"Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan have a higher rate of debilitating respiratory illness than those deployed elsewhere, according to a new study that bolsters concerns among some medical professionals and members of Congress about the potential harm to troops from toxic chemicals and dust in the Middle East.

The findings, which will be presented Wednesday at the International Conference of the American Thoracic Society in Denver, place renewed urgency on getting at the root of why some young, previously healthy soldiers have been returning from the Middle East complaining of symptoms including shortness of breath and dizziness. In many cases, the soldiers can no longer pass a required physical to continue with active duty.

There appears to be 'a modest increase in the incidence of respiratory symptoms in those individuals who have returned from deployment to Southwest Asia,' said Craig Postlewaite, director of the Department of Defense's Force Readiness and Health Assurance office."

Shirley S. Wang reports for the Wall St. Journal May 17, 2011. [2]