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Nearly half of the 5 million veterans that have been screened by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) under a new law have reported at least one possible exposure to toxic substances during their military service. Announcing the 5 million screening milestone, the VA revealed that 2.1 million veterans — or 43 percent of those screened — were potentially exposed to such substances during their service. (Frazin, 12/12)

The screening covers a number of various toxic exposures, although the two most commonly reported exposures are to Agent Orange — a widespread problem from the Vietnam War — and burn pits. (Watson, 12/12)

Hundreds of drinking water wells near military bases or other facilities in Washington have been contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, according to a Seattle Times analysis of the past two years of test results published by the military. So far, the military has confirmed the release of these "forever chemicals," named for their pervasiveness in the environment, at 10 military installments in the state, many of them near the Salish Sea. (Villa, 12/12)

MAPS Public Benefit Corp. filed an application on Tuesday with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve the psychedelic drug MDMA — also known as Ecstasy — in combination with therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, in what would be the first treatment of its kind. The filing is a milestone in researchers’ quest to move psychedelic drugs from tightly restricted substances into mainstream medical treatments that are widely accessible to patients. It comes after decades of studies have demonstrated the promise of psychedelics — including psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, and ketamine — to treat mental health disorders. (Gilbert and Ovalle, 12/12)

“Our goal is to make medicines that are derived from psychedelics that are safer and gentler, more effective and more accessible,” said Matthew Baggott, former director of data science and engineering at Genentech, whose Palo Alto-based startup Tactogen has patented several novel MDMA, or “Ecstasy,” molecules that offer spiritual and personal insights with less heart-racing anxiety and euphoria. (Krieger, 12/12)

A recent report from Data Bridge Market Research projects that the global market for pharmaceutical psychedelics will reach $6.4 billion by 2030. (Krieger, 12/12)