When Congress passed a law to help those harmed by toxic burn pits, it left a significant group behind — thousands of American civilians who worked for the government and were exposed to the very same dangerous substances.
Now, there is a growing push to correct that oversight and extend benefits to those civilian workers who have so far been excluded from the protections that others received.
Burn pits were used to dispose of waste at military and government sites, releasing toxic smoke that has been linked to serious health problems. While the law addressed the needs of many who were affected, civilian government workers who faced the same exposures were not included in the coverage.
Efforts are now underway to change that, with advocates working to ensure that these civilians receive the same recognition and benefits as others who suffered similar harm from burn pit exposure.
