Cause of Gulf War Syndrome still a mystery

February 25, 2000
Web posted at: 3:32 a.m. EST (0832 GMT)

In this story: Paint designed to prevent chemical penetration Bacon discounts paint as cause of illness RELATED STORIES, SITES

From Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre

WASHINGTON (CNN) - None of three reports on Gulf War Syndrome published on Thursday sheds any new light on possible causes of the illness, says the Pentagon.

Kevin Bacon, a Pentagon spokesman, said, "We have not yet been able to find a single cause for Gulf War Illness and I don't think that we're any closer to thinking that we will find a single cause."

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One Pentagon report looked at whether chemical alarms on U.S. Army FOX reconnaissance vehicles that went off during the conflict in February 1991 were, in fact, false alarms, as the Pentagon initially concluded.

There was no detection of chemical agents, the report says, therefore no exposure to chemicals, which had been cited as one possible cause.

"Based on interviews with FOX crewmembers, commanders, medical and chemical staff in the 24th Infantry Division, and the analysis of the FOX tapes by mass spectrometry and chemical warfare experts, investigators assess that this FOX definitely did not detect chemical warfare agents during these incidents," the report concludes.

The second report checked whether fumes from chemical agent- resistant paint applied to tanks and armored personnel carriers by solders could be linked to the syndrome.

The paint is designed to prevent chemical warfare agents from penetrating into the coating and the report did establish that it could cause health problems if inhaled.

In the rush to get vehicles painted quickly for desert operations, the report says much of the painting was done by soldiers lacking the proper protective equipment, including respirators required by normal operating procedures.

"Inhaling high concentrations of some of the compounds and solvents can cause some short-term symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath and watery eyes," the report adds.

"Long-term exposure could lead to respiratory problems, including asthma. Paint fumes are the factor that presents the most potential risk to users."

"(The) paint emits very little in the way of harmful fumes when applied with a brush or roller, but when it is aerosolized during spray-painting applications, the risk of inhaling high concentrations of harmful components rises significantly.

"(The) paint contains no carcinogenic compounds and presents no health risks when dry, unless the painted surface is sanded or welded."

The Pentagon report estimates fewer than 500 people were involved in painting operations during the Gulf War and Bacon discounted it as a cause for the Illness.

"It does not constitute an explanation for Gulf War Illness, because only a small number of people were involved in the painting of these vehicles," he continued.

"It doesn't begin to explain the series of symptoms that numbers of people have encountered."

The final report analyzed whether planners had access to sophisticated computer models to forecast if U.S. troops might be exposed to chemical agents on the battlefield, because of allied bombing of Iraqi chemical weapons facilities.

It found that planners did not have that benefit, contrary to some press reports in 1997.

Bacon said the Pentagon would continue to concentrate on taking care of people suffering from the consequences of service in the conflict and continue aggressive research into any likely cause for Gulf War Illness.

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