RAND Releases Studies in Gulf War Illness Series

RAND has been commissioned by the Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Gulf War Illnesses to help the Defense Department and other federal agencies understand the health implications of service during the war.  RAND has released several scientific literature reviews as a result of this effort.  These reviews examine the potential effects of  Pyridostigmine Bromide (PB),  oil well fires, and depleted uranium (DU) on Gulf War Veterans.

Featured Publications

• A Review of the Scientific Literature as it Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses: Volume 1: Infectious Diseases 2000

  Lee H. Hilborne, Beatrice A. Golomb

  Numerous Gulf War veterans have reported a range of illnesses and symptoms after serving in the Persian Gulf.

• A Review of the Scientific Literature As It Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses: Volume 2: Pyridostigmine Bromide 1999

  Beatrice A. Golomb

  This report examines the role that Pyridostigmine bromide (PB) played in the ongoing chronic health problems documented in Persian Gulf War (PGW) veterans.

• A Review of the Scientific Literature as it Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses: Volume 5: Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents 2000

  William Augerson

  That Iraq had already used chemical warfare agents led coalition forces to take protective action. Yet many Gulf War veterans have reported a host of symptoms that could be construed as coming from exposure to chemical or biological weapons.

• A Review of the Scientific Literature As It Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses: Volume 6: Oil Well Fires 1998

  Dalia M. Spektor

  This report examines the peer-reviewed scientific literature regarding possible health effects on U.S. troops of exposure to the Kuwait oil well fires.

• A Review of the Scientific Literature As It Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses: Volume 7: Depleted Uranium 1999

  Naomi Harley, Ernest Foulkes, Lee H. Hilborne, Arlene Hudson, C. Ross Anthony

  This report examines the scientific literature regarding possible health effects on U.S. troops of exposure to depleted uranium (DU) which saw widespread use during the Persian Gulf War.

• Military Use of Drugs Not Yet Approved by the FDA for CW/BW Defense: Lessons from the Gulf War 1999

  Richard A. Rettig

  This report examines the history of the Interim Rule that authorized the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to waive informed consent for the use of investigational drugs and vaccines for certain military uses.

• A Review of the Scientific Literature as it Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses: Volume 8: Pesticides 2000

  Gary Cecchine, Beatrice A. Golomb, Lee H. Hilborne, Dalia M. Spektor, C. Ross Anthony

  This report summarizes the scientific literature on 12 of the 35 pesticides that are likely to have been used during the Persian Gulf War.

• Pesticide Use During the Gulf War: A Survey of Gulf War Veterans 2000

  Ronald D. Fricker, Elaine Reardon, Dalia M. Spektor, Sarah K. Cotton, Jennifer Hawes-Dawson, Jennifer E. Pace, Susan D. Hosek

  This report documents the results of a telephone survey of 2,005 Gulf War veterans investigating the use of pesticides during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

• Documentation for the Survey of Pesticide Use During the Gulf War: The Survey Instrument 2000

  Dalia M. Spektor, Elaine Reardon, Sarah K. Cotton

• Psychological and Psychosocial Consequences of Combat and Deployment with Special Emphasis on the Gulf War 2001

  David H. Marlowe

  This book argues that, to be most helpful to veterans, we must deal with the issue of complexity and not simply focus on a hypothecated or hoped for singular cause of Gulf War illness.