RESPIRATORY-DISEASE AMONG MILITARY PERSONNEL IN SAUDI-ARABIA DURING OPERATION DESERT SHIELD

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine whether respira tory disease due to crowded living conditions and high levels of suspe nded and blowing sand had a major adverse impact on US military person nel during Operation Desert Shield. Methods. A questionnaire survey wa s administered to 2598 combat troops stationed in Northeast Saudi Arab ia for a mean of 102 days. Samples of surface sand from seven differen t locations were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and x-ray di ffraction. Results. Among surveyed troops, 34.4% reported a sore throa t, 43.1% complained of a cough, 15.4% complained of chronic rhinorrhea , and 1.8% were unable to perform their routine duties because of uppe r respiratory symptoms. Evaluation of sleePing accommodations indicate d that complaints of a sore throat and cough were most closely associa ted with sleeping in air-conditioned buildings; in contrast, complaint s of rhinorrhea were associated with exposure to the outdoor environme nt while living in tents. Sand samples consisted mostly of quartz, wit h just 0.21% by weight of respirable size (< 10 mum in diameter). Conc lusions. These findings indicate that upper respiratory complaints wer e frequent among Operation Desert Shield troops and were related both to the troops' housing and to their exposure to the outside environmen t.