Washington—At the request of Senator Evan Bayh, the Department of Defense Inspector General (IG) announced that it will initiate an investigation into the U.S. Army’s response to the exposure of hundreds of U.S. soldiers—including 142 members of the Indiana National Guard—to the deadly chemical sodium dichromate in Iraq. 

In 2003, Hoosier troops were guarding the Qarmat Ali Water Treatment Plant in Iraq, being rebuilt by the Houston-based construction firm KBR, then a subsidiary of the oil conglomerate Halliburton. Despite on-site assurances that the orange, sand-like dust spread throughout the facility was a “mild irritant,” it was later revealed to be sodium dichromate.  A major component of sodium dichromate is hexavalent chromium, one of the world’s most carcinogenic substances.

Capitol Hill hearings on the issue have subsequently revealed a number of failures by contractor KBR to warn troops and even their own employees of the exposure and to properly clean up the contamination.  Hearings also exposed multiple failures by the Army either to hold KBR accountable or to inform and test soldiers once the Army did learn of the contamination.

“This investigation is an important step in our efforts to learn what went wrong at Qarmat Ali and why members of the Indiana National Guard didn’t receive timely notification about the extreme dangers of sodium dichromate,” Bayh said.  “The failure of the Army to properly warn our troops of these dangers or to properly clean the site unwittingly exposed hundreds of soldiers to carcinogenic toxins.  It is essential that the Defense Department take a hard look at this incident to learn the lessons of Qarmat Ali and make sure that service members are never again needlessly exposed to hazardous chemicals while deployed.”

The Department of Defense IG’s investigation of the Army’s actions was requested in August by Bayh and six members of the U.S. Senate: Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

Charles Beardall, the Deputy Inspector General for Policy and Oversight, informed the senators by letter (HERE) that the IG has initiated an investigation that began in September.  The senators asked (HERE) the IG to investigate seven specific areas related to the exposure and the Army’s response to it.

    Another concern of the senators has been whether the Army is adequately informing the Department of Veterans Affairs about the exposure and its potentially deadly consequences. Having such information is vital to proper treatment and even the ability of former soldiers to be treated by the Veterans Administration (VA) for a “service connected” sickness that could take years after the initial exposure to develop.

Bayh has proposed legislation to create an Agent Orange-style registry for U.S. military personnel exposed to hazardous chemicals while serving in the line of duty.  The Bayh proposal would guarantee access to follow-up medical evaluations and priority status at VA medical facilities for service members who have been exposed to occupational and environmental hazards while deployed. 

“If you serve in combat conditions, you are entitled to the best care possible.  We must diligently track which soldiers may have been placed at risk and ensure they have access to the best care our country has to offer,” Bayh said.

    In his letter informing the senators of the investigation, Beardall said the IG will coordinate his investigation with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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