Legislation introduced in the House would require the Veterans Affairs Department to create a register for veterans who have health problems they believe are related to exposure to open-air burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The bill, the Open Burn Pit Registry Act, HR 3337, is sponsored by Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo. It aims to widen the understanding of exposure, the possible health consequences and extent of symptoms service members report as a result of the Defense Department’s extensive use of burn pits in the war zones.

Among the waste burned in the pits were plastic bottles, paper trash, human offal and medical waste that included needles and syringes, soiled bandages and even amputated limbs, according to anecdotal reports provided by those who served near the largest pit at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

It’s a good start,but one wonders if the same care and concern will extend to local civilian workers exposed to the effluents of these burn pits?