Although the first Gulf War only lasted about 100 hours, it’s reported to have caused more lingering physical and mental maladies in the soldiers who participated in it than anyone anticipated. Scientists today are describing these ailments, which include multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease) as exposure to the dirtiest battlefield on Earth.
Soldiers in the first Gulf War encountered 2 micron-size Arabian sand, consisting of particles so small they easily become airborne and inhaled. During the first Gulf War, this fine sand was sprayed with toxic insecticides and contaminated with spilled diesel oil, which was then kicked up with tanks and other vehicles. Contaminated sand is considered the prime source of the respiratory ailments affecting Gulf War veterans.
In addition, microscopic sand flies are also present in Arabian sand. Inhaled, the sand fly will lay dormant for years and then attack the immune system.
Besides environmental agents in sand, other health threats that were underestimated during the first Gulf War include exposure to investigational vaccines for anthrax and other nerve agents, poor techniques for purifying water, exposure to Mycoplasma fermentens, and the release of sarin gas and related chemicals into the atmosphere during bombing raids on Iraqi chemical-storage bunkers.
Steve Robinson, executive director of the advocacy agency Veterans for America describes veterans of the first Gulf War as having a unique propensity toward brain cancer, multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease, and certain birth defects. Symptoms suffered by veterans of the first Gulf War include chronic multi-symptom illnesses that are unique to each soldier. According to Robinson, the term Gulf War Syndrome doesn’t come close to describing the chronic conditions suffered by veterans of the first Gulf War and it limits the medical benefits provided to these veterans.
Disease Incidence
Over the years, raw data from the Veterans Benefits Administration suggest more than 11,000 of the 696,841 veterans who served in the first Gulf War have died from various injuries and illnesses, and more than 256,000 have filed claims against the government for veterans compensation or medical care. This is a significantly higher incidence of diseases than seen in veterans of the Vietnam War.
The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments have recognized brain cancer deaths, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and fibromyalgia as potentially connected to service during the Persian Gulf War, and congressional representatives are now investigating the link to multiple sclerosis. Other autoimmune disorders that have been linked to the Gulf War include systemic lupus erythematosus and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Resources:
Michael Gibbons, ‘The Dirtiest Battlefield on Earth’, Veterans of the first Gulf War have a propensity toward brain cancer, Lou Gehrig’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and certain birth defects, Advance for Administrators of the Laboratory, December 2007.
The Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Related Illnesses and Injuries
Elaine Moore - I'm a retired medical technologist and medical writer with more than 30 years experience working in hospital laboratories. Currently, I ...
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