Military

The military has long contended with lethal consequences and the cause of long-term health problems for service members, tracing back to events like the use of Agent Orange in Vietnam, which had devastating consequences for numerous service members.
 
Previously, exposure assessments were conducted after an event or detection occurred through traditional sampling methods, but this approach has several limitations. Firstly, without early warning, it is often too late to prevent adverse outcomes. Secondly, in retrospect, it can be extremely difficult to pinpoint an individual's exact location at the time of exposure to determine the duration and concentration of exposure. These are critical data points in environmental health. Anything less renders health risk assessment mere guesswork. This is precisely why the Veteran's Administration (VA) faces difficulties in processing disability claims related to illnesses stemming from CBRN exposures; there is simply no supporting evidence of a causal relationship to be found anywhere in the record.

The exposure to burn pits in Afghanistan and Iraq is a very public and recent example of the long-term health effects of chemical exposure. Soldiers who were stationed in these countries are now being diagnosed with respiratory illnesses and various forms of cancer years after returning home.