Operation Desert Storm: Questions Remain on Possible Exposure to Reproductive Toxicants
PEMD-94-30
Published: Aug 05, 1994. Publicly Released: Aug 05, 1994.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed whether veterans of Operation Desert Storm were exposed to reproductive toxicants, focusing on the: (1) types of assessments performed before the deployment of troops to the Persian Gulf; (2) specific reproductive toxicants identified as a result of the assessments; (3) types of protection provided to active duty personnel who might have been exposed to the toxicants; (4) extent that active duty military personnel and veterans are monitored for reproductive dysfunction that may have resulted from duty in the Persian Gulf; and (5) substances likely to have been present in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm that could have potentially resulted in reproductive toxicity.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | In regard to present efforts to ascertain any possible reproductive effects from service in the Gulf War, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) should direct that VA use the revised questionnaire to reregister the 20,000 veterans who have already had a VA registry examination. This should be done in order to obtain information on problems of infertility and miscarriages. |
Closed – Implemented
The Department of Veterans Affairs is forwarding its 60-day response to the Secretary for his signature.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should ensure that DOD makes additional scientific inquiry on the possible synergistic effects of multiple exposures to hazards found in the Persian Gulf and the effects on the human immune system from these hazards as they relate to possible reproductive dysfunction. |
Closed – Implemented
There are approximately 30 research projects related to health consequences of Gulf War service currently in progress, including work on multiple exposures. This work involves research to evaluate the possible sequelae from exposure to pyridostigmine and pyridostigmine in combination with other chemicals present during the Gulf War.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should explore approaches to collect baseline data on birth outcomes and other reproductive indexes such as infertility and miscarriage rates of active duty and reserve military personnel so that these data are available for future comparability studies. This information should also include the collection of baseline data on exposure levels to potential reproductive toxicants in order to ascertain when exposures rise to dangerous levels in future conflicts. In order to ascertain any differences in health status, this information should be collected both before and after future conflicts. |
Closed – Implemented
DOD responded that it explored possible approaches to collect baseline data and determined that an activity that involved a prospective cohort reproductive outcome surveillance system would be costly, invade the privacy of service members, and would be too complex (in regard to control of other factors). DOD has used an epidemiological approach to compare reproductive outcome information through the use of three retrospective case-control analyses which found no additional cases of major or minor birth defects, nor an increase in premature births.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should develop procedures to better ensure that troops are informed of possible reproductive toxicants before deployment and that efforts are undertaken to monitor exposure levels to such hazards. |
Closed – Implemented
DOD is in the preliminary phase of planning a comprehensive deployment surveillance program that would incorporate expanded pre-deployment health assessments and enhanced in-theater industrial hygiene and environmental monitoring. However, DOD does not plan to develop a special surveillance program to specifically address reproductive toxicants.
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Topics
Biological weaponsBirth defectsChemical exposureCombat readinessData collectionHazardous substancesHealth hazardsMedical examinationsMilitary personnelMilitary trainingSafety standardsToxic substancesChildbirth