Environmental Toxins Affect Military and Civilians

Radiation and CFIDS Potential Connection

Pieces of the puzzle continue to be discussed in widening circles of concerned and ill veterans and civilians.  See the article at the end of the introductory commentary.

 Could radiation be like an accelerator force, a synergistic factor?  What happens in a war environment that could affect world health?  What about depleted uranium, radiological fallout, or EMF(electrial magnetic field) in a wartime environment in desert settings without adequate shielding?   How does this affect wartime veterans and civilians alike?  Subgroups of exposures need to be included in all research.  Questions that all researchers need to consider and the need to interact on a large scale of all involved patient populations, researchers, and medical health care providers.

Yes there is a huge need that involves a huge population.  When will researchers get the full funds needed to light a fire on the bonfire and get the answers and treatments faster?  The CFIDS and Gulf War Illness Research funds are a dismal display of action on a health crisis.  We need to exert unending pressure on legislators to get the funding level increased!
We need the national media to get it!  The neglect in covering this story is a national disgrace.

 Low Level Radiation Exposure (NCF Study)
National CFIDS Foundation (NCF) Announces Link between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Low Level Radiation Exposure

Publish date: Aug 20, 2010

http://appliedclinicaltrialsonline.f…/684036?ref=25
NEEDHAM, Mass., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The National CFIDS Foundation Inc., of Needham Mass, has announced its formal disease model for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) also known as Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) as well as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). According to the NCF, a subgroup of patients with CFS fit a unique disease profile based on a model for a radioactive toxin.

Since starting its formal research grant program, the NCF has provided one million dollars in grant funding to pursue its own directed research to study ciguatera toxicology; a critical immune protein known as STAT-1; and myelodysplasia as well as myeloid leukemia — all of which have been identified in the patient subgroup.

According to Alan Cocchetto, Medical Director, “Our research suggested that a relationship existed between ciguatera poisoning, STAT-1 and myelodysplasia as well as leukemia. Early evidence also suggested that some type of catalyst was potentially involved in this disease process. Because of some very unique characteristics identified during the course of our research, what emerged was the potential for low level radiation to act as the catalyst to evoke a specific response that fit the profile for our patients. We believe this to be very important since radiation not only adversely impacts STAT-1 but it has also been found to cause myelodysplasia as well as myeloid leukemia, the very things we have been studying. In addition, the bystander effects associated with low level radiation exposure cause real problems at the cellular level and this unfortunately translates into an increased risk for cancer.”

Gail Kansky, President, stated, “The Foundation’s real revelation came when our staff linked specific research on mitochondrial DNA deletions, first published by Australian scientists in 1995, to work published by scientists in Ireland in 2005. They had identified exactly the same unique mitochondria characteristics to be due to the direct effects of low level radiation exposure. This same defect had been mirrored in CFS but it hadn’t been classified for ten years. Because this fits our disease model, we are pursuing additional research studies. There is no doubt in my mind that we have found several key pieces to this disease puzzle tied to our patient group.” Furthermore, Kansky added “What is especially discouraging is that the global implications here could prove to be staggering!”

The Foundation has also noted that CFS has been previously identified as a characteristic aftermath of radioecological catastrophe. A lengthier article including references will be in the fall edition of the newsletter.