Gulf War Syndrome Caused by Chemicals

For nearly two decades, veterans of the Desert Storm have contended that chemicals used by the military cause Gulf War Syndrome, which includes muscle and joint pain, fatigue and some mental problems.

Now, a review of medical studies has provided evidence that is "thorough" and "conclusive," according to its lead author, that pesticides, anti-nerve-gas pills and nerve gas itself helped cause Gulf War Syndrome, according to the Los Angeles Times. The culprit is a class of chemicals common to each of those sources, called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which "cause unbridled signaling between cells," as the L.A. Times put it.

As with most environmental diseases, there appears to be a genetic component in the form of an enzyme problem that made some more susceptible.

There is still controversy about the diagnosis, and cause of Gulf War Syndrome. For those convinced that chemicals caused their illness, however, this study helps bolster their argument.

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