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Environmental Exposures

The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) play distinct roles in dealing with chemical and biological (CB) exposures and are responsible for developing DoD deployment occupational and environmental health surveillance, risk assessment and risk management policies. DoD identifies and validates veteran’s exposure to CB agents and monitors deployment-related exposure incidents and trends. This ensures effective programs are in place to prevent occupational and environmental injuries or illnesses during deployment.

The Public Health Division collaborates with their DoD partners and the VA on long-term medical care and benefits for our service members. The division also provides the names of these individuals along with their exposure information to the VA. The VA then notifies individuals of their potential exposure, provides treatment, if necessary, for these individuals and adjudicates any claim for compensation.

Photo of service member in uniform with gas mask on for training

These combined efforts are shaping the future of military medicine by supporting enhanced individual exposure assessment methods.  The Public Health Division partners with federal research institutes on many projects to include:

  • Development of exposure biomarkers
  • Individual chemical dosimeters 
  • Individual Longitudinal Exposure Records

This page is designed to provide Service members, veterans, their families and the public with information on what happened during CB testing conducted years ago that potentially affected the health of those who served. It provides information on the tests conducted by DoD that possibly resulted in CB exposures only. For privacy reasons, it does not contain the names of the veterans exposed.

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Showing results 1 - 15 Page 1 of 2

Edgewood Arsenal Chemical Agent Exposure Studies

Report
5/8/2015

Edgewood Arsenal has been the center of chemical warfare research and development since 1918. Therefore, it is not surprising that Edgewood Arsenal became the research hub for chemical agent testing on human subjects from 1955 through 1975. The great majority of the use of volunteers in medical (chemical) research occurred at this installation.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness, Biological Surveillance Tools, Environmental Exposures

Field Testing of Hallucinogenic Agents

Report
5/8/2015

Hallucinogenic agents (principally LSD) were tested on human subjects primarily at Edgewood Arsenal. The aim of this experimentation was to determine the effects of these chemicals on the nervous systems and mental functions of individuals and to evaluate preventive and therapeutic (treatment) agents to combat these effects.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness, Biological Surveillance Tools, Environmental Exposures

Human Subject Research at Fort Detrick

Report
5/8/2015

The U.S. Army established its offensive Biological Warfare program at Fort Detrick in 1943. The purpose of the program was twofold: develop defensive mechanisms against biological attack and develop weapons with which the United States could respond “in kind” if attacked by an enemy who used biological weapons.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness, Biological Surveillance Tools, Environmental Exposures

Mustard Disaster at Bari

Report
5/8/2015

Bari lies along the Adriatic Sea at the top of the heel of the boot of Italy (See Figure 1). During World War II, the port of Bari was under the jurisdiction of the British and was the main supply base for General Montgomery’s Eighth Army as well as the headquarters for the American Fifteenth Air Force which was activated in November 1943.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness, Biological Surveillance Tools, Environmental Exposures

Decision Brief on Deployment Pulmonary Health

Presentation
8/11/2014

Decision briefing at the August 11, 2014 Defense Health Board meeting on Deployment Pulmonary Health

Recommended Content:

Environmental Exposures

Public Health Subcommittee Update Deployment Pulmonary Health Tasking

Presentation
6/3/2014

Public Health Subcommittee Update presented to the Defense Health Board

Recommended Content:

Public Health, Environmental Exposures

Cold War Exposures

Fact Sheet
2/28/2014

Understanding the rationale for chemical and biological research from World War II until 1975.

Recommended Content:

Environmental Exposures, Chemical and Biological Exposures

Release from "Secrecy Oaths" Under Chemical and Biological Weapons Human Subject Research Programs

Policy

Memorandum about identifying veterans who may have been exposed to chemical and biological agents in connection with research projects and to provide information potentially relevant to current health concerns.

Military Occupational Environmental Health and Medical Surveillance Subcommittee Update

Presentation
11/1/2010

Military Occupational Environmental Health and Medical Surveillance Subcommittee Update briefing presented to the Defense Health Board Nov. 1, 2010

Recommended Content:

Environmental Exposures, Biological Surveillance Tools

Military Occupational Environmental Health and Medical Surveillance Subcommittee

Presentation
6/8/2010

Military Occupational Environmental Health and Medical Surveillance Subcommittee briefing presented to the Defense Health Board June 8, 2010

Recommended Content:

Environmental Exposures, Biological Surveillance Tools

Military Occupational Environmental Health and Medical Surveillance Subcommittee Update

Presentation
11/13/2009

Military Occupational Environmental Health and Medical Surveillance Subcommittee Update presented to the Defense Health Board Nov. 13, 2009

Recommended Content:

Biological Surveillance Tools, Environmental Exposures

FHP&R Briefing to Military Service Organizations/Veterans Service Organizations: Chemical/Biological Exposure Databases (Presentation Slides and Summary)

Policy

Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine Assessment of Sodium Dichromate Exposure

Report
12/19/2008

Defense Health Board (DHB) conducted an external review of a U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM) occupational and environmental health assessment conducted in 2003 at the Qarmat Ali Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Basra, Iraq to address a potential sodium dichromate exposure to United States military service members.

Recommended Content:

Deployment Health, Environmental Exposures

Military Occupational Environmental Health and Medical Surveillance Subcommittee Update

Presentation
12/15/2008

Military Occupational Environmental Health and Medical Surveillance Subcommittee Update presented to the Defense Health Board Dec. 15, 2008

Recommended Content:

Environmental Exposures, Biological Surveillance Tools

Military Occupational Environmental Health and Medical Surveillance Subcommittee Update

Presentation
11/20/2008

Military Occupational Environmental Health and Medical Surveillance Subcommittee Update presented to the Defense Health Board Nov. 20, 2008

Recommended Content:

Environmental Exposures, Biological Surveillance Tools
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