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- Title
Respiratory Disease among Military Personnel in Saudi Arabia During Operation Desert Field.
- Authors
Richards, Allen L.; Hyams, Kenneth C.; Watts, Douglas M.; Rozmajzl, Patrick J.; Woody, James N.; Merrell, Bruce R.
- Abstract
Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine whether respiratory disease due to crowded living conditions and high levels of suspended and blowing sand had a major adverse impact on US military personnel, during Operation Desert Shield. Methods. A questionnaire survey was administered to 2598 combat troops stationed in Northeast Saudi Arabia for a mean of 102 days. Samples of surface sand from seven different locations were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. Results. Among surveyed troops, 34.4% reported a sore throat, 43.1% complained of a cough, 15.4% complained of chronic rhinorrhea, and 1.8% were unable to perform their routine duties because of upper respiratory symptoms. Evaluation of sleeping accommodations indicated that complaints of a sore throat and cough were most closely associated with sleeping in air-conditioned buildings; in contrast, complaints of rhinorrhea were associated with exposure to the outdoor environment while living in tents. Sand samples consisted mostly of quartz, with just 0.21% by weight of respirable size ( < μm in diameter). Conclusions. These findings indicate that upper respiratory complaints were frequent among Operation Desert Shield troops and were related both to the troops' housing and to their exposure to the outside environment.
- Subjects
SAUDI Arabia; RESPIRATORY diseases; DISEASES in military personnel; OPERATION Desert Shield, 1990-1991; SCANNING electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction
- Publication
American Journal of Public Health, 1993, Vol 83, Issue 9, p1326
- ISSN
0090-0036
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2105/AJPH.83.9.1326