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| Doubt on Gulf War chemical claim | Doubt on Gulf War chemical claim |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Gulf War veterans suffering mystery illnesses after returning from the 1991 conflict were probably not poisoned by pesticides, researchers have said. | |
| Exposure to chemicals has been blamed for veterans' symptoms such as depression, poor sleep and mood swings. | Exposure to chemicals has been blamed for veterans' symptoms such as depression, poor sleep and mood swings. |
| But Bristol University researchers, writing in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, blame other environmental toxins in this country. | But Bristol University researchers, writing in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, blame other environmental toxins in this country. |
| It is thought more than 8,500 Gulf War troops have reported health problems. | It is thought more than 8,500 Gulf War troops have reported health problems. |
| We are getting 50 people contacting us every month with new claims Sean Newton, National Gulf War Veterans and Families Association | We are getting 50 people contacting us every month with new claims Sean Newton, National Gulf War Veterans and Families Association |
| Heavy exposure to organophosphate pesticides routinely sprayed on tents and other equipment is just one theory which has been examined by those investigating claims of unexplained illness among veterans. | Heavy exposure to organophosphate pesticides routinely sprayed on tents and other equipment is just one theory which has been examined by those investigating claims of unexplained illness among veterans. |
| Others include multiple vaccinations given to troops before deployment and exposure to nerve agents or depleted uranium during the war. | Others include multiple vaccinations given to troops before deployment and exposure to nerve agents or depleted uranium during the war. |
| Several previous studies have found a link between jobs which involve regular exposure to organophosphates, such as sheep farming, and illness, but none has proven that the chemicals are the cause. | Several previous studies have found a link between jobs which involve regular exposure to organophosphates, such as sheep farming, and illness, but none has proven that the chemicals are the cause. |
| However, people who carry a version of a gene called PON1 appear less able to break down and dispose of organophosphates in their bodies, offering a potential clue as to why these chemicals might affect some people but not others. | However, people who carry a version of a gene called PON1 appear less able to break down and dispose of organophosphates in their bodies, offering a potential clue as to why these chemicals might affect some people but not others. |
| Older women | Older women |
| The Bristol researchers did not examine Gulf War veterans directly, looking instead at a group of older women who were unlikely to have had any contact with organophosphates during their working lives. | The Bristol researchers did not examine Gulf War veterans directly, looking instead at a group of older women who were unlikely to have had any contact with organophosphates during their working lives. |
| They wanted to test whether those who carried the variant PON1 gene were just as vulnerable to the same symptoms as the veterans, without the involvement of organophosphates. | They wanted to test whether those who carried the variant PON1 gene were just as vulnerable to the same symptoms as the veterans, without the involvement of organophosphates. |
| They found that this was true - the women with the variant were significantly more likely to report symptoms of depression than those with other versions of PON1. | They found that this was true - the women with the variant were significantly more likely to report symptoms of depression than those with other versions of PON1. |
| However, the absence of organophosphates from their lives meant that something else was likely to be the culprit in these cases. | However, the absence of organophosphates from their lives meant that something else was likely to be the culprit in these cases. |
| The researchers said this meant that, although they could not rule out organophosphate poisoning in Gulf War veterans, a different as-yet-unknown toxin at home in the UK was more likely to be responsible. | |
| Sean Newton, vice-chairman of the National Gulf War Veterans and Families Association, which has campaigned for recognition of so-called Gulf War Syndrome, called for further, independent research. | |
| He said: "This problem is not going away - we are getting 50 people contacting us every month with new claims." | He said: "This problem is not going away - we are getting 50 people contacting us every month with new claims." |