[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 68 (Friday, April 8, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-8414]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 8, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
 

NIH Technology Assessment Workshop on the Persian Gulf Experience 
and Health

    Notice is hereby given of the NIH Technology Assessment Workshop on 
``The Persian Gulf Experience and Health,'' which will be held April 
27-29, 1994, in the Masur Auditorium of the National Institutes of 
Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892. This conference 
is sponsored by the NIH Office of Medical Applications of Research, the 
Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Environmental Protection 
Agency. The conference begins at 8:30 a.m. on April 27, 8 a.m. on April 
28, and 9 a.m. on April 29. The meeting is open to the public at no 
charge.
    The purpose of this Technology Assessment Workshop is to examine 
the available information relating to environmental exposure of troops 
serving in the Persian Gulf and the reported illnesses, to determine if 
an increased incidence of unexpected illnesses occurred, and to attempt 
to develop a working case definition for that illness. In addition, 
plausible etiologies and biological explanations for the illness will 
be considered and recommendations for future research will be made.
    The exposure of U.S. and coalition forces to the unique environment 
of the Persian Gulf region during Operations Desert Shield and Desert 
Storm has resulted in a controversy about the possible health effects 
that may have been caused by that exposure. Few battlefield casualties 
occurred and relatively little illness was seen immediately following 
the troop buildup and the short conflict. Since then, however, there 
have been numerous reports of illness from troops who were 
participants, and many of them attribute their health problems to their 
wartime experience. Most of the unexplained cases of illness include 
symptoms that are often vague--fatigue, weakness and malaise, skin 
rash, headache, and respiratory symptoms. But reports of illness extend 
beyond the troops own physical symptoms. Some veterans have reported 
illnesses in their spouses and birth defects in children conceived 
after the conflict.
    While it is clear that troops were exposed to many potentially 
toxic substances present in the wartime environment fumes and smoke 
from oil well fires, diesel fumes, toxic paints, pesticides, and 
depleted uranium--it is uncertain whether troops were exposed to 
chemical or biological weapons. Nor is it clear whether the variety of 
symptoms and illnesses reported by U.S. troops constitute a distinct 
syndrome. Numerous responses have been generated as a result of the 
veterans complaints. Troop registries have been set up by the 
Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs, and special 
referral centers for clinical evaluation of complaints have been 
established.
    Research proposals have been solicited, and epidemiological 
surveillance is ongoing.
    After 1\1/2\ days of presentations and discussion by the audience, 
an independent non-Federal panel will weigh the scientific evidence and 
write a draft statement in response to the following key questions:
     What is the evidence for an increased incidence of 
unexpected illnesses attributable to service in the Persian Gulf War?
     If unexpected illnesses have occurred, what are the 
components of the most practical working case definition(s) based on 
the existing data?
     If unexpected illnesses have occurred, what are the 
plausible etiologies and biological explanations for these unexpected 
illnesses?
     What future research is necessary?
    On the second day of the workshop, time has been allocated for 
eight 5-minute oral presentations by Persian Gulf veterans. Those 
veterans wishing to give testimony must submit a written request along 
with a copy of their written testimony to Technical Resources, Inc., 
ATTN: Ann Besignano, 3202 Tower Oaks Boulevard, Rockville, Maryland 
20852, by 5 p.m. EST, April 18, 1994. If more than eight requests to 
testify are received, presenters will be chosen by lot. All veterans 
selected will be notified in writing or by telephone, if a telephone 
number has been supplied, by April 21.
    On the final day of the meeting, the panel chairman will read the 
draft statement to the workshop audience and invite comments and 
questions.
    Information on the workshop program and registration material may 
be obtained from: Ann Besignano, Technical Resources, Inc., 3202 Tower 
Oaks Blvd., suite 200, Rockville, Maryland 20852, (301) 770-3153.
    The final workshop statement will be submitted for publication. The 
interim statement will be available beginning April 29, 1994, from the 
NIH Consensus Program Information Service, P.O. Box 2577, Kensington, 
Maryland 20891, phone 1-800-NIH-OMAR (1-800-644-6627).

    Dated: March 30, 1994.
Ruth L. Kirschstein,
Deputy Director, NIH.
[FR Doc. 94-8414 Filed 4-7-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M