Chemicals blamed for Persian Gulf War IIIs

VFW Magazine, March, 2003 by Tim Dyhouse

A combination of chemicals given to Gulf War soldiers in 1991 to protect them from diseases or nerve gas may be the cause of infertility, sexual dysfunction and other genitourinary symptoms, according to a scientific study completed in January.

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center tested three chemicals--the insect repellent DEET, the insecticide permethrin and the anti-nerve gas pyridostgmine bromide--on rats in doses equivalent to those given soldiers. The chemicals caused extensive cell degeneration and cell death in the testes and lowered sperm production. Damage was more severe when the rats were exposed to stress.

Results of the Pentagon-funded study were published in the Jan. 10, 2003, issue of The Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health.

According to the VA, about 208,500 claims for a service-connected disability have been filed by the 572,520 veterans who served in the Gulf War and are eligible to make claims. About 161,700 claims had been granted as of August.