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File: 950825_84532560.txtFilename:84532560 PATHFINDER RECORD NUMBER: 32560 GENDATE: 950623 NNNN TEXT: ENVELOPE CDSN = LGX118 MCN = 91091/29227 TOR = 910912326 PTTSZYUW RUEKJCS0010 0912327-RUEALGX. ZNY HEADER P 012327Z APR 91 FM JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC INFO RUEKCCG/USDP-CCC WASHINGTON DC RUEALGX/SAFE P 011900Z APR 91 FM DIRAFMIC FT DETRICK MD //AFMIC-ZA// TO RUEORDA/RULYSCC/COMPHIBRON THREE RUEORDA/RULYSCC/COMSERVRON TWO RUEORDA/RULYSCC/COMSERVRON FOUR RUEORDA/RULYSCC/COMSERVRON EIGHT RUEORDA/RULYSCC/MSSG ELEVEN RHIPAAA/USCENTCOM FWD HQS //J2/SG// RHIUFAA/USCENTAF FWD HQS ELEMENT //SG// RUDCHAA/ARCENT FWD //MD// RUDCAAA/CDR7THTRANSGP //AFFG-C-S2// RUCLEUA/CDRUSASC FT RUCKER AL //CSSC-ZM// RUEBMDA/CDR6THINFDIV(L) FT WAINWRIGHT AK //APVR-SG// RUCIWMA/CDRTACOM WARREN MI //AMSTA-SF// RUCLBFA/CDRIII CORPS FT HOOD TX //AFZF-GS-CMD// RUWTATA/CDR807THMEDBDE SEAGOVILLE TX //AFKB-GC-CT-HS// RUKGNPA/EODTEU TWO FT STORY VA //03// RUKGNPA/CDR11THTRANSBN FT STORY VA //AFFG-I-S2// [ b.2. ] RUFLBJA/CDRJLD VICENZA IT RUCLBFA/CDR1STCAVDIV FT HOOD TX //G2/CM&D// RHIBHAC/CDR24THINFDIV FWD //CM&D/G2// RHIBHAA/CDR101STABNDIVAASLT FWD //CM&D/G2// RHIIMAA/VMA THREE ONE ONE //S2// RUDPTOC/XVIII ABN CORPS INTEL CEN FT BRAGG NC RHIPAAA/USCINCENT //CCJ2// RULYSCC/COMPHIBGRU THREE ATF RUVRBGA/TAG MS JACKSON MS //MS-DOT-O/213TH MED BDE// RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC //USDP-GLOBAL// RUKGNEC/USACMH WASHINGTON DC //DAMH-RAO// RULSMCA/MARCORINTCEN QUANTICO VA RHFQAAA/58MAS ALCC RAMSTEIN AB GE //CC// RHFQZAF/316AD CLINIC RAMSTEIN AB GE //SGAX/SGPM// RHFQZAF/609USAFCONTHOSP ZWEIBRUCKEN AB GE //SG// RUFLAEA/7241ABG CLINIC IZMIR TU //SGPM// RULYSCC/CG V MEF CSSE //HSSU// RHCGSRA/CG FOURTH FSSG //4OPS// RHQIIEG/TWO FOUR MEU //MED// RULYSCC/USS TARAWA RUEORDA/TCC FT DETRICK MD AIG 6623 AIG 12630 INFO RULYSCC/CTF SIX THREE RUEORDA/XMT CDR2DARMDIV FT HOOD TX //AFZF-SC-MG// RHFFMRN/CDRVIICORPS MOEHRINGEN GE //AETSSU// RUKRATB/USAFHOSP HELLENIKON AB GR //MIO// [ b.2. ] RUDOHAA/COMUSNAVLOGSUPFOR //N4/N9// BT SECTION 001 OF 003 /*********** THIS IS A COMBINED MESSAGE ************/ BODY SUBJ: AFMIC WEEKLY WIRE 13-91 1. GENERAL (U) THIS MESSAGE CONSISTS OF SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL, AND GENERAL MEDICAL INTELLIGENCE. IT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE A TIMELY SUMMARY OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS. THE REMARKS ARE PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO REVISION AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT AN AGREED DOD POSITION. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS (U) A. KUWAIT: HEALTH THREAT POSED BY OIL WELL FIRES (U) B. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ] C. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ] D. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ] E. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ] 3. INTELLIGENCE FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS (U) A. KUWAIT: HEALTH THREAT POSED BY OIL WELL FIRES (U) (U) KUWAITI HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE ISSUED CONFLICTING REPORTS CONCERNING THE PERCEIVED HEALTH THREAT POSED BY THE OIL FIRES BURNING IN KUWAIT. IN A 19 MARCH 1991 REUTERS NEWS ARTICLE, SEVERAL KUWAITI PHYSICIANS CLAIMED THAT THE THICK BLACK SMOKE IS "CAUSING HEART AND LUNG DISEASE AND POISONING FOOD AND WATER." THE PHYSICIANS WARNED OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC RESPIRATORY AILMENTS, SUCH AS REACTIVE AIRWAY DISEASE AND BRONCHITIS, AND HEART DISEASE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS WITH ACUTE RESPIRATORY COMPLAINTS HAS INCREASED SINCE THE WELLS WERE SET ON FIRE AND RECOMMEND THAT KUWAITI CITIZENS EITHER LEAVE THE COUNTRY OR WEAR SURGICAL MASKS. IN A 24 MARCH REUTERS REPORT, KUWAIT'S HEALTH MINISTER ABDUL WAHAB SULIMAN AL FAWZAN SAID HE HAS GIVEN KUWAIT A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. CITING PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY EPA-LED INTERAGENCY ASSESSMENT TEAM, MINISTER AL FAWZAN DENIED ANY INCREASED NUMBER OF CASES OR INCREASED RISK OF ACUTE OR CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASES ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE OIL WELL FIRES. AMOUNT OF TOXIC GASES AND PARTICULATES AT THE HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE WELLS AND BLOWN OUT SITES TESTED BY THE EPA TEAM WERE BELOW TOXIC LEVELS. FURTHER ANALYSIS OF THE PARTICULATES IS REQUIRED AND WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED UPON THE TEAM'S RETURN TO THE U.S. COMMENT: (U) MORE THAN 500 OIL WELLS ARE BURNING OUT OF CONTROL IN KUWAIT; SMOKE FROM THESE FIRES RISES THOUSANDS OF METERS INTO THE AIR. THE HEIGHT AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE SMOKE RESULTS FROM THE INTERNAL PRESSURES WITHIN THE OIL WELLS AND THE PREVAILING WINDS. SULFUR COMPONENTS IN ADDITION TO HYDROCARBONS) ARE MAJOR BY- PRODUCTS OF THESE FIRES. ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS SULFUR COMPONENTS IS HYDROGEN SULFIDE, A HEAVIER THAN AIR GAS THAT MOSTLY IS BURNED OFF IN A FIRE. SULFUR DIOXIDE, A COMBUSTION PRODUCT OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE, CONVERTS TO SULFUROUS ACID UPON CONTACT WITH MUCOUS TISSUE, RESULTING IN ACUTE IRRITATION OF THE EYES, NOSE, THROAT, AND RESPIRATORY TRACT, AND DIFFICULTY WITH BREATHING. THEREFORE, THE HEALTH THREAT POSED PRIMARILY IS ONE OF EXPOSURE TO OIL FIRE SMOKE. THE CLOSER A PERSON IS TO THE FIRES, THE GREATER THE RISK; HOWEVER, PREVAILING WINDS MAY INCREASE EXPOSURE FOR PERSONS WHO ARE RELATIVELY DISTANT FROM THE FIRES. BOTH PRIVATE AND U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE) ARE ASSESSING THE HEALTH THREAT POSED BY THE MASSIVE RELEASE OF CRUDE OIL INTO THE ENVIRONMENT. THEIR FINDINGS MAY HELP DISPEL THE CONFUSION SURROUNDING THE NATURE OF THE THREAT. PUBLICATION OF THEIR FINDINGS MAY BE OF SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT TO U.S. MEDICAL PLANNERS TASKED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HEALTH OF U.S. SERVICEMEN DEPLOYED TO THE REGION (PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH PRE-EXISTING RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS). THE NAVY MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE TOXICOLOGY DETACHMENT (NMRI/TD) RECENTLY PUBLISHED A STUDY ASSESSING THE ACUTE HAZARD POTENTIAL OF CRUDE OIL - BOTH NONBURNING (FOUND IN THE DEFENSIVE TRENCH HAZARDS CONSTRUCTED BY THE IRAQIS OR RELEASED FROM DAMAGED WELLS) AND BURNING. THE STUDY IS ENTITLED "RESULTS OF MEDICAL EFFECTS OF CRUDE OIL EXPOSURE RELATED TO OPERATION DESERT STORM." ADDITIONALLY, THE EPA TEAM, WHICH RECENTLY RETURNED FROM KUWAIT, IS EXPECTED TO PUBLISH A HEALTH ADVISORY ADDRESSING BOTH THE ACUTE AND CHRONIC HEALTH HAZARDS POSED BY EXPOSURE TO THE COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OF THE OIL FIRES. [ (b)(6) ][ (b)(2) ] [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ][ (b)(6) ][ (b)(2) ] BT #0012 INFODATE: 0
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