Environmental Chemicals Altered in Association With Deployment for High Risk Areas.

OBJECTIVE A study was conducted using serum samples and high-resolution metabolomics (HRM) to test for changes in abundance of environmental chemicals in deployment in high-risk areas (Balad, Iraq; Bagram, Afghanistan). METHODS Pre and Post-deployment serum samples for deployment (cases) and matched controls stationed domestically were analyzed by HRM and bioinformatics for the relative abundance of 271 environmental chemicals. RESULTS Of the 271 chemicals, 153 were measurable in at least 80% of the samples in one of the pre- or post-deployment groups. Several pesticides and other chemicals were modestly elevated post-deployment in the Control as well as the Bagram and Balad samples. Similarly, small decreases were seen for some chemicals. CONCLUSION These results using serum samples show that for the 271 environmental chemicals studied, 56% were detected and small differences occurred with deployment to high-risk areas.