DOD RELEASES SECOND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE REPORT ON GULF WAR
ILLNESSES - EFFECTS OF OIL WELL FIRES After an extensive
investigation into the health effects of oil well fires during
the Gulf War, the Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War
Illnesses has released its report. The special assistant for
Gulf War illnesses also announced that RAND has released the
first in a series of medical literature reviews they are
conducting for the Defense Department. Collectively, the results
of the health effects and risk assessment studies suggest that,
with the exception of particulate matter, the concentrations of
contaminants were at levels below those that are known to cause
short- or long-term health effects. And therefore, except for
the possibility that some pre-existing respiratory conditions
might have been exacerbated, one would not expect exposures to
the levels of contaminants to result in the onset of disease in
the long-term. However, a number of studies involving Gulf War
veterans are underway to prov