A new VA study examines the mental health symptoms of veterans who self-reported toxic exposures from military service, from pre-Vietnam War through post-911 conflicts, including wars in the Middle East. An armored vehicle passes through a breached sand berm separating Saudi Arabia from Iraq in February 1991. (Wayne J. Begasse/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — Veterans reporting multiple toxic exposures from military service are more prone to suicidal thoughts and behaviors than veterans who did not report exposures, according to the findings from a new Department of Veterans Affairs study.
Researchers found that former service members who experienced “multiple toxic exposures” had “up to 17% higher odds” of having suicidal thoughts and behaviors, according to the VA.
But the study stopped short of linking toxic exposure to genetic changes, stating that further investigation is needed.
“Future research is needed to determine whether toxic exposure might interact with genetic vulnerability to predict suicidal thoughts and behaviors for veterans, as well as how toxic exposure might result in increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors,” according to the findings.
The new research, titled “Toxic exposure and rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among U.S. military veterans,” was published in April by the National Library of Medicine.
The research, which was done at the VA Durham Health Care System in North Carolina, examined self-reports on toxic exposures by nearly 250,000 veterans registered with the VA Million Veteran Program.
The program is a national voluntary research initiative that looks at how genes, lifestyle and military experiences can affect veterans’ health, according to the VA.
Researchers looked at the long-term mental health of veterans who reported exposures in the following categories: chemical/biological weapons, anthrax vaccine, Agent Orange (herbicides), solvents/fuels, petroleum combustion products, lead, other metals, pesticides and open-air burn pits.
Veterans who reported toxic exposures were more likely to have suicidal risks, according to the study.
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors increased by 7.2% for every additional toxic exposure reported, according to the study.
“This association holds true across all service eras, from pre-Vietnam to post-9/11,” according to Science Direct, the world’s largest database of peer-reviewed scientific research.
Veteran Ronald Brown took photos of smoke clouds that resulted from the demolition of a munitions depot in Khamisiyah, Iraq, in 1991. (Ronald Brown)
Ron Brown, who is a Gulf War veteran working as a toxic wounds consultant with Vietnam Veterans of America, welcomed the study.
Brown, who registered with the Million Veterans Program several years ago, said he has experienced breathing problems, migraines, and other unexplained medical symptoms since participating in the demolition of a chemical weapons depot in the Khamisiyah region of southern Iraq more than 30 years ago.
“I stayed sick, came home sick and left the military sick,” said Brown, a 58-year-old retired Army specialist with the 82nd Airborne division who advocates for more research into Gulf War Illness.
Gulf War Illness, which spans fatigue, muscle pain, cognitive problems and gastrointestinal issues, was only formally recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2025, after being dismissed for many years as psychosomatic by many physicians, according to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
But Brown emphasized the need for more comprehensive VA research about the impacts of toxic exposure on both the physical and mental health of veterans.
“Veterans come home, and they are not the same person. They are not fully functioning. This can cause or worsen their depression,” said Brown, of Virginia.
Researchers conducting the study compared veterans’ self-reports about toxic exposures with medical information in their electronic health records. The toxic-exposed veterans often had a history of post-traumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms, according to the study.
“The VA’s expanding focus on the connection between toxic exposures and mental health outcomes, particularly suicidal thoughts and behaviors, is a vital step forward for the veteran community at large,” said David Bozarth, a Navy veteran and president of the Submariners’ Advocacy Group.
Bozarth said his organization also is pressing for in-depth studies that specifically look at how chemicals, gases and ionizing radiation in a submarine’s sealed environment affect sailors’ long-term mental and physical health.
“The compounding nature of our operational environment and the strict security limitations surrounding our service are massive variables that require dedicated attention,” said Bozarth, who served as a ballistic missile fire control technician from 1978 to 1984.
Exposure to toxic substances has been linked to poorer mental health among veterans, but less is known about specific psychiatric problems, such as suicidal thoughts and behaviors, according to the VA.
“Analysis revealed the link between toxic exposure and suicide could be attributed to the higher rates of PTSD and depression in veterans with more exposure,” according to the VA. “Findings suggest that providers working with veterans who report toxic exposure might benefit from also screening for suicidal thoughts and behaviors.”
Brown said he would like to see additional VA-backed studies that do not solely use written records but involve in-person interviews and physical evaluations of toxic-exposed veterans.
“The Department of War and the VA actually need to look at this in more detail. There needs to be a clinical study that brings people in and does not rely exclusively on self-reports,” Brown said.
