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One of the challenges for Department of Defense public health experts in determining the impact of exposures on service members is identifying specific exposures and quantifying the exposure level that can lead to adverse health outcomes.
Service members are exposed to a variety of chemical and biological substances, and the DOD and the Veterans Health Administration have responsibilities to care for service members who put themselves in harm’s way.
Understanding Past Exposures
A significant barrier to improving health care for service members and veterans is the inability to determine whether a diagnosed medical condition is related to a previous exposure. Individuals are often unaware of the toxic substances they were exposed to, and it is difficult to reconstruct one’s past exposure history.
“Understanding past exposure events and their potential influence on health is necessary to provide informed care and to reduce the probability of future adverse events,” said Thomas Sussan, chief of the toxicity evaluation division for Defense Health Agency-Public Health in Aberdeen, Maryland, and co-chair of the interagency Toxic Exposures Research Working GroupGoes to VA public health.
The Toxic Exposures Research Working Group is undertaking a study directed by the PACT ActGoes to VA PACT Act page to develop and guide a collaborative five-year strategic research plan on the health outcomes of toxic exposures during military service.
Service members are exposed to a variety of chemical and biological substances, and the DOD and the Veterans Health Administration have responsibilities to care for service members who put themselves in harm’s way.
Understanding Past Exposures
A significant barrier to improving health care for service members and veterans is the inability to determine whether a diagnosed medical condition is related to a previous exposure. Individuals are often unaware of the toxic substances they were exposed to, and it is difficult to reconstruct one’s past exposure history.
“Understanding past exposure events and their potential influence on health is necessary to provide informed care and to reduce the probability of future adverse events,” said Thomas Sussan, chief of the toxicity evaluation division for Defense Health Agency-Public Health in Aberdeen, Maryland, and co-chair of the interagency Toxic Exposures Research Working GroupGoes to VA public health.
The Toxic Exposures Research Working Group is undertaking a study directed by the PACT ActGoes to VA PACT Act page to develop and guide a collaborative five-year strategic research plan on the health outcomes of toxic exposures during military service.
Request Rejected
Posted from health.mil
Medical
VHA
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Health
Chemicals
Posted 9 d ago
Responses: 4
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It seems the VBA tries not to award benefits, at least in my dealings with them. I pray they change their strategy for all those exposed and effected by the PACT Act. Many of the toxic exposures have reduced life expectancy for so many.
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Fast to use us as a controlled experiment but very slow to recognize the need to care for the community later.
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I get, by the very nature of the job, that we get exposed to alot of things the public isn't. That said, the US government had better damn well be there when then exposures make us ill, but they aren't. We've all seen, read, and experienced it ourselves.
Would I change anything if I could go back and start my career over? Probably not, but I do know veterans who would.
Would I change anything if I could go back and start my career over? Probably not, but I do know veterans who would.
(5)
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Bethina Lee
Ran into this problem when my father became sick with Hodgkins Disease...they tried to deny him so many times I lost count, even SS.
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