Burn pit exposure in military personnel and the potential resulting lung and neurological pathologies

Authors: Veronica L. Penuelas, David D. Lo

Publications date: June 20, 2024

Abstract: Military personnel and local civilians at various deployment locations are plagued with serious health conditions. Evidence points to burn pit emissions as the cause of these pathologies; however, similar diseases are also caused by environmental exposures, smoking, genetic predispositions, or other comorbidities. Burn pits, which are large smoldering piles of refuse ignited with jet or diesel fuel, contain human and medical waste as well as paint, plastics, ammunition, and other materials—each of which can be attributed to health concerns in other industrial settings. Here we compare various pathologies attributable to toxic aerosol exposures and discuss distinct pathologies that may be linked to burn pit exposures.

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2024 Publications

• Del Castillo, D., Lo, D.D., Deciphering the M Cell Niche: Insights from Mouse Models on how Microfold Cells 'Know' Where They Are Needed. Frontiers in Immunology section Mucosal Immunology, Front. Immunol. 15:1400739, 2024. (doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1400739)
• Burke, N.J., Espinosa, P.R., Corchado, C.C., Vazquez, E., Rosas, L.G., Wooe, K.J., LeSarre, M, Gallegos-Castillo, A., Cheney, A., Lo, D.D., Hintz, R., Vassar, S.D., Brown, A.F., Toward decolonized fiscal relationships between universities and community organizations: lessons learned from the California community engagement alliance against COVID-19. Critical Public Health, 34:1, 1-13, 2024. DOI: 10.1080/09581596.2024.2323715
• Loyd, A.B., Bravo, D.Y., Lo, D.D., McMullin, J., Considerations for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice in Research and Professional Practice. APA Handbook of Pediatric Psychology, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, and Developmental Science: Vol. 1. Developmental Science and Developmental Origins of Risk and Resilience in Childhood and Adolescence, M. H. Bornstein and P. E. Shah (Editors-in-Chief) (https://doi.org/10.1037/0000413-019)

2023 Publications

• Lo, D., Gress, J., Bhetraratana, M., Salton Sea Community Forum Meeting Synopsis. Prepared for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Region 9) and for the California Air Resources Board (CARB Contract Number 21RD014). September 2023. (https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/salton-sea-community-webinars)
• Givony, T., Leshkowitz, D., Del Castillo, D., Nevo, S., Kadouri, N., Dassa, B., Gruper, Y., Khalaila, R., Ben-Nun, O., Gome, T., Dobes, J., Ben-Dor, S., Kedmi, M., Keren-Shaul, H., Heffner-Krausz, R., Porat,Z., Golani, O., Addadi, Y., Brenner, O., Lo, D.D., Goldfarb, Y., Abramson, J., Thymic microfold and endocrine cells regulate thymus homeostasis and self-tolerance. Nature, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06512-8
• Yisrael K, Drover RW, Shapiro ML, Anguiano M, Kachour N, Li Q, Tran E, Cocker DR 3rd, Lo DD. Route of administration significantly affects particle deposition and cellular recruitment. PLoS One. 2023 Nov 27;18(11):e0289373. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289373. PMID: 38011140; PMCID: PMC10681169.
• Quiros, K.A.M., Nelson, T.M., Ulu, A., Dominguez, E.C., Biddle, T.A., Lo, D.D., Nordgren, T.M., Eskandari, M., A comparative study of ex vivo murine pulmonary mechanics under positive- and negative-pressure ventilation. Annals Biomedical Engineering (PMID: 37906375) doi:10.1007/s10439-023-03380-1; 2023.
• Yisrael K, Drover RW, Shapiro ML, Anguiano M, Kachour N, Li Q, Tran E, Cocker DR 3rd, Lo DD. Route of administration significantly affects particle deposition and cellular recruitment. PLoS One. 2023 Nov 27;18(11):e0289373. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289373. PMID: 38011140; PMCID: PMC10681169

2022 Publications

• Biddle, T.A., Yisrael, K., Drover, R., Li, Q., Maltz, M.R., Topacio, T.M., Yu, J., Del Castillo, D., Gonzalez, D., Freund, H.M., Swenson, M.P., Shapiro, M.L., Botthoff, J.K., Aronson, E., Cocker, D.R., Lo, D.D., Aerosolized Aqueous Dust Extracts Collected Near a Drying Lake Trigger Acute Neutrophilic Pulmonary Inflammation Reminiscent of Microbial Innate Immune Ligands. Science of the Total Environment, (PMID: 36334668) DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159882, 2022.
• Biddle, T.A., Yisrael, K., Drover, R., Li, Q., Maltz, M.R., Topacio, T.M., Yu, J., Del Castillo, D., Gonzalez, D., Freund, H.M., Swenson, M.P., Shapiro, M.L., Botthoff, J.K., Aronson, E., Cocker, D.R., Lo, D.D., Aerosolized desert dusts collected near a drying lake and pulmonary inflammation in mice: Implications for environmental exposures and asthma. bioRxiv MS ID# BIORXIV/2022/506987.
• Biddle, T., Chakraborty, R., Li, Q., Maltz, M., Gerrard, J., Lo, D.D., The drying Salton Sea and asthma: A “Natural” disaster California Agriculture, (doi.org/10.3733/ca.2022a0003) 2022.

2021 Publications

• Chakraborty, R., Maltz, M.R., Del Castillo, D., Tandel, P.N., Messih, N., Anguiano, M., Lo, D.D., Selective targeting of Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1 induces stable protection from Crohn’s-like ileitis in TNFdARE mice. Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis, doi.org/10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjab222 (PMID: 34893805), 2021.
• Biddle, T.A., Li, Q., Maltz, M.R., Tandel, P.N., Chakraborty, R., Yisrael, K., Drover, R., Cocker, D.R., Lo, D.D., Salton Sea aerosol exposure in mice induces a pulmonary response distinct from allergic inflammation. Science of the Total Environment, 792:148450 (PMID: 34157526), 2021.
• Maheshwari S., Del Castillo D., Lo, D., Crisis at the Salton Sea: Research Gaps and Opportunities, Chapter 6 "Health Disparities, Pulmonary Health and the Salton Sea"