Table Of Content20000321 135
Volume 2 Issue 5
GuHNEWS
A bi-monthly newsletter sen ing the;»interests of Gulf War veterans
$12 million awarded for Gulf
War health research studies
OSD Press Release
As part of the Clinton Administra- O To determine the feasibility of
tion's commitment to better understand epidemiological studies in human Army medical researcher in action.
the illnesses reported by Gulf War subjects, including those thought
2L. Long-term effects of subclinical
veterans, the Department of Defense, in to be near Khamisiyah, Iraq during
exposures to sarin;
coordination with the Departments of the first two weeks of March 1991;
Jik Assessment of subchronic
Veterans Affairs and Health and Human O To conduct animal studies,
neurobehavioral and neuropatho-
Services, recently announced the award designed to assess the possible
logic effects in rats following
of $ 12 million for 12 new research long-term or delayed clinical effects
low-level sarin exposures;
projects on Gulf War illnesses. This of low level or subclinical
^L. Neurophysiologic and neuropatho-
expands DoD's current extramural exposures to chemical warfare
logic effects in monkeys of
research portfolio to more than 35 agents; and
low-level exposures to sarin,
active projects. O To investigate causal relationships
pyridostigmine, pesticides and
The new projects include eight between illnesses and symptoms
botulinum toxoid;
research efforts funded under a special among Gulf War veterans and
JL. Low-level exposure to GB vapor
fiscal year 1997 $ 10 million Congres- possible exposures to hazardous
in air: diagnosis/dosimetry, lowest
sional appropriation to the Department material, chemical warfare agents,
observable effect levels,
of Defense for scientific research to be stress, potentially hazardous
performance-incapacitation, and
carried out by entities independent of combinations of inoculations (i.e.,
possible delayed effects;
the federal government. The additional anthrax and botulinum toxin) and
J^ Low-level sarin neurotoxicity and
four research projects were solicited investigational new drugs (i.e.,
its modulation by pyridostigmine;
from both federal and nonfederal pyridostigmine bromide) during
J^ Physiologic effects of stress in
sources, and were funded from the military service in the Gulf War.
Gulf War veterans;
Department's science and technology
^L Ulness among Gulf War veterans:
account. The funded projects were The U.S. Army Medical Research
case validation studies;
selected on the basis of scientific merit and Materiel Command made the
J^ Pyridostigmine-induced
and relevance to better understand awards on behalf of the Departments of
neurodegeneration: role of neuronal
illnesses of Gulf War veterans. The final Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Health
apoptosis;
selection of funded projects was closely and Human Services.
J^, Butyrylcholinesterase genetic
coordinated with the Departments of There were no proposals submitted
variants in persons with Gulf War
Veteran Affairs, and Health and Human for epidemiologic feasibility studies
illness;
Services through the Research Working among Gulf War veterans thought to be
2± Sarin and pyridostigmine
Group of the Persian Gulf Veterans near Khamisiyah, Iraq during the first
interaction under physical stress:
Coordinating Board. two weeks of March, 1991. However,
neurotoxic effects in mice;
The U. S. Army Medical Research the Department is working with the
JL. Gulf War veterans: epidiological
and Materiel Command issued a Broad Institute of Medicine to better under-
and clinical evidence for residual
Agency Announcement to medical stand any possible health outcomes
organophosphate neurotoxicity;
researchers last December and January among these veterans.
and
to submit proposals for research A list of the fiscal year 1997 Gulf
2L. Individual differences in
projects on three specific topics: War illnesses research awards follows:
neurobehavioral effects of
pyridostigmine.
WD lS :~%'
AP
S^on« ited
m
TjjIP
Page 2
I itilts-
Tallil Air Base narrative,
MOPP and M8A1 alarm
information papers released
By Ellen DiPaolo
PublicAfFairs
In its recently released case describes the levels of protection, and
narrative on Iraq's Tallil Air Base, the illustrates the limitations of increased
DoD concluded that it is "unlikely" that MOPP posture. Some weaknesses
chemical weapons were stored at Tallil include the weight and bulk of the OSAGWI team members emerge from the
Air Base when it was occupied by U.S. equipment, the performance degradation gas chamber at the Marine Corps base
troops in the spring of 1991. Also caused by routine use and wear limits of in Quantico, VA, during a recent MOPP
released were information papers the overgarments, and the need for NBC and chemical detection equipment
outlining mission oriented protective discipline and regular MOPP gear training seminar.
posture (MOPP) equipment, and the by the soldiers.
Navy publishes
M8A1 chemical detection alarm. The Lessons Learned section of the
U.S. intelligence confirmed that Tallil paper explains some very valuable facts
had contained stocks of chemical learned while operating in the Gulf in a birth defects
munitions during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq high-threat chemical warfare environment.
war because Iraqi jets that bombed The DoD is addressing these findings to
study
Iranian troops with chemical agents had improve future combat operations in a
flown out of Tallil. One of Iraq's 22 chemical environment.
S-shaped bunkers had been built at Tallil The M8A1 Automatic Chemical By Mark Sloman
and was considered a potential chemical Agent Alarm information paper focuses PublicAffairs
storage site during the Gulf War, the on the components of the M8A1 alarm
The Naval Health Research Center
narrative states. system, how it operates, and what could
Chemical weapons specialists cause the alarm to sound. and the Birth Defects and Genetic
inspected the bunker in March 1991, The paper explains that the alarm's Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease
using chemical detection kits and design allows it to detect some — but not Control and Prevention, recently
monitors, as well as two Fox reconnais- all — chemical weapon agents, and also published the results of a study into
sance vehicles. No chemical weapons or explains the alarm's drawbacks. For possible links between Gulf War
agents were found, according to the example, during the Gulf War, many false service and the incidence of Goldenhar
narrative. The demolition crews which alarms sounded as a result of a low syndrome in the children of Gulf War
destroyed munitions, equipment, and battery, oily smoke, blowing sand, and veterans. The study, published in the
structures at the base, also found no extreme temperatures. TheM8Al journal, Teratology, provides a statisti-
chemical weapons, but did discover detectors sounded so frequently that some cal analysis of infants born in military
significant quantities of associated soldiers lost confidence in the alarms and medical treatment facilities between
defensive gear such as masks, suits, turned them off, according to the August 2, 1990, and September 30,
antidotes, and decontaminates — but this narrative. 1993. The researchers concluded that
was expected based on Tallil's history Based on the lessons learned, the DoD there was no established relationship
during the Iran -Iraq war. will replace the M8A1 alarm system with between Gulf service and Goldenhar
The DoD's "unlikely" assessment was M22 automatic chemical agent detector syndrome.
based on first-hand observations, the alarms, an improved system. Fielding "Although the birth prevalence of
reconnaissance of the area by chemical starts in March 1998. The new detector Goldenhar syndrome was higher
personnel, intelligence reporting, and the will be able to sense mustard agent vapor, among [Gulf War veterans'] infants;
lack of any U.S. reports of chemical in addition to nerve agent vapor, and is .. .the difference was not statistically
warfare agent detections or chemical expected to have fewer false alarm significant," the report said.
warfare agent injuries, the narrative responses —"interferents" — such as Because of the small sample size
stated. gasoline and exhausts. and other statistical criteria, the incident
The 27-page MOPP information All of these case narratives are issued as rate among Gulf War veterans would
paper explains the different types of draft or interim reports, and can be have to have been 5.75 times higher
chemical protective equipment used by requested by mail, or found on GulfLINK than non-deployed veterans to be
U.S. forces during the Gulf War, (http://www.gulflink.osd.mil). considered statistically significant.
_^ (conünu ed on p. 4)
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Page 3||
JlTom the beginning of our investigation into GulfWar illnesses, In Cairo, we met with officials From the desk of
I have been committed to using every resource available to learn representing the Ministry of Defense Bernard D. Rostket
what may be making our veterans sick. In attempting to answer Departments of Chemical Warfare, .
this question, we have reached out to Gulf War coalition partners Medical Services, and Scientific Special Assistant Jor
in Europe and the Middle East. On November 4, my senior Research as well as the Navy Advance Gulf War Illnesses
advisors and I traveled to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel Research Medical Unit. Following
to complete the second phase of fact-finding meetings. Our discussions, unit staff proposed to
purpose was to share our medical findings with these countries serve as a base of support for medical
and to determine if their civilian and military population have research to be conducted in Saudi
experienced symptoms similar to our Gulf War veterans. Arabia.
In Kuwait City, we met with government representatives from In Tel Aviv, we learned that while
environmental, research and health care institutions. Kuwaiti the Israelis were the target of 39 Scud
officials told us that the destruction of the Kuwaiti infrastructure missile attacks during the war, they
caused by the war, the loss of records and equipment, and changes performed real-time studies on the
in the expatriate population, presented obstacles to conducting psychological reaction of the Israeli
epidemiological studies on long-term health effects. Never- population to the threat of chemical
theless, the Kuwaitis observed no adverse health affects or appar- warfare. We received detailed
ent symptoms as a result of Gulf War risk factors such as oil well briefings on Israel's significant
fire smoke, oil spills or depleted uranium. The director general research program on cholinesterase
of Kuwait's Environment Public Authority offered to provide us inhibitors such as nerve gas, organophosphates, and pyridostigmine
with raw, unanalyzed data on the effect of oil well fires on humans bromide. When we examined the Scud missiles recovered by the
and data on air quality measurements collected since the war. Israeli Scud Recovery Unit, we confirmed analyses that Scud
In Saudi Arabia, we presented briefings to numerous military warheads had no chemical or biological component. The yellow
and health care professionals including personnel with the mist released at impact was identified as red fuming nitric acid,
Ministry of Defense Hospitals in Riyadh and Dharan, the Saudi rocket propellant, not nerve agent.
Arabia National Guard Hospital and the Aramco Hospital. The Our host countries were most receptive to our visits. The
Saudi Arabia National Guard Hospital CEO offered the U.S. team information exchange was unrestricted and honest and
computerized medical records of 100,000 National Guard opportunities for additional research look very promising. We
members and 1,000,000 extended members to evaluate changes hope the relationships we developed will help us gain further
in their medical condition since the GulfWar. Findings will be insights into the nature of GulfWar illnesses.
released once approved by the Saudi Arabian government.
"I learned to live for the moment, taking it day by day,"
Veteran Moellenberndt said when asked how he endured his injuries and
extended hospital stays. His advice to other ill veterans includes,
"You have to realize that there is help out there. Learn as much
, Spotlight
as you can about your illness or disability, and work with your
doctor to determine your treatment. Low points have to be
viewed as just another day, not the big picture."
By Ellen DiPaolo Family support has also been a major factor
Public Affairs in Moellenberndt's recovery. He and his wife of
In February 1991, Kevin Moellenberndt five years, Debora, have a healthy and
rambunctious two-year-old son named Alex.
was severely injured by a sniper's bullet while
Determined not to let his injuries change his
moving into Iraqi territory on a mission to destroy
life, Moellenberndt is pursuing a double major in
the enemy's communication system during the
Chemistry and Biomedicine at the University of
GulfWar. Now, nearly seven years later, his
North Carolina. Although he had a delay due to
recovery continues — however, Moellenberndt
hip replacement surgery this past July,
refuses to live in the past.
Moellenberndt is back in school, and after
A combat engineer with the 307* Engineer
Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, Moellenberndt graduation plans to apply to a program at
Northwestern University to become certified to
spent nine months at Walter Reed Medical Center
fit prosthetic limbs.
after the sniper bullet struck the ammunition
Moellenberndt is slowly recovering from his
pouch on his hip, causing many of the rounds in
hip replacement surgery, and is able to walk with
the pouch to discharge, resulting in severe injuries
a crutch, attempting to rebuild his muscles in
to his lower abdominal area and right leg.
Moellenberndt competing
order to start physical therapy. A competitor in
"I don't think I could have gotten better care in shot put at the 1995
sports for the physically challenged, he competes
anywhere," Moellenberndt said of his extended Paralyzed Veterans of
stay at Walter Reed. Unfortunately, he had to be America National Wheel- on the national level in basketball and archery —
readmitted for secondary infections from chair Games in Atlanta, taking his own advice to all veterans to "take it
GA. day by day."
January-April 1992.
———
IIP
j
Page 4
■UHk esources tor veterans
' \ /""
Your ticket to the Gulf War \ derails seeking Anyone with information Arc you a Gulf War j
information highway— information on VA benefits of on Gulf War incidents veteran (or know one) with i
visit our GulfLINK all types should call the Gulf should call the DoD health problems? Call the DoDj
web site at: War Information Hotline at: Incident Reporting Lineal Gulf War Veterans Hotline at: \
http:/Avww.gulflink. osd. mil L-800-749-8387 1-800-472-6719 1-800-796-9699
Attention Minnesota
Gulf War veterans!
The State Veterans Affairs is allowing (Goldenhar- from page 2)
application for a Persian Gulf War bonus GulfNEWQ is an authorized publi- The study was undertaken in
through December 1998. cation for past and precent response to media reports suggesting a
To be eligible for the bonus, the members of the higher incidence of birth defects,
applicant: 1) must have been separated Department of specifically Goldenhar syndrome, among
with either an honorable discharge or a Defense. Contents infants born to Gulf War veterans than
general discharge under honorable of GulfNEWQ are not existed in the general population.
conditions; or if on active duty, must be necessarily the Goldenhar syndrome, a condition for
official views of, or
rendering honorable service at the time of which there are no set diagnostic criteria,
endorsed by, the U.8. Govern-
application. 2) must have been a resident is a "disorder characterized by abnormal
ment, the Department of
of the state of Minnesota at the time they prenatal development of facial
Defense, or the Qpecial Assistant
entered into active duty military service. structures." For this study, the
for Gulf War Illnesses.
3) must not have received a bonus combination of any two birth anomalies
payment from another state. 4) must GulfNEWQ is produced by: commonly noted in the condition was
have served on active duty outside The Office of the 9pecial the established criteria. These anomalies
Minnesota if a member of the National Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses usually include small or missing ears,
Guard or Reserve component. (OSAGWI), 5113 Leesburg Pike, cleft lip or palate, and malformation of
To file for the Persian Gulf War bonus, Quite 901, Falls Church, VA the eyes and vertebrae.
you will need a copy of your DD 214. If 22041. Of the 129,022 live births that
you received the Southwest Asia Service occurred during the target period, 398
Qend your comments and
Medal, you are eligible for a $600 bonus. infants showed characteristics indicative
suggestions on this newsletter to
If you did not receive this medal, you of Goldenhar syndrome. However, only
Ellen DiPaolo at the above
areeligible for a $300 bonus. seven met the study's criteria. Five of
address, or to
To apply for the bonus, stop in the edipaolo@gwillness. oed. mit these seven infants were born to Gulf
Veterans Service Office at your county War veterans and two were born to non-
courthouse. deployed veterans.
"The etiologic role of Gulf War
exposures in the manifestation of birth
defects has not been established, and it is
unclear whether the prevalence and type
of birth defects differ among infants of
Gulf War veterans, non-deployed
veterans, and nonmilitary populations,"
the study concludes.
The complete report can be found on
GulfLINK (http://www. gulflink. osd. mil).
Over the next several months, the
Department of Defense anticipates the
release of several additional reproductive
health studies.
HU-25 Falcon aircraft on the scene at a Kuwaiti oil fields fire
during the Gulf War.
WmmMi:
