Gulf War Syndrome study draws blank

One study has held vaccines responsible for Gulf War Syndrome

A new study has failed to identify any specific cause for the chronic illnesses suffered by tens of thousands of veterans of the 1991 Gulf War.

Scientists from the Institute of Medicine - which advises the US Government on health issues - looked at a range of substances which have been linked with so-called Gulf War Syndrome.

These included the nerve gas sarin; vaccines - including one for Anthrax; and depleted uranium (DU) - a radioactive material used for ammunition.

"We'd like to give veterans and their families definitive answers, but the evidence simply is not strong enough," said Dr Harold Sox, chairman of the research committee.

More than 100,000 troops have suffered unexplained illnesses

"Without data on the levels of exposure in the Persian Gulf theatre, answers will remain elusive."

The study was commissioned by Congress and the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

More than 100,000 American and allied troops who served in the war against Iraq have complained of nervous disorders, chronic fatigue, rashes and muscle and joint pains.

DU link 'doubtful'

The study found that while the effects of sarin and vaccines were still questionable, it was doubtful that DU was linked to instances cancer or kidney disease suffered by veterans.

The Pentagon has also denied a link between DU and Gulf War Syndrome.

But a scientist who has extensively researched the subject said on Monday that the metallic dust released from DU could be responsible.

Dr Durakovic said DU particles could have been inhaled

Dr Asaf Durakovic said veterans he had tested had a "significant presence" of DU in their bone and body tissue.

Doctors in Iraq have also long believed that DU is causing cancer in thousands of children born after the war.

A study published in May, which looked at over 900 British Gulf War veterans, suggested a possible link with the cocktail of vaccines administered to troops during the War.

Few studies on veterans

The Institute of Medicine's report involved no direct scientific research of its own, but instead examined 1,000 studies on the effects of sarin, vaccines and depleted uranium.

But most of these studies did not look at Gulf War veterans, who have been poorly studied, and little is known about how much exposure veterans had to the substances in question.

"In order to study the health effects on veterans, we are going to have to study veterans," Dr Sox said.

"We have got to try to do a better job of recording what happened to soldiers next time."