crosspost - Gulf War syndrome firmly linked to chemical exposure

[bananas]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x12516

Gulf War syndrome firmly linked to chemical exposure 2 hours, 54 minutes ago

CHICAGO (AFP) - Nearly two decades after veterans of the 1991 Gulf War came home complaining of odd illnesses, enough evidence has been gathered to determine that many of them were sickened by chemical exposure, a study has concluded.

And some of the damage was likely caused by pills prescribed to protect against the use of nerve gas and pesticides used to control sand flies, according to the study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

While the military has subsequently stopped using the pills, the pesticides continue to be used in agriculture and for pest control in homes and offices in the United States and around the globe.

"Enough studies have been conducted, and results shared, to be able to say with considerable confidence that there is a link between chemical exposure and chronic, multi-symptom health problems," said study author Beatrice Golomb of the University of California San Diego's school of medicine.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080311/ts_afp/healthusiraqmilitarysyndrome_080311024540

[YankeyMCC]

1. I wonder if this is just the tip of the iceburg

That these unfortunate service men and women suffering as a result of "... a link between chemical exposure and chronic, multi-symptom health problems," are giving us a glimpse of what many will suffer from the chronic exposure to low levels of containerization we are learning prevades our ecology now. ref: the post I put up earlier on birds eggs and the recent piece in NYT on drinking water contamination in the US , as just two recent examples.)

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. UCSD researchers warn of potential risk to civilians exposed to pesticides

http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/health/03-08GulfWarVeteransHealth.asp

Health Problems in Persian Gulf War Veterans Higher Due to Chemical Exposure

UCSD researchers warn of potential risk to civilians exposed to pesticides

March 10, 2008
By Kim Edwards

A study by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine shows there is increasing evidence that high rates of illness in Persian Gulf War Veterans can be explained, in part, by exposure to certain chemicals, including pesticides and nerve agents. Veterans from the 1990-91 conflict have a higher rate of chronic, multi-symptom health problems than either non-deployed personnel or those deployed elsewhere. Symptoms routinely reported by these veterans include fatigue, muscle or joint pain, memory problems, trouble sleeping, rash and breathing problems.

...

“There is evidence that genetics have something to do with how a body handles exposure to these chemicals,” said Golomb. “Some people are genetically less able to withstand these toxins and evidence shows that these individuals have higher chance of suffering the effects of exposure.” Specifically, illness is linked to lower activity of enzymes that detoxify AChEis, due to genetic variants The enzymes known to be involved are paraoxonase (PON) for OPs, including sarin, and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) for PB.

...

Previous studies have shown genetic variants of these enzymes are also associated with increased rates of some neurological diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Golomb says this may explain the elevated levels of ALS seen in Gulf War veterans.

Some of the chemicals linked to these multi-symptom illnesses continue to be used in agriculture, and at homes and offices for pest control in the United States and around the globe. Studies not related to the Gulf War showed that agricultural workers exposed to organophosphate pesticides had 10 times the number of health symptoms as those not exposed.

...


Media Contact: Kim Edwards, [e-mail] 619-543-6163

[fed-up]

3. excellent article May 2007 Army TImes on pb, sarin and vets and more

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/05/military_sarin_gulfwar_070525w/

Study: Sarin at root of Gulf War syndrome

By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday May 30, 2007 12:08:25 EDT

As benefits administrators, officials and politicians argue the worthiness of studies on Gulf War syndrome, researchers say they have no doubts that they’ve found the root of the problem.

Sarin gas.

And they have advice for as many as 300,000 troops exposed to small doses of sarin in 1991: Don’t use bug spray, don’t smoke and don’t drink alcohol.

snip
In large enough amounts, PB is harmful, but in small doses it acts to prevent nerve agents from overstimulating muscles, and the effects of PB itself are temporary and reversible.

Exposure to sarin alone would be problematic enough. But for Gulf War veterans, exposure to sarin as well as PB and/or bug repellent may have been what ushered in Gulf War syndrome.

Abou-Donia’s research showed the combination of nerve agents, PB, bug spray and stress could cause any of those chemicals — as well as any lurking viruses — to cross the blood-brain barrier, causing other problems. He said he has no doubt there are other long-term effects of low doses of sarin on other body systems, citing chronic fatigue, muscle weakness and fibromyalgia as symptoms.

..snip

But, he said, there isn’t much that can be done now — although he cautioned Gulf War vets not to use insecticide.

“It’s kind of too late to do much of anything,” he said. “But the body has many redundant systems. Usually, if the damage is small, other neurons will take over. As time goes by, people will adapt.”

A list of units exposed to sarin in the 1991 Gulf War is online here:
http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/forces_in_hazard_00.htm

..snip