Reports of low-concentration nerve gas exposures
during the Persian Gulf War have spurred concern about
possible health consequences and refocused interest on
the symptoms reported by many returning military veterans.
The Portland Environmental Hazards Research Center is studying
veterans from the Northwest USA who report persistent,
unexplained “Persian Gulf” symptoms (cases)
or who do not report those symptoms (controls).
Of the first 101 veterans studied, cases differed substantially
from controls on a broad range of psychological tests indicative
of increased distress. A subgroup of cases was identified
with objective deficits on neurobehavioral tests of memory,
attention, and response speed. (JINS, 1999, 5,
203–212.)