Military Workforce Research

Summary

For decades NIOSH has conducted or funded research that has implications for U.S. military personnel. NIOSH military-related research covers a range of topics including Gulf War Illness, noise exposures, hand injuries, cancer, and chemical exposures. In addition, the military has personnel working in construction, emergency response, firefighting, transportation, and other job functions where NIOSH has considerable research and prevention resources. While the military has their own safety and health mandates and programs, NIOSH often contributes its scientific expertise. Examples of recent research and collaborations follow.

Military Aviators Cancer Study

The Military Aviators Cancer Study is a congressionally mandated study to assess cancer rates among military aviators and ground crew associated with exposures to carcinogens. The study is being conducted in two phases. The Defense Health Agency (DHA) completed the first phase and found that aircrew and ground crew had a higher incidence of several types of cancers, including melanoma, prostate cancer, and thyroid cancer. NIOSH is conducting the second phase through an interagency agreement with DHA to identify what carcinogens are associated with exposures experienced during military flight operations. Exposures being evaluated include cosmic ionizing radiation; non-ionizing radiation; and fuels, fumes, and solvents. NIOSH is working with DHA to identify cancer causing agents that are relevant to the military population, identify ways to measure these exposures, and measure associations between these exposures and cancer-related morbidity and mortality among military air crew and ground crew.

Gulf War Illness

Gulf War Illness is a chronic multi-symptom disorder experienced by over 30% of veterans from the 1990–1991 Gulf War. It is thought to be driven by inflammation in the brain and spinal cord (neuroinflammation) resulting from chemical and physiological exposures during deployment. To date, effective treatments are lacking.

Recent NIOSH research identified a combination drug treatment that reduced markers of neuroinflammation. In addition to exploring this potential therapeutic strategy, this research also identified a method to measure the success of other treatments. While further research, including clinical studies, is needed to determine safety and effectiveness in humans, the findings of this research may prove a promising step towards addressing the needs for the over 200,000 veterans suffering with this disorder.

A related study provides a new framework for understanding how genetic differences may influence the long-term effects of stress and exposure to toxins. This may help explain why some individuals may be more susceptible to chronic diseases, such as Gulf War Illness.

Respiratory protection

More than 229,500 NIOSH Approved® emergency escape breathing devices are stored onboard Navy ships. These devices provide critical protection during emergencies when crews must navigate hazardous atmospheres and escape quickly. Before they can be brought on board, these respirators must meet NIOSH's minimum requirements through the Respirator Approval Program. This process evaluates factors such as performance, durability, quality, and safety. Once approved and in use, the Navy relies on NIOSH to make sure the devices remain effective throughout their years in storage and their 15-year service life. With clear respirator performance data, the Navy can make informed choices about replacement schedules, storage practices, and long-term investments.

NIOSH also works with military research organizations such as the Combatting Terrorism Technical Support Office to identify personal protective equipment solutions for the military workforce. NIOSH recently updated the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Respiratory Protection Handbook, which supports military readiness. This summary provides more information.

Air Force and Coast Guard collaborations

U.S. Department of Air Force Safety Center research

Fingers, hands, and wrists (FHW) are the most frequently injured body parts in work-related injuries. A NIOSH study examined Air Force work-related, non-combat FHW injuries. Nearly a quarter of the Air Force injuries were FHW related. Aircraft maintenance had the most severe injuries while metal workers had the highest rate of injury. The injuries decreased from 2008 to 2018. Focused interventions for high-risk groups and regular updating of training and procedures can contribute to continued reduction of these injuries. Read a related Air Force FHW study.

NIOSH also evaluated the effectiveness of the "Air Force Fall Prevention Focus" program. Researchers found that from 2013-2018, the program resulted in a 10% reduction in falls per year. Over the 6-year study period, falls were reduced by 48%. These findings can be used to improve fall prevention efforts in other parts of the military and in industries with high fall risk, such as construction.

Another NIOSH study looked at the association between perceptions of safety climate and the number of injury events within the Air Force workforce. Researchers found that more favorable safety climate scores were consistently correlated with fewer reported injuries.

Coast Guard research and training

Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. NIOSH assists the U.S. Coast Guard with administering and reviewing grants to improve the safety of commercial fishermen. This congressionally mandated program has been instrumental in promoting safety and reducing occupational hazards within the commercial fishing industry.

NIOSH provided technical assistance to the U.S. Coast Guard in response to a congressional request concerning potential exposures to Marine Inspectors and Marine Investigators (MIIs). Researchers found that MIIs have the potential to be exposed to a variety of occupational hazards including carcinogens. NIOSH provided recommendations to better protect the U.S. Coast Guard workforce. These recommendations were later incorporated into the U. S. Coast Guard's response to Congress.

Exposures

Noise

Tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss are among the most prevalent service-connected disabilities claimed by U.S. veterans. Through research and collaborations with military and academic partners, NIOSH has played an important role in advancing the scientific foundation used to prevent these injuries. For example, historically, it was assumed that an individual's middle ear muscle contractions (MEMC) provided some protection against loud sounds. A collaboration supported by NIOSH and funded through the Office of Naval Research demonstrated that MEMC are not sufficiently reliable or consistently activated to serve as a basis for estimating safe levels of noise exposure.

NIOSH researchers also contributed to improving the understanding of weapon-generated noise exposures. Field measurements of impulse noise from military firearms, including studies of M16 rifles at Marine Corps Base Quantico, provided high-quality data on peak sound pressure levels and exposure characteristics. These data informed subsequent modeling efforts and the development of tools to estimate noise exposure in firing ranges. Another important contribution has been to blast noise and damage risk criteria. NIOSH-supported research informed the evaluation of proposed damage risk criteria standards designed to predict auditory injury from blast exposure.

In 2025, a NIOSH-funded study evaluated Air Force hearing conservation educational materials for readability, understandability, and actionability.

Lewisite IDLH

NIOSH develops and maintains a list of Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) values for chemical exposures. IDLH values serve two main purposes:

1) ensuring workers can escape contaminated environments if respiratory equipment fails,

2) specifying the maximum exposure level requiring use of highly reliable breathing apparatus.

NIOSH is developing an IDLH value for lewisite due to interest in this chemical by military partners. Lewisite is a chemical weapon currently undergoing stockpile destruction. Development of an IDLH value will help ensure the safety of military personnel involved in the stockpile destruction. In March 2026, NIOSH published a draft IDLH document for lewisite for public comment and peer review.

Cold spray coating

Cold spray coating has been widely adopted by the U.S. military as an effective method for repairing and restoring mechanical components. The process can enhance resistance to corrosion and oxidation and modify surface properties. This technology offers substantial cost savings compared to conventional repair methods. However, because cold spray is a relatively recent innovation, operator exposure during its use has not been fully characterized. To address this gap, NIOSH conducted an assessment at an Air Force base to measure airborne metal concentrations (e.g., Aluminum, Cadmium, and Hexavalent Chromium) generated during cold spray operations. The data collected are currently under analysis.

Whole-body vibration

A military base requested a NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) to assess vehicle-related whole-body vibration among range operators. Whole-body vibration is a mechanical energy that is transmitted through a person's body. It can increase risk for low back disorders. NIOSH measured range operators' exposure to whole-body vibration during work shifts on diverse road conditions. The vibration measurements were below recommended levels. However, due to the amount of impact measured, the basic calculations may underestimate discomfort and potential severity of vibration.

To reduce exposure to whole-body vibration, NIOSH recommended:

• upgrading to vehicles with enhanced vibration dampening,
• minimizing exposure to rough and uneven terrain,
• controlling driving speeds, and
• continuing with established job rotation to reduce cumulative exposure.

Read the full report.

Examples of other HHEs related to the military include:

• Lead and isocyanate exposure in a maintenance facility
• Cadmium exposures at an aircraft equipment depot
• Copper-based frangible ammunition emissions exposure at a military firing range
• Heat stress, jet fuel, and jet fuel vapors exposures in confined spaces at an Air Force base.

Search the HHE database for more related reports.

Protecting firefighters

The NIOSH Center for Firefighter Safety, Health, and Well-being provides a central point for firefighters, including military firefighters, and other fire-service organizations to engage with the broad scope of NIOSH research and services.

The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program is one part of the Center. It conducts investigations into firefighter line-of-duty deaths and serious injuries. The program investigated the line-of-duty death (LODD) of a military firefighter in 2020. The program also leaned on the expertise of a military partner during a 2023 LODD investigation where two land-based marine firefighters became lost and ran out of air during a marine vessel fire.

Military firefighters can also join the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer. The NFR is the largest effort ever undertaken to understand and reduce risk of cancer among U.S. firefighters. Military firefighters may face unique hazards not frequently or typically seen in other types of firefighting. By joining and sharing their work history with the NFR, military firefighters can provide data to better understand these specific risks and develop strategies to better protect the entire fire service.

Resources and authors

Resources

The following NIOSH research, products, and services may be useful for protecting our service men and women.

• Construction Safety and Health. Construction jobs are some of the most dangerous in the United States with falls as the leading cause of death.

• Emergency Response and Recovery Worker Safety. NIOSH resources for protecting responders include the Emergency Responder Health Monitoring and Surveillance (ERHMS) framework.
• Heat stress. NIOSH resources include information on heat-related illnesses and the Heat Safety Tool App. NIOSH is studying how heat exposure affects miner performance, particularly concentration and cognitive function, which can be compromised in hot conditions. This can potentially contribute to injuries and other adverse outcomes.
• Motor Vehicle Safety at Work. NIOSH conducts research and develops strategies to prevent work-related motor vehicle crashes and resulting injuries. Focus populations include truck drivers; other high-risk jobs such as emergency medical services workers, firefighters, and law enforcement officers; and drivers of light vehicles.

• Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. This NIOSH resource helps users recognize and control workplace chemical hazards. It is also available as a mobile app.
• Robotics in the Workplace. U.S. companies are using robots more often to perform dangerous or repetitive tasks. NIOSH provides scientific leadership to address the safety and health of workers who use, wear, or work near robots.

• Spirometry Training Program. Spirometry is an important medical test used to track respiratory health. Well-trained spirometry technicians are needed to provide high quality spirometry testing. Completing a NIOSH approved spirometry training course is an important training pathway and these technicians are needed in many settings, including the military. NIOSH has worked with the Navy to establish a NIOSH-certified spirometry training course to train spirometry technicians for the Navy.
• The World Trade Center Health Program includes a diverse group of responders who meet eligibility criteria, including some military personnel who participated in response efforts at sites such as the Pentagon and Shanksville. The Program is a limited federal health care program that provides high-quality, compassionate medical monitoring and treatment for WTC-related conditions to its members. The Program also funds research into physical and mental health conditions related to 9/11 exposures.

Authors

The following NIOSH employees contributed to this bulletin.

Jackie Cichowicz, Aris Copeland, Chad Dowell, KC Elliott, Evan Frank, Anthony Gardner, Melody Gwilliam, Marie Hayden, Tanya Headley, Doug Johns, Kim Kelly, Christina Lawson, Eun Gyung (Emily) Lee, Jennifer Lincoln, Ruiling Liu, Michelle Martin, Lauralynn McKernan, Amy Mobley, Thais Morata, Richard (Todd) Niemeier, Christina Socias-Morales, Julie Tisdale-Pardi, Jennifer Tyrawski, and David Weissman.

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