Defense Health Care: Efforts to Address Health Effects of the Kuwait Oil Well Fires

This report responds to your request for information on efforts by the Department of Defense (DOD) to safeguard the health and well-being of US. troops from the smoke, soot, and other residue of the Kuwait oil well fires set by the Iraqis during the Persian Gulf war. Specifically, it describes DOD'S actions to (1) advise the troops and protect them from the smoke; (2) assess both the short- and long-term health threats posed by the fires; and (3) retain information that would be necessary to develop a list of troops exposed to potentially harmful pollutants.