Research Links Burn Pit Particles to Lung Inflammation

Study from National Jewish Health sheds light on why veterans exposed to burn pit smoke and desert dust face higher rates of respiratory issues.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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A new study from National Jewish Health has found that exposure to particulate matter from burn pits used during military operations can trigger stronger inflammation and stress in lung immune cells compared to typical desert dust. The findings help explain why some service members develop chronic breathing problems after deployment to regions like Afghanistan and Iraq.

Why it matters

Burn pits are commonly used to dispose of waste during military operations, releasing tiny particles into the air that can be inhaled deep into the lungs. This study provides important insight into how these deployment-related particulates affect the immune system and may lead to long-term respiratory disease in veterans and active duty personnel.

The details

Researchers compared particulate matter collected from Afghanistan with similar desert dust from California to understand their effects on lung immune cells. The results showed that the Afghanistan particulate matter was significantly more toxic to macrophages, triggering stronger oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. The study identified the Toll-like Receptor 2 (TLR2) as a key mediator of the inflammation caused by burn pit-associated particles, suggesting this pathway could be targeted for new treatment strategies.

  • The study was published on February 7, 2026 in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine.

The players

National Jewish Health

The leading respiratory hospital in the nation, dedicated to groundbreaking medical research and treatment of respiratory, cardiac, and immune disorders.

Brian Day, PhD

Vice president of research and director of the Office of Research Innovation at National Jewish Health, and the principal investigator of the study.

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What they’re saying

“This study provides important insight into how deployment-related particulate matter affects immune cells in the lungs. Our findings identify the Toll-like Receptor 2 (TLR2) as a key mediator of inflammation caused by burn pit–associated particulate matter and suggest that targeting this pathway may offer new strategies to protect or treat individuals exposed during military service.”

— Brian Day, PhD, Vice president of research and director of the Office of Research Innovation at National Jewish Health

What’s next

The research represents a significant step toward understanding the biological basis of deployment-related respiratory disease and provides new information to help guide future diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for affected veterans and service members.

The takeaway

This study highlights the potential long-term health risks that military personnel face from exposure to burn pit smoke and desert dust during deployments, and identifies a key inflammatory pathway that could be targeted to protect the lungs of service members and veterans.