Nearly half of the 5 million veterans that have been screened by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) under a new law have reported at least one possible exposure to toxic substances during their military service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Announcing the 5 million screening milestone, the VA revealed that 2.1 million veterans \u2014 or 43 percent of those screened \u2014 were potentially exposed to such substances during their service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A variety of toxic exposures can come up in these screenings, but the most common were exposures to burn pits and Agent Orange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exposure to burn pits and other airborne hazards that can be encountered during military service can cause a variety of cancers<\/u><\/a> including those affecting the brain, neck, kidneys and pancreas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Agent Orange is a herbicide that was used during the Vietnam War. It can cause<\/u><\/a> bladder cancer, blood cancers, Parkinson\u2019s disease and birth defects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The screenings were launched as part of the PACT Act, a 2022 law that expanded benefits for veterans<\/u><\/a> who were exposed to toxic substances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n