Iraq veterans living with 'ticking time bomb' after not receiving medical screening for deadly toxin exposure

British soldiers say they were not offered biological screening after being exposed to a deadly toxin in Iraq 20 years ago - despite official guidance they should have been, Sky News can reveal.

RAF veterans deployed to the heavily contaminated Qarmat Ali water treatment plant in 2003 have suffered with cancers, tumours, nosebleeds, and rashes in the years since.

The derelict site, which was considered crucial to getting Iraqi oil flowing again in the aftermath of the invasion, was covered in bright orange sodium dichromate, a highly toxic carcinogen.

An internal letter from the RAF's health authority obtained by Sky News shows that the military knew in 2003 about the risk of cancer and advised that soldiers should be offered biological screening.

But Sky News has spoken to 15 veterans who were deployed to Qarmat Ali - none of whom say they were offered any screening or ongoing healthcare despite the risks.

Many of them are now suffering with health issues, while others say it's a "ticking time bomb".

The Ministry of Defence continues to insist that medical screening was offered to personnel at the time, and declined to respond to calls for an apology or an inquiry into why the soldiers were exposed in the first place.

Site was littered with bags of chemicals

"I've had eight or nine operations to remove cancer," says Pete Lewis, 53, who served at Qarmat Ali.

He has scars on his face and a large skin graft on his chest - the legacy of recurring skin cancer.

"I've had so many lumps taken out of my neck, one on my face. This is something I'm literally fighting every year now. It's constant."

He was one of around 88 British troops deployed to Qarmat Ali in the opening months of the Iraq war, tasked with providing an armed guard detail round the clock.

It's not clear if the site had any military value, instead being viewed as important for oil production.

The crumbling industrial facility was littered with bags upon bags of an orange powder, often ripped open - their contents poured in the air.

"We were never warned what the bags of chemicals were," says Jon Caunt. "We were breathing this stuff in."

Many say they assumed the dust covering Qarmat Ali must be safe, because nobody had warned them otherwise.

"I never thought about what it was," says fellow RAF veteran Tony Watters. "We were told the site is safe."

Mysterious symptoms emerge

Baking in the 50C heat, the soldiers watched out for improvised explosive devices, riots and other signs of physical danger.

But a slew of nosebleeds, rashes and lesions among their number hinted at another, unexplained threat at the site.

It remained a mystery until two workers in hazmat suits and respirator masks hammered up a sign with a skull and crossbones on it, months after the RAF soldiers had arrived.

"Warning. Chemical hazard. Full protective equipment and chemical respirator required. Sodium dichromate exposure."

Andy Tosh, who led the group while they were there, says this was a shock to everyone.

Mr Watters adds: "When you left the site your uniform was contaminated, your webbing was contaminated.

"You went in your sleeping bag, and that was contaminated! And you were contaminating other people with it back at camp."

Mr Tosh said: "Even with the warning signs going up… they kept us there. They knowingly kept us exposed."

Read more:
British troops 'knowingly exposed' to toxic chemical during Iraq war

What does the RAF letter tell us?

Upon their return to the UK, some soldiers were handed a photocopied leaflet about the dangers of sodium dichromate - others entered civilian life not knowing about the health risks.

But Sky News has learned that the RAF knew even then that their exposure could pose a long-term threat to their health.

The letter, obtained by Sky News, is dated 25 November 2003. In it, the Directorate of Health Services noted that sodium dichromate was a class A carcinogen, meaning that "a strong linkage to cancer has been demonstrated".

It noted that long-term exposure - defined in the document as lifelong exposure in the workplace - can lead to damage to the nose, irritation of the lungs, dermatitis, and "increased risk of lung and nose cancer".

There has been notably little scientific study of the effects of significant exposure to the skin, like that experienced by the Qarmat Ali veterans.

Under "actions to be taken", the letter called for personnel who were exposed to be identified and their medical records annotated to indicate the potential exposure.

"Offer biological screening. This cannot be detailed until the numbers exposed are confirmed," it added.

None of the 15 Qarmat Ali veterans spoken to by Sky News say they were offered any medical screening.

Death of a high-ranking US officer

Over the next 20 years many of the Qarmat Ali group lost touch, some possibly unaware of the exposure entirely.

US veterans - around 830 of whom were deployed to Qarmat Ali - have benefitted from a national inquiry that found they were "unintentionally exposed" to toxic chemicals.

They can access dedicated support through the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

It followed in the wake of the death in 2009 of Lieutenant-Colonel James Gentry of the National Guard from cancer.

The US Army deemed that his death was "in line of duty for exposure to sodium dichromate", according to court documents.

But despite the RAF being deployed at Qarmat Ali for much longer periods than the Americans - 24 hours at a time - there has been no formal investigation or dedicated support in the UK.

'My cancer will never go away'

Thirteen of the 15 veterans Sky News has spoken to say they have experienced symptoms since, including four who have had cancer and another who had a brain tumour.

"My skin cancer will never go away," Jim Garth says. "It's treatable but when the treatment is finished it comes back, so I've got that for life really."

Pete Lewis, who has had multiple surgeries and skin grafts, said: "I'm actually getting to the point now where I don't care anymore… sooner or later it's going to do me."

"We're all a ticking time bomb," says Mr Caunt, who says worries over the sodium dichromate exposure have caused anxiety and stress, which stopped his military career nearly 20 years' service.

"We do not know what's going to happen in the future," he said, visibly emotional. "It's worrying."

Veterans feel let down by politicians

Following a Sky News report in 2024, some of the veterans met with Labour MPs in opposition and John Healey, now defence secretary, said they should get "answers to their important questions".

In January last year, Qarmat Ali veterans met with the government in Westminster.

But 12 months later - and more than a year since Sky News first covered their story - there has been no concrete action to rectify what they see as an injustice - and an ongoing risk to their health.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said: "We take very seriously the concerns raised by veterans who were deployed to guard the Qarmat Ali Water Treatment Plant in 2003.

"As soon as we were alerted to the possible exposure of Sodium Dichromate, an environmental survey was conducted to evaluate typical exposure at Qarmat Ali. Results showed that the levels at the time were significantly below UK government guidance levels."

However, in a letter to some servicemen in February 2004, the MoD acknowledged that prior to a clean-up at the site several months after UK troops were deployed there, it was "likely that the level of contamination was higher".

The MoD statement to Sky News continued: "Anyone who requires medical treatment can receive it through the Defence Medical Services and other appropriate services.

"Veterans who believe they have suffered ill health due to service can apply for no-fault compensation under the War Pensions Scheme."

Despite questions from Sky News, and the accounts of 15 veterans who say they were not offered screening, the MoD continues to insist that all personnel who may have been exposed were identified and medical screening was offered.

Mr Watters called out Sir Keir Starmer and his pledge to govern on behalf of working people.

"We are the working class, we are ex-soldiers who have put our lives on the line and you're turning a blind eye to us," he said.

"Come on Starmer, put your money where your mouth is and come and speak to us, get something done for the lads and the girls that were there."

He called for a full investigation into why he and his comrades were exposed and action going forward - before it's too late.

Mr Garth said: "We felt let down at Qarmat Ali all those years ago, and we still feel let down now."

(c) Sky News 2026: Iraq veterans living with 'ticking time bomb' after not receiving medical screenin