United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office National Security and International Affairs Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1998-09-23 monographic deposited born digital 43 p. GA 1.13:NSIAD-98-228 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-228 P0b002ee180380cc2 f:ns98228 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-228 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-228 NSIAD-98-228 Ground warfare Medical research Chemical warfare Biological warfare Hazardous substances Disease detection or diagnosis Defense capabilities Military personnel Military research and development Persian Gulf War Desert Storm Letter Report NSIAD

Despite research indicating that even low-level exposure to chemical weapons can impair short-term performance and cause long-term health problems, the Defense Department (DOD) has yet to develop an integrated strategy to defend U.S. troops against this battlefield threat. Specifically, it has neither stated a policy nor developed a doctrine on protecting soldiers from low-level chemical exposure. Less than two percent of the research, development, test, and evaluation funds in DOD's chemical and biological defense program during the past two years have gone to study this issue. DOD's current strategy is to maximize the effectiveness of troops in a lethal environment involving nuclear, biological, and chemical agents. However, research by DOD and others indicates that a single exposure to some chemical warfare agents can have adverse psychological, behavioral, and performance consequences. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-228/html/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-228.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-228/pdf/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-228.pdf GAO/NSIAD-98-228 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-98-228 Letter Report GAO/NSIAD-98-228; Chemical Weapons: DOD Does Not Have a Strategy to Address; Ground warfare Medical research Chemical warfare Biological warfare Hazardous substances Disease detection or diagnosis Defense capabilities Military personnel Military research and development Persian Gulf War Desert Storm Title 50 Section 1522 50 U.S.C. 1522 Public Law 99-145 Public Law 103-160 H. Rept. 105-265