The poisonous nerve gas sarin appears to be largely responsible for the symptoms that appeared in many soldiers shortly after the Gulf War.

For three decades, scientists have debated the underlying cause of the so-called ‘Gulf Syndrome’. This includes a collection of inexplicable and chronic symptoms that appeared in many military personnel who served in the Gulf War. However, researchers believe they can finally explain the mysterious Gulf Syndrome. Because meticulous genetic research shows that the nerve gas sarin may well have a finger in the pie.

Symptoms

In the early years after the Gulf War (which lasted from 1990 to 1991), more than a quarter of military personnel serving in the war reported a series of debilitating illnesses. The veterans suffered from fatigue, fever, night sweats, memory and concentration problems, chronic body aches and difficulty finding words, among other things. Meanwhile, several possible causes have been suggested, including stress, inoculations, poisonous smoke clouds from burned oil wells and the use of depleted uranium in bombs. But none of these explanations proved conclusive.

Sarin

In addition to these causes, the nerve gas sarin has also been mentioned. Some veterans had reported exposure to this poisonous nerve agent. The US military also reported that chemical agents, including sarin, were found in Iraq during the Gulf War.

More about sarin
Sarin is a poisonous man-made nerve agent. Sarin was initially developed as a powerful pesticide but was later used in chemical warfare by the United States and the Soviet Union. Its production was finally banned in 1997. When people are exposed to sarin, the nerve agent enters the body through the skin or respiration and then attacks the nervous system. High concentrations often lead to death. Survivor studies have shown that at lower doses, it can lead to long-term impairment of brain function.

Several satellite images show a large cloud of debris rising from an Iraqi chemical weapons depot that was bombed by US warplanes during the Gulf War. The cloud then moved over the US ground forces, setting off thousands of gas alarms. Indeed, it was later confirmed that this cloud contained sarin. Subsequently, a few studies found an association between sarin exposure and unexplained symptoms. “As early as 1995, when we first defined Gulf syndrome, the evidence pointed to nerve agent exposure,” said researcher Robert Haley. “But it has taken many years to build an irrefutable case.”

Study

In a new study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, scientists examined both 508 veterans with and 508 veterans without Gulf syndrome. They then asked if the veterans had heard gas alarms during the war. In addition, they collected blood and DNA samples from each veteran.

culprit

Thanks to the study, scientists now believe they can finally explain the mysterious Gulf Syndrome. Because the poisonous nerve gas sarin indeed turns out to be the culprit. “Our findings prove quite simply that Gulf Syndrome was caused by sarin, which was released when Iraq’s chemical weapons storage and production facilities were bombed,” concludes Haley.

The PON1 gene

In addition, a certain gene also appears to play a role. Whether or not someone gets sick turns out to be dependent on a gene known as PON1. This gene plays an important role in the breakdown of toxic chemicals in the body. The researchers found that veterans who have a ‘weaker’ variant of the PON1 gene were more likely to develop Gulf syndrome than other sarin-exposed veterans who have a stronger form of the gene. “Your risk increases incrementally, depending on your genotype, because those genes determine how well your body inactivates sarin,” explains Haley. “That does not mean that you cannot get Golf syndrome with a strong PON1 gene. If you are exposed to high concentrations, your genetic protection also has limits.”

The fact that researchers have now succeeded in pinpointing the nerve gas sarin as the main cause of Gulf syndrome is an important step. “There are still more than 100,000 Gulf War veterans who are not receiving help for this disease,” Haley says. “We hope these findings will accelerate the search for a better treatment.”