The military has declassified some documents which it hopes will answer questions about troops' exposure to chemical warfare agents in the Persian Gulf. Sen. Donald Riegle has claimed that there is evidence from interviews with veterans that troops were exposed to harmful levels of chemical agents.
Symptoms experienced by spouses and children also suggest possible transmission of the illnesses.
The Defense Science Task Force, appointed by the Department of Defense to investigate the illnesses, found no evidence that chemical or biological weapons were used. There has been no systematic study of veterans' sperm to investigate reproductive effects. Data being released by the military may prove useful in tracking the movements of veterans who are now ill. Effort are also underway to provide disability compensation and medical care to sick veterans.