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Journal Article Review Epublish 2 citations

PubMed: 39337247 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25189759

Neuroinflammation and Brain Health Risks in Veterans Exposed to Burn Pit Toxins.

Int J Mol Sci 25(18)

Authors: Athena W Brooks, Brian J Sandri, Joshua P Nixon, Timothy R Nurkiewicz, Paul Barach, Janeen H Trembley, Tammy A Butterick

Affiliations

  • Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA.
  • Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
  • Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
  • Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
  • Department of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Toxicology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
  • Center for Inhalation Toxicology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
  • The Department of Safety and Quality Science in the College of Population Health, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA.
  • Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
  • Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
  • Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.

Abstract

Military burn pits, used for waste disposal in combat zones, involve the open-air burning of waste materials, including plastics, metals, chemicals, and medical waste. The pits release a complex mixture of occupational toxic substances, including particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, dioxins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Air pollution significantly impacts brain health through mechanisms involving neuroinflammation. Pollutants penetrate the respiratory system, enter the bloodstream, and cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), triggering inflammatory responses in the central nervous system (CNS). Chronic environmental exposures result in sustained inflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal damage, contributing to neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive impairment. Veterans exposed to burn pit toxins are particularly at risk, reporting higher rates of respiratory issues, neurological conditions, cognitive impairments, and mental health disorders. Studies demonstrate that Veterans exposed to these toxins have higher rates of neuroinflammatory markers, accelerated cognitive decline, and increased risks of neurodegenerative diseases. This narrative review synthesizes the research linking airborne pollutants such as PM, VOCs, and heavy metals to neuroinflammatory processes and cognitive effects. There is a need for targeted interventions to mitigate the harmful and escalating effects of environmental air pollution exposures on the CNS, improving public health outcomes for vulnerable populations, especially for Veterans exposed to military burn pit toxins.

MeSH

Blood, Occupational Health, Air Pollution, Brain, Cognitive Dysfunction, Air, Veterans, Cognition Disorders, Environmental Pollution, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Burns

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