MCS is characterized by multiple organ system disruptions triggered by exposure to certain chemicals or environmental pollutants.  Common  symptoms of people with MCS  are disturbances in the central nervous system but may also include immune, autoimmune, respiratory, endocrine/metabolic, neuromuscular, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary disorders.  Persons with MCS must avoid exposures to pesticides, household cleaners, fumes, and many other toxins.  For more information on MCS, see the Health & Research Organizations area of the Resources section of this Guide.

CFIDS is also known as CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), CEBV (chronic Epstein-Barr virus), ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) and various other names.  It is a complex illness characterized by incapacitating fatigue (experienced as exhaustion and extremely poor stamina), neurological problems, and a constellation of symptoms that can resemble other disorders.  These symptoms tend to wax and wane but are often severely debilitating.  There is no marker or test to definitively diagnose CFIDS, and it is therefore a diagnosis by exclusion.    For more information on CFIDS, see the Health & Research Organizations area of the Resources section of this Guide.

Private Medical Research

In general, studies proposed by independent, non-governmental researchers have not been well funded - if they have received any outside funding at all.  There appears to be a strong bias towards funding governmental "tobacco science" researchers studing "approved" theories of causation, including psycological stress, PTSD, fatigue, and other sanctioned diagnoses.
However, there is a great deal of interesting medical research occuring in the private sector.  Results are starting to be published and made available to physicians and other researchers.  Other research programs will be producing results soon.  Below are listed some of the findings to date.  For the latest up-to-date medical research findings, contact the national offices of the NGWRC. 

Immune System Damage
Since many of the toxins individuals were exposed to have immunodamaging and neurodamaging effects, and since many of the observed infections are commonly associated with autoimmune and other chronic diseases, there is abundant evidence to warrant further research into the possibility that Gulf War Syndrome may be an immune system imbalance syndrome, triggered by the neurological and toxicological effects of war-related exposures.  This is the research Dr. Howard Urnovitz of Berkeley, CA is pursuing among Gulf veterans.  He has found HERVs (human endogenous retroviruses) are strongly (re)activated among Gulf veterans and family members,

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Communicability and Blood Ban

After the completion of the Gulf War a ban on all blood donations from veterans was initiated to protect the American public from exposure to a variety of new and old infectious diseases.  In 1993, the National Association of Blood Banks (NABB) lifted the ban, saying that a public health threat no longer existed.

Since that time, there has been no consensus on the widespread communicability of illnesses related to the Gulf War.  However, leishmaniasis has an extremely long latency period with no symptoms and some evidence exists for possible viral infections.  In 1994 the National Institutes of Health recommended an investigation of  reestablishment of the blood ban.  Other medical researchers have found specific primary and opportunistic infections prevalent among Gulf veterans and recommend that veterans not donate blood or body organs.

Currently, the NGWRC, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and various other municipalities and organizations recommend that Gulf War veterans refrain from donating blood or body organs until more is known about the possible communicability of "Gulf War Syndrome".

Common Symptoms

There is a large body of symptoms and syndromes associated with the previously described exposures.  A survey of 10,051 ill veterans by Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm Association found eleven symptoms that at least 80% of surveyed veterans experience.  They include:

• Sleep Problems


• Mood Swings


• Short-Term Memory Loss


• Chronic Fatigue


• Rashes


• Aching Joints


• Headaches


• Abdominal Pain


• Sensitivity to Bright Light


• Blurred Vision/Loose Focus


• Diarrhea

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS)

MCS is a disease which is debated and controversial throughout the medical field.  However, many veterans are being diagnosed with MCS, and others have newly-acquired sensitivities to chemicals.  MCS has not been recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs and is not a compensable disability.

Second Edition - Fall 1997          Page 8