Chemical sensitivity in symptomatic Cambodia veterans.
Following their participation in a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Cambodia (1992-1993), Dutch veterans complained of symptoms similar to those reported by Gulf War veterans. The authors conducted a matched case-control study to evaluate 76 symptomatic and 32 matched asymptomatic Cambodia veterans on the basis of data collected by postal questionnaire. The number of symptomatic veterans who reported having used insect repellants that contained N,N,-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) during the mission in Cambodia was significantly higher, compared with asymptomatic veterans. The percentage of veterans who reported feeling ill following brief exposures to chemicals such as paint or pesticides was equal in both groups, but the percentage was low compared with the results of other studies of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome. The current study was limited by self-report and time delay (potential recall bias) between deployment to Cambodia and the time of survey. Nevertheless, the study results did not support the hypothesis that symptoms in the total group of Cambodia veterans could be related to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome.
Bischoff
Erik W M A
EW
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University Medical Center St. Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Soetekouw
Patricia M M B
PM
De Vries
Maaike
M
Scheepers
Paul T I
PT
Bleijenberg
Gijs
G
van der Meer
Jos W M
JW
D000328:Adult; D002160:Cambodia; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003671:DEET / Q000506:poisoning*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007302:Insect Repellents / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D018777:Multiple Chemical Sensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D009426:Netherlands; D018923:Persian Gulf Syndrome; D014728:Veterans
D007302:Insect Repellents; D003671:DEET