Environmental Exposure Report

Particulate Matter

 

Environmental Exposure reports are reports of what we know today about certain events of the 1990-1991 Gulf War. This particular environmental exposure report focuses on US personnel exposure to particulate matter and the related health effects that may be associated with this exposure. This is an interim, not a final, report. We hope you will read this and contact us with any information that would help us better understand the issues reported here. With you help, we will be able to report more accurately on the subject of particulate matter exposures experienced during the Gulf War. Please contact my office to report any new information by calling

1-800-497-6261

Bernard Rostker
Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses
Department of Defense

20000130-0000007

 

Last Update: July 12, 2000

Many veterans of the Gulf War have expressed concern their unexplained illnesses may result from their experiences in that war. In response to veterans’ concerns, the Department of Defense (DoD) established a task force in June 1995 to investigate those incidents and circumstances relating to possible causes. The Office of the Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Gulf War Illnesses assumed responsibility for these investigations on November 12, 1996, and gathered information on particulate matter exposures.

To inform the public about the progress of this office, the Department of Defense publishes on the Internet and elsewhere accounts related to the possible causes of illness among Gulf War veterans, along with documentary evidence or personal testimony used in compiling the accounts. This environmental exposure report is such an account.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I.        OVERVIEW
 
II.      BACKGROUND
 
III.    RESULTS OF AIR QUALITY MONITORING IN THE GULF
 
IV.    PARTICULATE MATTER AIR QUALITY STANDARDS
 
V.     GENERAL HEALTH EFFECTS AND ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE TO PARTICULATES
A.  Background
1.  Acute Effects Associated with Particulate Matter Exposure
2.  Chronic Effects Associate with Particulate Matter Exposure
B.  Particulate Matter Components of Concern
1.  Silica
2.  Soot
VI.     A REVIEW OF THE THOMAS REPORT
A.  Summary
B.  Discussion
1.  Cumulative Exposure
2.  Total Dose
C.  Findings
VII.   CONCLUSIONS
 
VIII. AREAS REQUIRING FURTHER INVESTIGATION OR RESEARCH
 
IX.    LESSONS LEARNED
 
TAB A - Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Glossary
 
TAB B - Bibliography
 
END NOTES


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