[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]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
