Karshi Khanabad Air Base

Quick Facts:

399

Different Chemical Compounds

The documents declassified by the Department of Defense show just under 400 different chemical compounds that K2 veterans were exposed to.

500%

Greater Chance of  Developing Cancer

According to a 2015 Army study; K2 veterans are now dying at an increasing rate, potentially due to this exposure.

10,100+

Military Personnel Were Deployed to K2

While there were as many as 1,300 US Service Members at the base at any one time, there were also hundreds of aircrew members who were transient at the base from 2001-2005 who did crew rest (in 8-12 hour intervals) at the base. 

75%

Will Develop an Illness

A study of US Service Members that deployed only to Uzbekistan shows that over 75% have developed some sort of K2 related illness.

392

Different Chemical Compounds

The documents declassified by the Department of Defense show just under 400 different chemical compounds that K2 veterans were exposed to.

10

Are on the

list of persistent organic pollutants

Most public reports from the DoD state the longterm effects of the chemicals present were not known. This was prior to the recent declassification of documents.

How Do These Chemicals Affect the Body

212 of the chemicals affect the skin (65.82%)

370 of the chemicals have skin contact warnings (94.39%)

212 of the chemicals affect the central nervous system (

54.08%)

255 of the chemicals affect the eyes (65.05%)

6 of the chemicals affect hearing loss (1.53%)

69 of the chemicals affect the cardiovascular system (17.6%)

70 of the chemicals affect the blood in some way (17.86%)

23 of the chemicals affect blood cholinesterase (5.87%)

4 of the chemicals affect plasma cholinesterase (1.02%)

24 of the chemicals affect the hematopoietic system (6.12%)

22 affect the lymphoid system 

11 of the chemicals affect the endocrine system (2.81% )

2 of the chemicals affect the pancreas (0.51%)

51 of the chemicals affect the reproductive system (13.01%)

30 of the chemicals affect the gastrointestinal tract (7.65%)

179 of the chemicals affect the liver (45.66%)

140 of the chemicals affect the kidneys (35.71%)

9 of the chemicals affect the bladder (2.3%)

232 of the chemicals affect the respiratory system (59.18%)

15 of the chemicals will give you chronic bronchitis (3.83%)

5x

Greater Chance of  Developing Cancer

According to a 2015 Army study; K2 veterans are now dying at an increasing rate, potentially due to this exposure.

Most public reports from the DoD state the longterm effects of the chemicals present were not known. This was prior to the recent declassification of documents.

Everything You Need to Know About K2

  • 10,100+ U.S. troops:  10,100+ deployed from 2001-2005 to K2 - Karshi-Khanabad, a former Soviet base.
  • Toxic Exposure:  Our nation’s heroes were exposed to depleted uranium, chemical weapons (such as cyanide in the showers), and fuels and solvents which manifested as toxic black goo.
  • Cancer:  500% higher likelihood of cancer according to a 2015 Army study; K2 veterans are now dying at an increasing rate, potentially due to this exposure.
  • The DoD recently conducted an initial study to look at cancer outcomes among service members deployed to K-2 and found a higher risk of malignant melanoma and neoplasms of the lymphatic and hematopoietic tissues (excluding Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Leukemia).
  • The VA is participating with DoD in follow-up to assess the health of those who deployed to K-2. VA and DoD hope this research will provide more definitive scientific evidence on the relationship between health and exposures at K-2.
  • Historical Responses:  VA and DoD have historically stood by idly far too long as our troops suffered from Agent Orange in Vietnam and from burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan – this cannot happen again.

HR 5957 K2 Veterans Toxic Exposure Accountability Act

Introduced by Representative Mark Green (R-TN-7) and Representative Stephen Lynch (D-MA-8)

STUDY:  Requires DoD to conduct an epidemiological study

  • An Assessment of conditions of Karshi Khanabad Airbase, Uzbekstan, including an identification of toxic substances contaminating the Air Base.
  • An epidemiological study of the health consequences of a member of the Armed Forces deployed to the Air Base
  • An assessment of any association between exposure to toxic substances identified and the health consequences

REGISTRY:  Creates a registry for all veterans exposed

  • Establish and maintain a registry for eligible individuals who may have been exposed to toxic substances at Karshi Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, at any time during the period beginning October 1, 2001, and ending December 31, 2005
  • Include any information in such registry that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines necessary to ascertain and monitor the health effects of the exposure of members to such substances;
  • Develop a public information campaign to inform eligible individuals about the registry, including how to register and the benefits of registering; and
  • periodically notify eligible individuals of significant developments in the study and treatment of conditions associated with such exposure.
  • The Secretary shall take actions necessary to ensure that the registry may be updated with the cause of death of a deceased registered individual

REPORT TO CONGRESS:

  • REPORTS BY INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into an agreement with an independent scientific organization to prepare reports
  • SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS
    • INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date on which the registry is established, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress the initial report
    • FOLLOW-UP REPORT.—Not later than five years after submitting the report the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a follow-up report

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