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(01/29/2026) A study by a team that included a VA Eastern Colorado researcher found Veterans with a history of exposure to military burn pits had three times the level of carbon particles in their lungs compared to unexposed individuals. The study involved biopsies from 24 Veterans with lung disease compared with samples from tobacco smokers and healthy nonsmokers. Veterans who reported burn pit exposure had carbon material in their airways at levels similar to smokers. The findings offer direct evidence of a link between burn pit smoke exposure to lasting changes in Veterans’ lungs. (Scientific Reports, Dec. 17, 2025)