Chemical exposures and suspected impact on Gulf War Veterans

Abstract

Gulf War Illness (GWI) encompass a spectrum of maladies specific to troops deployed during the Persian Gulf War (1990–1991). There are several hypothesized factors believed to contribute to GWI, including (but not limited to) exposures to chemical agents and a foreign environment (e.g., dust, pollens, insects, and microbes). Moreover, the inherent stress associated with deployment and combat has been associated with GWI. While the etiology of GWI remains uncertain, several studies have provided strong evidence that chemical exposures, especially neurotoxicants, may be underlying factors for the development of GWI. This mini style perspective article will focus on some of the major evidence linking chemical exposures to GWI development and persistence decades after exposure.