Chemical Agent Resistance Coatings: Trade Space Analysis

Dr. Gene Stark's Presentation at NCT Virtual USA 2021

[@ericerdmann9664]

This was a great video, and full of important information. Thank you

[@zackiinu7194]

Back in 1982, my military superiors supplied me with CARC to spray paint numerous U.S. Army vehicles in Germany. The CARC MIL-SPEC was MIL-C-46168A, which contained hexavalent chromium, lead, and a host of other harmful diisocyanates and various solvents. No one ever told me about the hazards of handling, mixing, and spraying CARC. I was not given a respirator or any PPE. Throughout the workday I would blow my nose into a paper towel and paint would come out. Every night I had to wash the CARC off of my eyelashes, eyebrows, and out of my hair. I am now 62 and have been diagnosed with various sinus and pulmonary problems (nodules). Part of my lungs are collapsed (i.e., bibasilar actelectasis). Its good to hear that the CARC painting has been taken out of the garrisons and into the depots.

[@bertsteele139]

Hey Zack I was doing the same while stationed in Augsburg FRG. I am 60 and have COPD and pulmonary problems and I’m on O2. Have you tried filing under the new PACK Act? I filed a claim in 2000 when I first developed lung problems but was denied due to the time since my exposure to when I developed the condition.

[@zackiinu7194]

@@bertsteele139 Hi @bertsteele139. It appears we were not very far from each other. I was at Panzer Kaserne in Böblingen, Germany, when I painted with CARC in 1982. I plan to file for VA disability in 2024. I just about have all my medical evidence, and I recently received a copy of my military medical records. It figures that people like you and me don’t qualify under the PACT Act, but I’m still going to file. The military personnel who painted with CARC in the 90s (Gulf War era) painted with a water-based version of CARC, which is much less harmful than the solvent-based versions you and I painted with. This needs to be emphasized in our VA disability claims and supported with evidence, so as not to let them get away with denying our claims. I filed an FOIA with the Army Research Laboratory and they sent me the MIL-SPEC documents of the CARC we used. Bad stuff! Among a host of other medical problems I have and attribute to painting with CARC, I also have COPD and peripheral neuropathy, which I believe is caused from the volatile organic compounds that were in the solvents associated with painting with CARC. There is amble evidence on PubMed that shows a correlation. In regards to the reason of your denied claim due to the time since your exposure and the time that you developed your medical condition(s), you should know that evidence exists that support latent injuries can result from exposure to CARC. For instance, did you know that over 1,400 Dutch workers were injured like us? That is, from spray painting with CARC. They were spray painting U.S. military vehicles in the Netherlands with CARC in the 80s and 90s. In 2015, some of them reported various respiratory problems and others reported getting lung cancer from the CARC. (Undoubtedly from the hexavalent chromium.). The government of the Netherlands launched an investigation and ultimately compensated the Dutch workers with a lump sum of money. (The articles and investigation are on the internet. I can send you links if you wish.) I encourage you to keep looking for evidence to strengthen your claim, no matter how many times you get denied. We did what we were told to do, and we deserve to be compensated for the injuries we sustained! I would have filed a long time ago, but I always thought VA disability was for those who were injured in combat. I would definitely like to talk to you, if you’re willing. If so, I’ll send you my email. Maybe we can later chat over the phone. Aside from just one other person, I have not been able to locate anyone else who painted with CARC back then. Take care.