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Iraq Afghanistan Asbestos Exposure

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Iraq & Afghanistan Asbestos Exposure
Operation Enduring Freedom / Operation Iraqi Freedom (2001-2021)
Conflict Iraq & Afghanistan (2001-2021)
Combined Personnel ~2.77 million on 5.4 million deployments
Duration 20 years (longest U.S. conflict)
Unique Exposure Factor Burn pits as ACM disposal
Key Legislation PACT Act (August 10, 2022)
Burn Pit Registry 4.4 million+ enrolled
PACT Act Claims 3.25 million submitted (Dec 2025)
VA Disability Rating 100% for mesothelioma
Monthly Compensation $3,938.58 (2026)
Free Iraq/Afghanistan Veteran Case Review →

Iraq & Afghanistan Asbestos Exposure: Burn Pits, Destroyed Infrastructure & the Youngest Veteran Cohort at Risk

Iraq and Afghanistan asbestos exposure documents the multiple pathways through which approximately 2.77 million U.S. military personnel deployed on 5.4 million separate deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and surrounding theaters of operation between 2001 and 2021 faced exposure to asbestos-containing materials.[1][2] Unlike previous American conflicts where asbestos exposure stemmed primarily from shipboard insulation or factory production, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars introduced an unprecedented exposure pathway: open-air burn pits used on forward operating bases to dispose of construction debris, vehicle parts, and building materials containing asbestos.[3][4] When asbestos-containing materials are burned in open pits, the combustion process fractures asbestos fibers into smaller, more easily respirable particles that disperse across wide areas in smoke plumes, creating exposure conditions distinct from any prior military conflict.[5]

The destruction of Soviet-era infrastructure in Afghanistan and Saddam-era government buildings in Iraq released additional asbestos fibers during 20 years of sustained urban combat, from the initial "Shock and Awe" campaign in March 2003 through the Battle of Mosul in 2016-2017.[6][7] Neither country had asbestos regulations during the period of major U.S. combat operations — Iraq did not ban asbestos until 2016, and Afghanistan has no asbestos ban as of 2025.[8][9] The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-168), signed August 10, 2022, established presumptive service connection for respiratory cancers of any type — explicitly covering mesothelioma — for veterans who served in qualifying locations.[10][11] With mesothelioma's latency period of 20-50 years (median approximately 34 years), Iraq and Afghanistan veterans represent a cohort whose diagnoses are expected to emerge from the 2020s through the 2070s, making them the youngest veteran population facing future asbestos-related disease.[12][13]

Iraq and Afghanistan asbestos exposure at a glance:

  • 2.77 million U.S. service members deployed on 5.4 million deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and surrounding theaters between 2001 and 2021[1]
  • 20 years in Afghanistan (2001-2021) — the longest sustained U.S. military engagement in American history[14]
  • Burn pits as primary novel pathway — open-air burn pits on forward operating bases disposed of asbestos-containing construction debris and vehicle parts, creating respirable fiber clouds unique to this conflict[3]
  • 251 active burn pits in Afghanistan and 22 in Iraq documented by CENTCOM as of August 2010, after restrictions had already reduced usage[5]
  • Soviet-era infrastructure — Afghanistan and Iraq both contained buildings constructed with Soviet-supplied chrysotile asbestos-cement products, destroyed during urban combat without environmental assessment[6]
  • PACT Act (P.L. 117-168) — signed August 10, 2022, establishing presumptive service connection for respiratory cancers including mesothelioma for toxic-exposed veterans[10]
  • 4.4 million+ enrolled in the VA Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry as of February 2025[15]
  • 3,250,467 PACT Act claims submitted and 3,069,117 completed as of December 31, 2025[16]
  • Latency period: 20-50 years — earliest diagnoses from 2001 exposure may already be emerging; peak incidence expected 2035-2055[12]
  • 100% VA disability rating for mesothelioma, providing $3,938.58/month (single) or $4,158.17/month (married) in 2026[17]
  • 60+ active asbestos trust funds holding $30+ billion in remaining assets available to veterans with documented asbestos exposure[18]
  • 40% deployed more than once — with 263,150 service members serving more than two tours, increasing cumulative asbestos exposure[19]

Key Facts

Iraq & Afghanistan Asbestos Exposure Key Facts
  • Conflict Period: Afghanistan (October 2001 - August 2021); Iraq (March 2003 - December 2011, with continued advisory presence)[14]
  • U.S. Military Personnel: Approximately 2.77 million service members on 5.4 million deployments; peak combined strength of ~294,000 in December 2008[1][20]
  • Primary Exposure Pathway: Open-air burn pits disposing of asbestos-containing construction debris, vehicle parts, and building materials on forward operating bases[3]
  • Burn Pit Scale: Joint Base Balad consumed approximately 83 tons of waste per day; CENTCOM documented 251 active burn pits in Afghanistan and 22 in Iraq as of August 2010[5][21]
  • Infrastructure: Soviet-era Afghan buildings and Saddam-era Iraqi structures contained chrysotile asbestos-cement products; neither country regulated asbestos during U.S. combat operations[6][8]
  • Key Legislation: PACT Act (P.L. 117-168), signed August 10, 2022; named for SFC Heath Robinson, Ohio National Guard combat medic who died from toxic exposure-related cancer[10][22]
  • Burn Pit Registry: VA Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry enrolled 4,395,961 veterans and service members as of February 19, 2025[15]
  • PACT Act Claims: 3,250,467 submitted; 3,069,117 completed; 2,175,460 veterans with completed claims (as of December 31, 2025)[16]
  • Latency Period: 20 to 50 years from exposure to mesothelioma diagnosis (median ~34 years); peak diagnoses for this cohort expected 2035-2055[12]
  • VA Benefits: 100% disability rating providing $3,938.58/month (single) or $4,158.17/month (married) in 2026; 2.8% COLA increase effective December 1, 2025[17]
  • Trust Funds: Over 60 active asbestos trust funds hold more than $30 billion in remaining assets for claimants[18]
  • DoD Regulation: DoD Instruction 4715.19 (originally issued 2011, updated November 13, 2018) established policy prohibiting disposal of covered waste in burn pits except where no alternative was feasible[23]

Historical Context: Why Was Asbestos Present in Iraq and Afghanistan?

The presence of asbestos-containing materials throughout Iraq and Afghanistan stems from decades of Soviet influence on construction practices in both countries and the absence of any domestic asbestos regulations during the period of U.S. military operations.[6][24] The Soviet Union was the dominant global producer and exporter of asbestos during the Cold War. A declassified CIA report on the Soviet asbestos industry documented that approximately 80% of Soviet asbestos consumption went to asbestos-cement building materials, with shingles and pipe alone accounting for 50-60% of total consumption.[6] Soviet asbestos exports grew from 67,100 tons in 1955 to 158,600 tons in 1961, with increasing quantities shipped to developing countries and Soviet-aligned nations throughout the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.[6]

Afghanistan, occupied by the Soviet Union from 1979 to 1989, received extensive Soviet military and civilian infrastructure built to Soviet construction standards that relied heavily on chrysotile asbestos-cement panels, roofing materials, and pipe insulation.[25] Bagram Airfield, which became a major U.S. logistics hub, was originally a Soviet air base with industrial operations predating U.S. occupation — environmental assessments noted areas of contaminated soil from these prior operations.[26] Throughout the developing world, chrysotile-based products including asbestos-cement sheets, roofing tiles, and water pipes remained standard construction materials because they were inexpensive, durable, and fire-resistant.[24][27]

Iraq, as a major Soviet arms client and trading partner, received Soviet-supplied military equipment and construction materials throughout the Ba'athist era. Russia continued exporting stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, and similar materials to Iraq — trade data documented $94,580 in such exports as recently as 2021.[28] Iraqi construction extensively utilized chrysotile asbestos-cement products including corrugated roofing sheets, flat panels, and water pipes.[24] A 2019 study measuring asbestos fiber concentrations in Baghdad's ambient air found levels averaging 0.0718 fibers per milliliter across four high-traffic areas, with the maximum at Al-Bayaa reaching 0.156 fibers per milliliter — exceeding World Health Organization air quality standards even in non-combat conditions.[29]

Neither country regulated asbestos during the period of major U.S. combat operations. Iraq did not implement a national asbestos ban until 2016 — five years after the conclusion of major U.S. combat operations.[8][9] Afghanistan has no asbestos ban and asbestos remains unrestricted in the country as of 2025.[8][25] By contrast, Kuwait banned all types of asbestos in 1995, Bahrain in 1996, Saudi Arabia in 1998, and Egypt in 2005.[30] No environmental assessments of Iraqi or Afghan buildings for asbestos content were conducted before, during, or after U.S. military operations in either country.[7]

How Were Veterans Exposed to Asbestos in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Burn Pits as ACM Disposal (Primary Pathway)

Open-air burn pits represent the defining asbestos exposure pathway of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts — a mechanism without precedent in American military history.[3] Unlike previous wars where service members encountered intact or damaged asbestos-containing materials aboard ships, in factories, or in destroyed buildings, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars introduced the systematic combustion of asbestos-containing construction debris, vehicle parts, and building materials in open-air pits on forward operating bases.[5][4] When asbestos-containing materials are burned, the combustion process fractures asbestos fiber bundles into smaller, more easily respirable particles that become airborne in smoke plumes, creating exposure conditions fundamentally different from handling intact asbestos products.[3]

Burn pits were the primary solid waste management method at U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan from the onset of operations in 2001 and 2003, with no enforceable regulations governing their use until October 2009.[3] The waste burned included construction debris, building materials, vehicle parts, plastics, medical waste, and insulation materials. A 2010 investigation documented that burn pit waste included paints, asbestos, solvents, cleaning solutions, and building materials containing formaldehyde, copper, and arsenic, among other hazardous materials.[31][4]

The scale of burn pit operations was vast. At Joint Base Balad (JBB) in Iraq — the most extensively documented burn pit site — the burn pit consumed approximately 83 tons of waste per day, with jet fuel used as an accelerant, and smoke blanketed housing and hospital facilities across the base.[5][21] Department of Defense data reported through the National Academies of Sciences documented burn pit prevalence by base size: in Iraq as of November 2009, 34% of small bases, 61% of medium bases, and 76% of large bases used burn pits; in Afghanistan as of January 2011, 92% of small bases, 74% of medium bases, and 39% of large bases relied on burn pits.[32] By August 2010, CENTCOM estimated 251 active burn pits remained in Afghanistan and 22 in Iraq — figures representing the situation after restrictions had already begun reducing usage.[5][33]

In 2009, CENTCOM issued guidance documents that explicitly prohibited the disposal of asbestos in burn pits, along with other hazardous materials including petroleum products, rubber, tires, treated wood, batteries, pesticides, and electrical equipment.[34][35] However, compliance was severely lacking. The 2011 National Academies report noted considerable variation in materials burned at each base, with waste segregation efforts often inconsistent and dependent on available personnel.[3] A 2010 Government Accountability Office investigation found that all four bases examined routinely burned prohibited materials, and a 2016 follow-up GAO report found insufficient progress over the previous five years.[33][36]

DoD Instruction 4715.19, originally issued in 2011 and updated November 13, 2018, formally established policy prohibiting the disposal of covered waste in open-air burn pits during contingency operations except where no alternative was feasible.[23] The instruction required combatant commanders to continuously monitor their areas and discontinue burn pit use when other disposal methods became available. However, this regulation came a full decade after operations began in Afghanistan and eight years after the Iraq invasion, meaning years of unregulated burn pit operations had already occurred.[23]

Key Distinction: Previous American wars exposed veterans to intact or damaged asbestos-containing materials — insulation on ships, brake linings in vehicles, cement panels in buildings. The Iraq and Afghanistan wars introduced the combustion of asbestos-containing materials as a novel exposure mechanism. Burning ACMs fractures asbestos fibers into smaller, more respirable particles that disperse across entire forward operating bases in smoke plumes, potentially exposing thousands of personnel per base regardless of their specific duty assignment.[3][13]

Destroyed Infrastructure Releasing ACMs

Twenty years of sustained urban combat in Iraq and Afghanistan destroyed thousands of buildings constructed with asbestos-containing materials, releasing asbestos fibers into the air breathed by service members conducting ground operations.[7][6] The "Shock and Awe" coalition air campaign in March 2003 destroyed Iraqi government buildings, military facilities, and industrial infrastructure across Baghdad and other major cities.[20] The First Battle of Fallujah (April 2004) and the Second Battle of Fallujah (November-December 2004) involved intensive building-to-building fighting that destroyed hundreds of structures in one of Iraq's most densely built urban areas.[37] The Battle of Mosul (2016-2017), a nine-month siege, produced extensive building destruction across Iraq's second-largest city.[13]

When buildings containing asbestos-cement products are destroyed by artillery, airstrikes, or explosive breaching, asbestos fibers are released into surrounding air and settle as dust on rubble.[7] Service members conducting building clearance operations moved through this debris, often without respiratory protection designed for asbestos fibers. The VA itself acknowledges this exposure pathway, stating that veterans who served in Iraq or other countries in the region could have been exposed to asbestos when older buildings were damaged and the contaminant was released into the air.[7]

In Afghanistan, urban combat in Kandahar, Helmand Province operations including the Battle of Marjah (2010), and ongoing clearance operations throughout the country's built environment exposed service members to dust from Soviet-era construction.[26] Afghan buildings commonly incorporated chrysotile asbestos-cement panels, roofing sheets, and pipe insulation — standard Soviet-era construction materials used extensively during the 1979-1989 occupation and continuing afterward due to the absence of any asbestos regulations.[25][24]

No DoD or U.S. military environmental assessment program specifically documented asbestos release from destroyed buildings during combat engagements in either theater.[7] While air quality sampling was conducted at several bases — notably Joint Base Balad and Bagram Airfield — these programs focused on particulate matter, metals, volatile organic compounds, and dioxins rather than specific asbestos fiber counting.[21][38][26]

Forward Operating Base Construction

Hundreds of forward operating bases (FOBs), combat outposts (COPs), and larger installations were constructed, expanded, and maintained throughout Iraq and Afghanistan over two decades of operations.[39] The Naval Construction Battalions (Seabees), Army Corps of Engineers personnel, and civilian contractors built these installations, frequently using locally sourced materials that were not tested for asbestos content.[39][37]

Seabees historically worked extensively with asbestos-containing construction materials including insulation, cement, roofing, and pipe-covering materials.[12] While U.S. military construction specifications shifted away from intentionally specifying asbestos-containing materials by the 1980s, the use of locally sourced materials in Iraq and Afghanistan introduced significant uncertainty.[37] Local construction products — particularly cement sheets, roofing materials, and pipe insulation — sourced from countries without asbestos bans could contain chrysotile asbestos without labeling or disclosure.[24]

Major installations including Joint Base Balad (Saladin Province, Iraq), Bagram Airfield (Parwan Province, Afghanistan), Camp Victory and Camp Liberty (Baghdad), Al Asad Air Base (Anbar Province, Iraq), Camp Leatherneck (Helmand Province, Afghanistan), and Camp Arifjan (Kuwait) operated for years, with some bases functioning for over a decade.[21][26] Bagram Airfield presents particular concern because it was built on a site with prior Afghan and Soviet-era industrial operations, with environmental assessments noting areas of contaminated soil from operations predating U.S. occupation.[26] U.S. forces frequently occupied and renovated existing buildings at these sites, disturbing potentially asbestos-containing materials during modification work.[13]

Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance

U.S. military vehicles deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan included platforms from multiple eras with varying asbestos content in brake systems, clutch components, gaskets, and heat shielding.[40][37] The military began transitioning away from asbestos components during the 1980s, but the transition was not instantaneous or absolute.[13] As of 2024, the U.S. Army at Fort Campbell maintains formal environmental guidance procedures for disposal of asbestos-containing brake shoes, confirming that some military brake and clutch components still contain asbestos-containing materials and requiring wet handling, double-wrapping in 6-mil plastic, and special disposal procedures.[41]

The HMMWV (Humvee), which entered service in 1984 during the transition era, may contain asbestos in brake pads and clutch linings. EPA guidance states that brake and clutch components in vehicles of this era may contain asbestos, and OSHA advises mechanics to assume that all brakes contain asbestos-type materials.[42] The M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, which entered service in 1981, presents similar uncertainty. Newer platforms including MRAP vehicles (procured primarily from 2007 onward) and the Stryker (entered service 2002) are less likely to contain asbestos but lack definitive public documentation.[13][40]

Field maintenance conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan — vehicle repair performed in dusty, poorly ventilated motor pools and maintenance tents — concentrated airborne fibers in the breathing zone of mechanics and support personnel.[37] Replacement parts sourced from multiple contractors with varying material standards, combined with the use of older vehicle platforms alongside newer ones, created a supply chain environment where asbestos exposure during routine maintenance could not be definitively excluded for any vehicle type.[13]

Exposure by Military Branch

Army

The U.S. Army provided the largest ground force presence in both Iraq and Afghanistan, accounting for the bulk of the 2.77 million deployments across both theaters.[1] Army personnel faced asbestos exposure through multiple pathways including vehicle maintenance, FOB construction and demolition, and building clearance operations during urban combat.[13] Army infantry, combat engineers, and support personnel conducted building-to-building operations in Fallujah, Ramadi, Mosul, Sadr City, and other urban areas, moving through dust from destroyed structures containing asbestos products.[37] Army mechanics worked on HMMWVs, MRAPs, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and older truck platforms with potentially asbestos-containing brake and clutch components — Fort Campbell's current Environmental Guidance Handbook (August 2024) confirms that some military brake shoes and clutch disks may contain asbestos-containing materials.[41] Army engineers and support personnel constructed, maintained, and demolished structures throughout both conflict zones using locally sourced materials of unknown asbestos content.[13]

Deeper Insight: The Army's role as the primary ground force in both theaters meant that Army personnel had the longest cumulative deployment rotations, the most extensive FOB construction and occupation responsibilities, and the highest volume of burn pit exposure among all branches. Approximately 40% of all service members deployed more than once, with Army soldiers frequently serving 12-15 month rotations across multiple tours.[19][13]

See full analysis: Army_Asbestos_Exposure

Marines

United States Marines were central to some of the most intense urban combat of both conflicts. The First and Second Battles of Fallujah (2004) involved Marines in building-to-building fighting that destroyed hundreds of structures constructed with asbestos-containing materials.[37] In Afghanistan, Marines operated extensively in Helmand Province, where Camp Leatherneck served as the largest Marine Corps base in the country.[12] The Battle of Marjah (2010) and ongoing operations throughout Helmand and Kandahar provinces placed Marines in direct contact with destroyed Afghan infrastructure containing Soviet-era asbestos products.[13]

Marine infantry and combat engineers conducting building clearance operations were exposed to dust laden with asbestos fibers from demolished structures, typically without respiratory protection designed specifically for asbestos.[37] Marine vehicle crews performing field maintenance on LAVs, HMMWVs, and other platforms also faced potential exposure from brake and clutch components.[40]

Deeper Insight: Marines in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars faced a concentrated exposure profile distinct from other branches: direct urban combat requiring entry into partially destroyed buildings, combined with prolonged operations in areas with extensive structural damage. The Battles of Fallujah alone involved destruction of hundreds of buildings across a densely built urban area over two separate operations in 2004.[37][13]

See full analysis: Marines_Asbestos_Exposure

Air Force

Air Force personnel operated and maintained major air bases throughout both theaters including Joint Base Balad in Iraq, Bagram Airfield and Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan, and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.[21][26] Joint Base Balad is the most extensively documented burn pit site in either conflict, where the burn pit consumed approximately 83 tons of waste per day before incinerators were installed between 2007 and 2009.[21][38] Air Force maintenance personnel working on aircraft and base facilities also faced potential asbestos exposure from legacy building materials at pre-existing Iraqi and Afghan airfields that were repurposed for U.S. operations.[37]

Air Force base operations involved facility maintenance, HVAC system work, and infrastructure management on installations with mixed-era construction — original Iraqi or Afghan structures alongside U.S.-built additions.[13] Aircraft maintenance at theater-level facilities, including work on helicopter and fixed-wing platforms, also presented potential exposure from gasket materials and heat shielding components.[40]

Deeper Insight: Air Force personnel at Joint Base Balad experienced some of the most well-documented burn pit exposure of any service members in either conflict. Air sampling at JBB beginning in 2004 collected 499 valid PM10 airborne metal samples, and a source apportionment study estimated that burn pit emissions accounted for approximately 75% of total exposure to toxic dioxins and furans at the base.[21][38][43]

See full analysis: Air_Force_Asbestos_Exposure

Navy operations during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars included vessel operations in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea, where carrier groups and amphibious assault ships supported combat operations.[12] Some older Navy ships deployed to the region contained legacy asbestos in insulation, pipe lagging, and gaskets — the same types of materials that have historically driven the Navy's elevated mesothelioma rates across all service eras.[44]

More significantly for ground-based asbestos exposure, the Naval Construction Battalions (Seabees) were heavily involved in FOB construction throughout both theaters. NMCB 7, for example, conducted construction projects at FOB Pasab in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.[39] Seabees historically have had among the highest asbestos exposure rates in the military due to their direct work with construction materials.[12][37] Navy corpsmen serving with Marine units in ground combat faced the same building destruction and burn pit exposures as their Marine counterparts.[13]

Deeper Insight: The U.S. Coast Guard also deployed forces to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, including eight 110-foot patrol boats, approximately 600 personnel, and multiple Port Security Units conducting port security at Umm Qasr and other Iraqi ports.[45][46][47] Coast Guard personnel operating in port facilities and older infrastructure faced potential environmental asbestos exposure similar to other service branches.

See full analysis: Navy_Asbestos_Exposure | Coast_Guard_Asbestos_Exposure

The PACT Act: Legislative Anchor for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022, signed into law by President Biden on August 10, 2022, as Public Law 117-168, represents the most significant expansion of VA health care and benefits in the history of the Department of Veterans Affairs.[10][2][11] The act was named for SFC Heath Robinson, an Ohio National Guard combat medic who served in Kosovo and Iraq and died from a rare form of lung cancer believed to result from burn pit exposure during his service.[22]

The PACT Act added more than 20 presumptive conditions for Gulf War era and post-9/11 veterans. Presumptive cancers now include respiratory cancer of any type — which explicitly covers mesothelioma — along with brain cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, glioblastoma, head cancer, kidney cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, neck cancer, pancreatic cancer, and reproductive cancer.[48] Presumptive illnesses include asthma, chronic bronchitis, COPD, chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, constrictive or obliterative bronchiolitis, emphysema, granulomatous disease, interstitial lung disease, pleuritis, pulmonary fibrosis, and sarcoidosis.[48]

Because respiratory cancer of any type is listed as a presumptive condition, veterans with mesothelioma who served in qualifying locations and time periods do not need to independently prove that their service caused their cancer — they need only demonstrate qualifying service.[10][48] This presumptive framework is transformative for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, who previously faced the burden of proving the specific causal connection between their deployment exposures and their diagnosis.

Veterans are eligible for expanded VA healthcare under the PACT Act if they served in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan, or Yemen on or after September 11, 2001, or in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, or the United Arab Emirates on or after August 2, 1990.[48] As of March 5, 2024, the VA eliminated the original phase-in enrollment dates (which Congress had set between 2024 and 2032), making all eligible veterans able to enroll immediately.[49]

The PACT Act established the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF) under 38 U.S.C. Section 324, providing dedicated funding outside the normal VA budget. Initial funding included $500 million for FY2022, followed by $5.0 billion through FY2027 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 117-328), $20.27 billion available through FY2028, $24.46 billion through FY2029, and $52.7 billion in the FY2026 appropriations act — a total authorization exceeding $100 billion.[50][49][51]

As of December 31, 2025, VA data shows 3,250,467 PACT Act claims submitted, 3,069,117 completed, 2,175,460 veterans with completed claims, 39,483 survivors with completed claims, and 247,511 claims pending with an average processing time of 102 days.[16] The VA approved more than 1.9 million PACT Act-related claims in the first three years of the act's existence.[52]

Significance: The PACT Act is the most consequential toxic exposure legislation for veterans since the Agent Orange presumptive rulings that followed the Vietnam War. For Iraq and Afghanistan veterans specifically, the act eliminates the previously insurmountable challenge of proving that a specific burn pit, specific building, or specific vehicle component caused their mesothelioma — a burden that was particularly difficult given the absence of asbestos-specific environmental monitoring in either theater.[10][13] Veterans who previously had claims denied can file Supplemental Claims for reevaluation under the new presumptive framework, and the VA states there is no deadline for filing PACT Act claims.[48]

Documented Health Studies and Epidemiological Data

The epidemiological evidence on asbestos-specific health effects among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans remains limited by the disease's long latency period — a characteristic that distinguishes mesothelioma from the respiratory conditions that have been the focus of most post-9/11 health research.[12][3] The 2011 National Academies of Sciences report on burn pit health consequences concluded there was inadequate evidence of an association between exposure to combustion products and cancer in the populations studied, while specifically noting that this reflected insufficient evidence rather than evidence of no effect and recommending long-term tracking.[53][3]

A 2024 cohort study of 459,381 military veterans published in JAMA Network Open found that deployment to bases with burn pits was associated with modestly increased odds of asthma, COPD, hypertension, and ischemic stroke — conditions with shorter onset periods than mesothelioma.[54][55] The Millennium Cohort Study, one of the largest prospective military health studies, found no associations between burn pit exposure metrics and self-reported respiratory health indicators, though the study's follow-up period may be too short to capture cancers with latency periods of 20-50 years.[35]

Mesothelioma's median latency period of approximately 34 years means that the earliest cases from Iraq and Afghanistan deployment may only now be emerging. A veteran first exposed in 2001 at the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom could develop mesothelioma as early as 2021 at the 20-year minimum, with peak incidence expected around 2035. Veterans exposed during the 2011 Afghanistan surge may not see peak diagnoses until 2045, and the latest exposures in 2021 could produce diagnoses as late as 2071.[12][13] Approximately 1,000 veterans develop mesothelioma each year currently, predominantly from earlier exposures during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.[37] The Iraq and Afghanistan cohort is expected to contribute an additional wave of cases beginning in the late 2020s and accelerating through the 2040s.[12]

A 2025 study published in Epidemiology and Prevention analyzed mesothelioma burden in the Middle East and North Africa region, finding that cases rose from 597 to 1,365 between 1990 and 2021, demonstrating the ongoing asbestos disease burden in the region where U.S. forces operated.[56]

The multi-exposure challenge is a critical factor for this cohort. Burn pit smoke contained hundreds of toxicants beyond asbestos — dioxins, furans, metals, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter — making it methodologically difficult to isolate asbestos-specific health effects from the broader spectrum of burn pit-related illness.[3][43] This complexity underscores the importance of the PACT Act's presumptive framework, which eliminates the requirement to attribute specific diseases to specific exposures.[10]

What Compensation Is Available?

Iraq and Afghanistan veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma have multiple compensation pathways, several of which were significantly expanded or created by the PACT Act.[10][13]

  • VA Disability Benefits: The VA rates mesothelioma at 100% disability in virtually all cases. For 2026, monthly compensation is $3,938.58 for single veterans with no dependents, $4,158.17 for veterans with a spouse, $4,318.99 for veterans with a spouse and one child, and $4,495.23 for veterans with a spouse, one child, and one parent. These payments are tax-free and reflect a 2.8% COLA increase effective December 1, 2025.[17]
  • PACT Act Enhanced Benefits: The PACT Act establishes mesothelioma as a presumptive condition for veterans who served in qualifying locations, eliminating the burden of proving direct service connection. Veterans who previously had claims denied can file Supplemental Claims for reevaluation under the new presumptive framework. The Toxic Exposure Fund provides dedicated funding exceeding $100 billion in total authorizations through FY2029.[10][48][51]
  • Asbestos Trust Funds: Over 60 active asbestos trust funds hold more than $30 billion in remaining assets. Veterans may file claims against trusts established by manufacturers who supplied asbestos-containing products — including brake components, construction materials, and insulation products — used in military applications. Trust fund claims are separate from VA disability claims and can be pursued simultaneously.[18][40]
  • Civil Lawsuits: Product liability lawsuits against asbestos product manufacturers remain available. Under the Feres Doctrine, service members generally cannot sue the U.S. government for injuries incurred during military service, but claims against private manufacturers who supplied asbestos-containing products to the military are not restricted.[57][58]
  • Special Monthly Compensation: Veterans with mesothelioma may qualify for additional SMC payments on top of standard disability compensation, ranging from $139.87 to $11,271.67 per month depending on disability severity and care needs.[17]
  • Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: Surviving spouses of veterans who die from service-connected mesothelioma receive the standard DIC payment of $1,699.36 per month (for deaths after January 1, 1993), with additional amounts available for dependent children and surviving spouses who qualify for aid and attendance.[57][17]
Deeper Insight: Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have a unique advantage in pursuing compensation compared to veterans of earlier conflicts: the PACT Act's presumptive framework, combined with the VA Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (4.4 million+ enrolled), electronic deployment records, and documented burn pit site locations, creates a stronger evidentiary foundation for claims than was available to WWII, Korean War, or Vietnam War veterans.[10][15][13]

See full details: Veterans_Mesothelioma_Quick_Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Were burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan really burning asbestos?

Evidence confirms that asbestos-containing materials were among the waste streams burned in open-air burn pits on U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.[3][4] Construction debris, vehicle parts, and building materials containing asbestos were disposed of alongside general waste. In 2009, CENTCOM issued guidance explicitly prohibiting the disposal of asbestos in burn pits, acknowledging the material's presence in waste streams — but compliance with this prohibition was inconsistent across both theaters.[34][33] A 2010 GAO investigation found that prohibited materials were routinely burned at the bases examined, and a 2016 follow-up found insufficient progress in enforcing the ban.[33][36] While specific asbestos fiber concentration measurements in burn pit emissions have not been identified in publicly available studies, the burning of ACMs is documented in the waste stream records and regulatory guidance.[3][13]

Does the PACT Act cover mesothelioma for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans?

The PACT Act (Public Law 117-168, signed August 10, 2022) explicitly covers mesothelioma through its presumptive condition for "respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type."[10][48] Veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, or other qualifying locations during specified time periods do not need to independently prove that their service caused their mesothelioma — the service connection is presumed based on qualifying deployment. This eliminates the previously difficult burden of proving which specific exposure source (burn pit, building destruction, vehicle maintenance) caused the disease.[10][13] Veterans who previously had mesothelioma claims denied can file Supplemental Claims for reevaluation under the PACT Act framework, and the VA states there is no deadline for filing.[48]

How long after serving in Iraq or Afghanistan could mesothelioma develop?

Mesothelioma has a median latency period of approximately 34 years, with a typical range of 20 to 50 years after initial asbestos exposure.[12] A veteran first deployed in 2001 could develop mesothelioma anytime from 2021 through 2051 or later. A veteran deployed during the 2007 Iraq surge could see a diagnosis from 2027 through 2057. Veterans exposed during the final years of the Afghanistan war (through 2021) could develop mesothelioma as late as 2071.[13] This means Iraq and Afghanistan veterans represent the youngest cohort of military personnel facing future asbestos-related disease, with peak diagnoses not expected until the 2035-2055 timeframe.[12][37]

What is the VA Burn Pit Registry and should I sign up?

The VA Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, established in June 2014 and redesigned in August 2024, documents veterans and service members exposed to airborne hazards during military service.[59][60] As of February 19, 2025, the registry includes 4,395,961 participants after the VA and DoD launched a redesigned version that automatically enrolled approximately 4.7 million veterans based on DoD deployment records, eliminating the previous requirement to complete a 144-question survey.[15] While registry enrollment is not required for filing VA claims or PACT Act benefits, participation creates a documented record of deployment exposure that may support future claims, contributes to the epidemiological research tracking long-term health effects, and establishes baseline documentation should asbestos-related disease develop decades from now.[37][13]

Can Iraq and Afghanistan veterans file asbestos trust fund claims?

Iraq and Afghanistan veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases can file claims against asbestos trust funds established by bankrupt manufacturers of asbestos-containing products.[18][40] These claims are against the companies that manufactured asbestos products used in military vehicles, construction materials, and equipment — not against the U.S. government. Over 60 active trust funds hold more than $30 billion in remaining assets.[18] Trust fund claims are separate from VA disability claims and can be pursued simultaneously, potentially allowing veterans to receive compensation from multiple sources. Manufacturers of vehicle brake components, construction insulation, cement products, and gasket materials are among those with active trusts.[40][58]

What buildings in Iraq and Afghanistan contained asbestos?

Both Iraq and Afghanistan contained buildings constructed with asbestos-containing materials, though neither country conducted formal asbestos surveys before or during U.S. military operations.[7] The Soviet Union, which occupied Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989, built extensive military and civilian infrastructure using Soviet construction standards that relied heavily on chrysotile asbestos-cement panels, roofing materials, and pipe insulation — approximately 80% of Soviet asbestos production went to building materials.[6] Iraq, as a Soviet trading partner, imported Soviet-supplied construction materials containing asbestos throughout the Ba'athist era, and neither country had asbestos regulations during U.S. combat operations.[8][28] Iraq did not ban asbestos until 2016, and Afghanistan has no asbestos ban as of 2025.[8][9]

Is mesothelioma being diagnosed in post-9/11 veterans yet?

The mesothelioma latency window for post-9/11 veterans is only now opening. Veterans first exposed in 2001 at the start of Operation Enduring Freedom have reached the 20-year minimum latency threshold as of 2021, meaning the earliest cases may already be emerging or may emerge in the coming years.[12] However, with a median latency of approximately 34 years, the peak diagnosis period is still over a decade away — expected in the 2035-2055 timeframe. Currently, approximately 1,000 veterans develop mesothelioma each year, predominantly from WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War-era exposures.[37] Health monitoring and enrollment in the VA Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry are critical for this cohort, as early detection significantly affects treatment options and outcomes.[13][61]

How is an Iraq/Afghanistan veteran's asbestos claim different from a Vietnam-era veteran's?

Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have several advantages in pursuing asbestos-related claims compared to veterans of earlier conflicts.[13] First, the PACT Act (2022) establishes presumptive service connection for respiratory cancers, a benefit that was not available to Vietnam-era veterans without separate presumptive rulings for specific conditions.[10] Second, the burn pit exposure pathway — unique to these conflicts — is extensively documented through CENTCOM records, GAO investigations, and National Academies reports, providing a substantial evidentiary record.[3][33] Third, electronic deployment records and the VA Burn Pit Registry (4.4 million+ enrolled) provide documentation infrastructure that did not exist for earlier veteran cohorts.[15] Fourth, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are significantly younger at the time of exposure, meaning they are more likely to be alive when diagnoses occur and better positioned to pursue multiple compensation pathways simultaneously.[13][40]

Get Help

Iraq and Afghanistan veterans exposed to asbestos through burn pits, destroyed infrastructure, or FOB construction have legal rights to compensation. Multiple pathways are available:

  • Danziger & De Llano — Experienced mesothelioma attorneys representing Iraq and Afghanistan veterans nationwide. Free case evaluation available at (866) 222-9990.
  • Mesothelioma Lawyers Near Me — Find attorneys experienced with post-9/11 veteran asbestos claims. Free case evaluation quiz matches veterans with qualified legal representation.
  • Mesothelioma.net — Comprehensive veteran resources including VA benefits guide, trust fund information, and treatment center directory for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
  • Mesothelioma Lawyer Center — Legal resources and medical information for veterans and families affected by asbestos-related diseases from military service.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 2.77 Million Service Members Have Served On 5.4 Million Deployments Since 9/11, Forbes, March 2018
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-168), U.S. Congress
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Long-Term Health Consequences of Exposure to Burn Pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2011
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 A Toxic Legacy: What America Left Behind In Afghanistan, Undark, September 2023
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 The Environmental Health Effects of Military Burn Pits in Afghanistan, Villanova University School of Law
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Mineral Commodity Summaries — Asbestos, U.S. Geological Survey, 2024 (documenting historical Soviet/Russian asbestos production)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Asbestos Exposure — Compensation, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Current Asbestos Bans, International Ban Asbestos Secretariat
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Nearly 70 Countries Have Banned Asbestos, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
  10. ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 The PACT Act and Your VA Benefits, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Public Law 117-168 Full Text, U.S. Congress, August 10, 2022
  12. ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 12.12 Veterans and Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma.net
  13. ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 13.12 13.13 13.14 13.15 13.16 13.17 13.18 13.19 13.20 13.21 13.22 13.23 13.24 Mesothelioma Veterans, Danziger & De Llano
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom: Demographics and Impact, National Academies Press
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry Participants by State, VA Public Health
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 VA PACT Act Performance Dashboard, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, January 2026
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 2026 VA Disability Compensation Rates, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Asbestos Trust Funds, Danziger & De Llano
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Coming Home from War, PMC/National Library of Medicine
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 U.S. Forces in the Middle East: Mapping the Military Presence, Council on Foreign Relations
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 21.6 Joint Base Balad (JBB) and Vicinity, Iraq — Calendar Years 2003-2009, Defense Centers for Public Health
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 The Long Arc of Justice for Veteran Benefits, PMC/National Library of Medicine, 2022
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 DoD Instruction 4715.19 — Use of Open-Air Burn Pits in Contingency Operations, Department of Defense, November 13, 2018
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 Global Use of Asbestos — Legitimate and Illegitimate Issues, PMC/National Library of Medicine
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Warfare: Rallying Around the Environmental Flag, PMC/National Library of Medicine
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 Bagram Airfield and Vicinity, Afghanistan — Calendar Years 2019-2021, Defense Centers for Public Health
  27. ↑ The Case for a Global Ban on Asbestos, Environmental Health Perspectives
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Russia Exports of Stone, Plaster, Cement, Asbestos to Iraq, Trading Economics
  29. ↑ Air Pollution with Asbestos Fibers in Some Heavy Traffic Areas of Baghdad, Iraqi Journal of Science, 2019
  30. ↑ A Worn-Out Welcome: Renewed Call for a Global Ban on Asbestos, PMC/National Library of Medicine
  31. ↑ How America's War Devastated Afghanistan's Environment, New Lines Magazine
  32. ↑ Analysis and Interpretation of Exposures Data, National Academies of Sciences
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 33.4 GAO Says Pentagon Needs to Do More About Burn Pit Exposure, Senator Klobuchar, October 2016
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 The Impact of Burn Pit Waste Segregation Practices on Respiratory Health, PMC/National Library of Medicine
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Burn Pit Exposure Assessment to Support a Cohort Study, PMC/National Library of Medicine
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Report: Burn Pits Still in Use in Iraq, Afghanistan, Medill News Service, October 2010
  37. ↑ 37.00 37.01 37.02 37.03 37.04 37.05 37.06 37.07 37.08 37.09 37.10 37.11 37.12 37.13 37.14 Veterans and Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma Lawyer Center
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 Joint Base Balad Burn Pit Fact Sheet, Defense Centers for Public Health
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 NMCB 7 Provides Construction at FOB Pasab, Seabee Magazine, U.S. Navy
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 40.4 40.5 40.6 40.7 Mesothelioma Claims, MesotheliomaAttorney.com
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 Asbestos Disposal of Unserviceable Brake Shoes, Fort Campbell Environmental Guidance, August 2024
  42. ↑ Preventing Asbestos Exposure Among Brake and Clutch Repair Workers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Exposures to Combustion Sources Near Military Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, PMC/National Library of Medicine
  44. ↑ Navy Mesothelioma, Danziger & De Llano
  45. ↑ What Was the Coast Guard Doing in Iraq?, U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, August 2003
  46. ↑ 20 Years OIF: Coast Guard Combat Operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom, U.S. Coast Guard
  47. ↑ Coast Guard Operations During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Department of Defense
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 48.3 48.4 48.5 48.6 48.7 Current Veterans Disability Compensation Rates, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 — Congressional Research Service Report, CRS/Congress.gov
  50. ↑ VA's Allocation of Initial PACT Act Funding for the Toxic Exposures Fund, Oversight.gov
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 Robust VA Funding Crosses the Finish Line — PACT Act TEF, Federal Budget IQ
  52. ↑ The PACT Act's Impact Three Years Later, VSC Summit Ohio
  53. ↑ Evidence Inconclusive About Long-Term Health Effects of Exposure to Military Burn Pits, National Academies of Sciences
  54. ↑ Deployment to Military Bases With Open Burn Pits and Respiratory and Cardiovascular Disease, JAMA Network Open, 2024
  55. ↑ Deployment to Military Bases With Open Burn Pits — Cohort Study, PMC/National Library of Medicine, 2024
  56. ↑ Burden of Mesothelioma in the Middle East and North Africa, PMC/National Library of Medicine, 2025
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 Mesothelioma Compensation, Danziger & De Llano
  58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 Mesothelioma Settlements, MesotheliomaAttorney.com
  59. ↑ Postdeployment Respiratory Health: The Roles of the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, PMC/National Library of Medicine
  60. ↑ VA Redesigns and Expands Burn Pit Registry, MyAirForceBenefits, August 2024
  61. ↑ Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Mesothelioma Lawyer Center
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