FINAL REPORT 18JAN93

File: 123096_sep96_decls1_0005.txt
Page: 0005
Total Pages: 55

Subject: FINAL REPORT   18JAN93                                          

Unit: VAR. BUMED  

Parent Organization: BUMED       

Box  ID: BX303801

Folder Title: VARIOUS BUMED DOCUMENTS FOLDER 8                                                                

Document Number:          2

Folder Seq  #:         12








            METHODS

                  The Desert Storm Survey was developed, field-tested and administered

            over an 18-day period from March 14-31, 1991. The short time line was

            dictated by the acute concern over the health effects of exposure to smoke

            from the oil well fires and the need to administer the questionnaires before

            the return of USMC units to the United States. During the four-day period

            from March 28-31, the self-administered questionnaire was completed by 2,715

            Marines who represented a conservatively estimated five percent sample of USMC

            personnel based on land in the KTO.
                  Three groups of Marines participated in the cross-sectional survey. The
            first group (Group 1) of 897 Marines had the longest exposure (approximately

            five weeks at the time of the survey) and were located closest to the burning

            oil wells. Marines in Group I entered Kuwait from Saudi Arabia during the

            latter part of February, moved north through the oil fields of Kuwait and then

            remained on the outskirts of Kuwait City up to and beyond the time of the

            survey. At this location, burning oil wells were visible at night. Depending
            on the winds, this area was periodically enveloped in smoke to the extent that
            flashlights were required to read during the day. This encampment was located

            in the fields of an agricultural research area.

                  The second group (Group II) of 987 Marines had short-term exposure to

            the oil fires. Members of Group II moved through the oil fields of southern

            Kuwait during the ground war period which occurred the last week of February

            and then withdrew to Manifah Bay, Saudi Arabia, following the cease fire on

            February 28th. Located about 120 kilometers south of the Kuwait border,
ere, depending on wind conditions, smoke from

            the southern oil fields of Kuwait was clearly visible. Floating oil on the


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Document 55 f:/Week-37/BX303801/VARIOUS BUMED DOCUMENTS FOLDER 8/final report 18jan93:1217961126382
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-37
Box ID = BX303801
Unit = VAR. BUMED
Parent Organization = BUMED
Folder Title = VARIOUS BUMED DOCUMENTS FOLDER 8
Folder Seq # = 12
Subject = FINAL REPORT 18JAN93
Document Seq # = 2
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 17-DEC-1996