Service and Health Among Deployed Veterans

The aim of the study is to characterize the impact of deployment-related pollution exposures
during the Post-9/11 Gulf War Era on current respiratory health using objectively ascertained
and standardized physiologic and epidemiologic measures. The primary objective in support of
this aim is to assess the association of cumulative exposure to PM2.5 during deployments to
the U.S. bases and other locations in Central Asia (Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan), Southwest
Asia (Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates) and Africa (Djibouti) with current
measures of pulmonary function. Secondary objectives in support of the aim will examine the
association of cumulative exposure to PM2.5 during deployments with the clinical outcome of
medically-treated asthma. The investigators will also explore the impact of deployment
duration on both pulmonary function and asthma.

This study will execute 4 distinct efforts to meet the study objectives: (1) enroll a study
cohort of up to 6,200 Veterans who live within the catchment area of 6 VA recruitment sites,
conduct an in-person assessment of pulmonary function, and collect data on key covariates;
(2) create a spatial-temporal exposure grid of environmental PM2.5 levels averaged per week
per 1 square kilometer at locations where military personnel served; (3) link each
individual's location and duration (spatial-temporal) history during deployed and
non-deployed times with averaged PM exposures during each of these time periods; and (4)
conduct association analyses to test hypotheses of deployment-related cumulative PM2.5
exposure and current respiratory health by combining exposure data with data collected from
the cohort members and from their military records.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Served during the Post-9/11 Gulf War Era in a service branch that had land-based
deployments (Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps)

- Deployed to Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, or
Djibouti after October 1, 2001

Exclusion Criteria:

- Active duty at the time of recruitment

- Impaired decision making capacity

- No English language proficiency

- Prisoners