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Gulf War Illnesses: Preliminary Assessment of DOD Plume Modeling for U.S. Troops' Exposure to Chemical Agents

GAO-03-833T Published: Jun 02, 2003. Publicly Released: Jun 02, 2003.
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Highlights

Of the approximately 700,000 veterans of the Persian Gulf War, many have undiagnosed illnesses. The Department of Defense (DOD) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) have concluded, using computer plume modeling, that no U.S. troops were exposed to hazardous substances because plumes--clouds of chemical warfare agents--could not have reached the troops. GAO was asked to assess DOD and CIA plume modeling to determine whether DOD's conclusions could be supported. GAO's final assessment will be reported at a later date.

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Armed forces abroadBiological warfareChemical agentsChemical exposureChemical warfareComputer modelingDisease detection or diagnosisDiseasesMedical researchMilitary personnelGulf war syndrome