The Recommended Role of Exposure Biomarkers for the Surveillance of Environmental and Occupational Chemical Exposures in Military Deployments: Policy Considerations

Abstract

A lack of individual exposure information limited the evaluation of exposure-outcome relationships after the Gulf War. Exposure concerns during Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom deployments have increased interest in individual environmental and occupational chemical exposure assessment. Currently, deployment assessments are conducted using intermittent ambient air monitoring, occasional focused evaluations based on these results, and postdeployment questionnaire documentation of exposure and/or health concerns. Although this strategy is an improvement over previous practice, it has limitations, including a reliance on evidence of an acute problem, to initiate in-depth health evaluation. Exposure biomarkers may have the potential to overcome some of the limitations of current environmental and occupational exposure assessment tools. This article examines current exposure assessment methods, reviews emerging technologies, and recommends a phased approach to introducing exposure biomarkers into a comprehensive occupational and environmental health surveillance program.

Perceived Stress, Heart Rate, and Blood Pressure among Adolescents with Family Members Deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom

“…The call to duty was initially disruptive and "hazardous" (i.e., highly dangerous) which created unique stress beyond those experienced during peacetime deployments. The deployment also carried with it potential health concerns seen in previous war time deployments, such as unexplained chronic illnesses, 28 chemical exposure concerns, 29 infections, 30 and prolonged "anticipation of trauma." 1 For these reasons, OIF deployment created a special situation of "family trauma" for military families.…”

Occupational Exposures and Environmental Health Hazards of Military Personnel

“…Another question with population monitoring is represented by the high level of interpersonal and intrapersonal variabilities that would require increasing the size of both exposed and control groups [ 6 ]. Cross-sectional studies comparing data in two different groups are greatly affected by similar confounding factors.…”