of service members are not routinely tracked by the military.
Age Differences and Study Limitations
The study did not find similar elevations in older veterans. Researchers suggest that older service members likely excreted the chemicals over time, causing their blood levels to align with the general civilian population. However, diseases resulting from PFAS exposure can take many years to manifest, meaning current health status may not reflect past risks.
The analysis has limitations, including a lack of data on specific occupations and detailed exposure histories for the service members included in the survey.
Call for Monitoring
Christian Hoover, a co-author of the study, emphasized the need for government action regarding veteran health surveillance. “There is some amount of urgency here, and my hope is that this might accelerate the conversations that the government might have about providing [PFAS health monitoring] to all veterans,” Hoover said.
Hoover added that addressing the issue may be part of the government’s obligation to those who served. “If they still believe in that social contract then I would hope they would feel like this may be incumbent upon them to fix in some capacity,” he stated.
The military is currently phasing out PFAS-containing firefighting foam due to the widespread contamination issues identified across its facilities. Legal challenges regarding PFAS exposure continue, with companies such as 3M and DuPont facing lawsuits related to PFAS found in firefighters’ protective gear.