Oregon Public Broadcasting

Five Oregon National Guardsmen filed suit in Portland Monday alleging they were exposed to highly carcinogenic materials in Iraq.

They say they were providing protection for contract workers who were cleaning up a water purification plant in southern Iraq.

They say the contractor, KBR gave them no protection, and allege that KBR knew the site was contaminated with sodium dichromate, an anti-corrosive.

Attorney for the troops, David Sugerman, expects a long trial.

David Sugerman: “Once the KBR defendants appear in federal court, there will be a lot of motions and discover and a lot of paper that goes along with a lawsuit of this complexity and importance.”

The five Oregon troops are only the latest to file suit. 16 soldiers from Indiana filed in December.

In a statement, KBR says the company did not knowingly harm any troops and that it notified the Army Corps of Engineers of the existence of the substance at the site. It also says the corps concluded KBR's efforts to remediate the situation were effective.