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FYI.
----- Forwarded message from Gulf War Veterans of Wisconsin <gwvw@geocities.com> -----
> = N E W S R E L E A S E
> =
> = OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
> = (PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
> = WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301
> =
> = PLEASE NOTE DATE
> ====================================================
>
> No. 089-00
> (703)695-0192(media)
> IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> February 24, 2000
> (703)697-5737(public/industry)
> REPORT PROBES RISKS OF CARC PAINT EXPOSURE TO GULF WAR VETERANS
> The Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses released today an
> environmental exposure report that examines servicemembers' exposure to
> chemical agent-resistant coating (CARC) paint fumes and the possible
> connection between those exposures and the illnesses some veterans have
> experienced since the Gulf War.
> Several thousand vehicles and pieces of equipment deployed to the Gulf
> region had to be quickly repainted from the three-colored woodland
> camouflage paint scheme to desert camouflage prior to the start of the Gulf
> War. The desert paint was a urethane-based chemical CARC which makes up
> the largest category of paint applied to the U.S. military vehicles and
> equipment. CARC is resistant to a variety of chemicals and solvents and has
> a unique quality for preventing chemical warfare agents, such as blister and
> nerve agents, from penetrating into the coating.
> Inhaling high concentrations of some of the compounds and solvents in CARC
> can cause some short-term symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath and
> watery eyes. Long term exposure could lead to respiratory problems,
> including asthma. Paint fumes are the factor that presents the most
> potential risk to users. CARC paint emits very little in the way of harmful
> fumes when applied with a brush or roller, but when it is aerosolized during
> spray-painting applications, the risk of inhaling high concentrations of
> harmful components rises significantly. CARC paint contains no carcinogenic
> compounds and presents no health risks when dry unless the painted surface
> is sanded or welded.
> Most of the people at risk of exposure during the Gulf War were members of
> the Florida Army National Guard's 325th Maintenance Company, which operated
> painting sites at two ports in Saudi Arabia. In the rush to get vehicles
> quickly painted for desert operations, much of the painting was done by
> soldiers who did not have the proper personal protective equipment,
> including respirators required by normal operating procedures.
> Members of every Service have reported illnesses they believe are connected
> to their Gulf War service, but only a limited number of Army soldiers
> spray-painted with CARC during the Gulf War. Experts estimate that fewer
> than 500 people were involved in painting operations during the Gulf War,
> including about 200 soldiers of the 325th Maintenance Company.
> The complete environmental exposure report is available on GulfLINK, DoD's
> Internet website, at <a
> href="http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/carc_paint/">http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/c
> arc_paint/</a>
> -END-
> ====================================================
>
----- End forwarded message -----
-- Eric Kozowski Portland, OR M35A2's For Sale http://www.svjava.com/~kozowski/m35/
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