Thank you.
Thank you for the opportunity to address the vital issue of safeguarding the health of Canada's military personnel through a population health approach to environmental hazards.
My name is David Salisbury. I served in the Canadian Armed Forces medical services for over 28 years. After initial work as a general-duty medical officer and flight surgeon, I completed a master's degree in occupational health and earned a board certification in the U.S., as well as a Royal College fellowship in Canada in aerospace medicine and community medicine.
For five years, I was the commanding officer of the Canadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment in Toronto, and, along with Lieutenant Greg Cooke, I designed and implemented the revamped directorate of force health protection within the health services branch in the early 2000s.
I retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in 2004, as the director of that organization, to move into civilian life as the medical officer of health for the City of Ottawa.
It has been more than 20 years since I wore the uniform, but my interest in occupational medicine and public health and my concern for the health of our men and women in uniform have not waned.
Today, I will focus on the health threats that our troops face, particularly those stemming from toxic environmental hazards both on the modern battlefield and at home in garrison. These threats, alongside infectious diseases and industrial exposures, directly impact our military's operational readiness and the long-term health outcomes of all DND personnel, both those in the CAF and civilian employees of the DND.
First of all, allow me to set the context. Historically, disease and environmental hazards have caused more casualties and impaired more military operations than combat itself. From the impact of trench fever in World War I to the devastating effects of malaria during World War II's Burma campaign, and now to the widespread respiratory illnesses linked to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, the lesson is clear. Prevention is as important as combat training. Protecting our troops requires us to anticipate and address health threats inherent to modern conflict environments as well as those present in our domestic military facilities.
The modern battlefield and Canadian bases, which are essentially miniature industrial sites, present new and complex health challenges. It has been estimated by some that more than 10 million new chemicals and chemical formulations are introduced into the environment each year. Canada assesses approximately 450 new substances annually under the new substances notification regulations of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. The human health risks of most of these substances remain unknown or poorly understood.
Today's military operations often occur in regions where environmental hazards are amplified by human action; for example, depleted uranium and other heavy metals in armour-piercing munitions pose long-term risks of cancer and other diseases. The destruction of industrial facilities during combat releases hazardous chemicals such as benzene and asbestos, which contaminate air, soil and water. Modern weaponry and vehicles often use advanced composites and metals, which release toxic fumes upon destruction or combustion. Burn pits commonly used to dispose of waste in war zones emit carcinogenic toxins linked to respiratory illnesses, cancers and other chronic conditions. Solvents and fuels used in operating modern weapon systems contain substances known to be neurotoxic or substances so new that their health impacts are largely unknown.
These environmental risks compound the traditional health challenges of deployment. However, we must also recognize the threats closer to home. Garrisons are, in many ways, miniature industrial complexes. The day-to-day work of maintaining vehicles, aircraft and ships—I threw the ships in because I heard Mr. Tolmie's reference to the navy; I have not served with the navy—involve handling hazardous materials. Training exercises expose personnel to industrial risks that are often poorly documented. For example, long-term exposure to solvents, fuels and heavy metals can lead to chronic health conditions if not properly mitigated.
The CAF has long had a preventive medicine capability, traditionally focused on infectious disease and hazards such as noise and physical injury. However, since the early 2000s, significant progress has been made in addressing the additional toxic risks of the modern battlefield and, to some extent, domestic operations.
The creation of force health protection and the deployment of industrial hygienists have been crucial steps forward in preventing disease in our forces. Predeployment assessments now include environmental and occupational health evaluations, which are a practice that has undoubtedly prevented countless exposures and illnesses.
These are commendable advancements that lay a strong foundation for the next phase of health protection, which includes the ongoing assessment and documentation of industrial exposures at home and abroad.
This issue is not just about immediate or long-term health—