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Studies find Gulf War illnesses linked to toxins.


The mysterious illnesses suffered by Gulf War veterans appear to be linked to exposure to toxins, including nerve gas nerve gas, any of several poison gases intended for military use, e.g., tabun, sarin, soman, and VX. Nerve gases were first developed by Germany during World War II but were not used at that time. , according to according to
prep.
1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.

2. In keeping with: according to instructions.

3.
 a report published by the VA's Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illness.

The report released in November said, "A growing body of research indicates that all important component of Gulf War veterans' illnesses is neurological in character" and that evidence points to "a probable link between exposure to neurotoxins and the development of Gulf War veterans' illnesses."

Those findings contradicted earlier conclusions that psychiatric illness or combat-related stress were most likely explanations for a variety of illnesses among veterans of the 1990-1991 war.

Hundreds of thousands of veterans of the Gulf War have experienced a wide range of illnesses they believe are linked to the war. These include chronic fatigue, loss of muscle control, gastrointestinal ailments, migraines, dizziness, and memory problems.

The 11-member panel spent the past two years reviewing recent Studies Which suggest that veterans illnesses are neurological and apparently are linked to exposure to neurotoxins such as the nerve gas sarin sarin (zärēn`), volatile liquid used as a nerve gas. It boils at 147°C; but evaporates quickly at room temperature; its vapor is colorless and odorless. , the anti-nerve gas drug pyridostigmine bromide Pyridostigmine bromide (Mestinon)
An anticholinesterase drug used in treating myasthenia gravis.

Mentioned in: Myasthenia Gravis

pyridostigmine bromide,
, and pesticides that affect the nervous system.

"For the men and women whose illnesses and disabilities have been dismissed as imagined or brought tin by stress, this report offers a measure of vindication," said National Service Director Randy Reese. "It also gives them some hope that effective treatments may some day be available."

The Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illness said scientists are making good progress toward developing treatments for veterans' illnesses but that more government help is needed. The committee suggested spending $60 in million over the next four years to monitor and research the health of veterans and their children.

In announcing the release of the committee's report, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Noun 1. Secretary of Veterans Affairs - the person who holds the secretaryship of the Department of Veterans Affairs; "Bush appointed Edward J. Derwinski as the first Secretary of Veterans Affairs"  Anthony J. Principi said the VA will set aside up to $15 million a year for Gulf War illness research. With the stipulation the money not pay for studies that propose stress as the only explanation for the ailments.

The VA's funding commitment represents the department's single largest set-aside of research funding Research funding is a term generally covering any funding for scientific research, in the areas of both "hard" science and technology and social science. The term often connotes funding obtained through a competitive process, in which potential research projects are evaluated and  for a specific area of investigation and could constitute up to nearly 20% of VA's new research grant awards for fiscal year 2005. Over the past decade, the VA has spent more than $50 million for research into Gulf War illnesses, and Much of that work is still ongoing.

"Gulf War veterans are encountered to contact their nearest DAV See WebDAV.  National Service Office for information arid assistance with claims for disability compensation for illnesses related to their service in Southwest Asia Southwest Asia or Southwestern Asia (largely overlapping with the Middle East) is the southwestern portion of Asia. The term Western Asia is sometimes used in writings about the archeology and the late prehistory of the region, and in the United States subregion ," said Reese.
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Title Annotation:Department of Veterans Affairs' Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illness' report on veterans illnesses
Author:Autry, Dave
Publication:DAV Magazine
Geographic Code:1USA
Date:Jan 1, 2005
Words:430
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