WV soldiers exposed to toxic chemical in Iraq

The story was first reported in the Boston Globe on Saturday.

The soldiers were part of the 1092 Engineering Battalion, based in Parkersburg, according to Lt. Col. Michael Cadle of the West Virginia National Guard.

They guarded a water facility called the Qarmat Ali plant in southern Iraq in 2003, Cadle said.

The chemical is sodium dichromate, and the soldiers were guarding civilians who were repairing the plant under the supervision of Houston-based defense contractor KBR, according to the Globe report.

Sodium dichromate was made famous by the movie “Erin Brockovich” as the chemical that poisoned the residents of a small California town.

It’s been linked to cancer and immune system problems.

In February, the West Virginia National Guard sent a letter and made phone calls to soldiers who spent time at Qarmat Ali, Cadle said.

They were told about their exposure, and encouraged to go to their local VA hospital for testing, he said.

He said the National Guard has not been able to find every soldier yet.

He said Guard officials decided not to put out a press release because they wanted to contact each reservist individually.

Several soldiers in other states have filed a lawsuit against KBR because of their exposure.

The issue has gotten the attention of Congress, where Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., is leading an inquiry into the matter.

The Globe report quotes an unnamed West Virginia soldier, who says medics questioned him and others in August 2003, but never told him what it was or tested him.

He said KBR officials on site told him it was only slightly more dangerous than baby powder.

But later, another soldier said KBR officials coming to tour the site wearing gas masks and chemical suits – while soldiers remained unprotected.