Twenty-five years after 700,000 U.S. troops fought and won the first Gulf War with remarkably low casualties, research "clearly and consistently" shows that exposure to pesticides and other toxins caused Gulf War Illness, a complex and debilitating disorder that affects as many as 250,000 of those deployed, according to a new report led by a Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researcher.
In a special issue of the journal Cortex that coincides with the 25th anniversary of the war, Roberta White, professor of environmental health at BUSPH, and colleagues from a dozen other institutions comprehensively review studies on Gulf War Illness (GWI), especially those since 2008. They conclude that exposure to pesticides and ingestion of pyridostigmine bromide (PB) - prophylactic pills intended to protect troops against the effects of possible nerve gas—are "causally associated with GWI and the neurological dysfunction in Gulf War veterans."
The research team also cites multiple studies showing a link between veterans' neurological problems and exposure to the nerve-gas agents sarin and cyclosarin, as well as to oil well fire emissions.
More
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
8 comments:
How many out there are sick and just don't know why? The government has been dragging its feet on this for 25 years. It's time for them to widen the presumptive list and step up to the plate with assistance to those vets before they're all dead.
That's so true, 12:26.
I am a Gulf-War Vet and back in the day we were questioning the long-term effects of the PB pills along with the shots that were "given" to us that were not FDA approved. I swear that all three of my kids have some sort of personality disorder due the my exposures over there.
I could be wrong but I doubt it.
When I came back from the Gulf War, my wife experienced three spontaneous abortions in her second trimester over the next five years, all Down's Syndrome fetuses. The odds are very much against that.
But it was such a heroic war, wasn't it?
Should we give a third Bush the chance to make his own war? Then it will be a true trifecta of disasters.
No more Bush. No more Clinton.
I have friends with Gulf War-related medical problems. I agree with the first comment.
Damn it, take care of our veterans!
They treat veterans expendably, and when they file for compensation it's automatically denied on their first filing. My experience included get this VA admitted that anyone stationed at Camp Lejuene from 50's through 80's were drinking water that was contaminated with cleaning solvents that were dumped intentionally. One of the symptoms included problem with stomach which I have and get treatment for but get this they said if and only if my esophagus problem turns into cancer then and only then I can receive benefits!! UNREAL
Post a Comment