C₆H₁₄O₂/CH₃(CH₂)₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OH 

Thank you for sharing my concerns with the Dept of Defense regarding the harm of Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether or 2-butoxyethanol ... BUTYL for short.  Although the gulf war vets have many exposures, the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup workers (BIOREMEDIATION workers who sprayed Inipol EAP 22) have this as their primary exposure and there were 1000 young men.  What happened to them (1989) has vital significance for medicine today.

And to today's military and to civilians as well.  But the Public does not know what happened to them.  They can make no comparisons.  *

Many are dead already, just as many gulf war vets are dead. And many others affected, too! (Non exclusive harm)

Too much exposure looks like the flu.  A virus should not be suspect for most of the 'flu symptoms.'  EGBE causes one's body's immune system to rapidly attack them. The proof that this chemical is the culprit is the anemia of CFIDS that it causes ... but which doctors do not generally find. (Too many things going on at the same time prevents discovery).  Butyl exposure causes infinite variations.  The numbers doctors look at can go high (with acute exposure or early on) to low (later years).

Both Senators Kennedy and Byrd would be helped if their doctors understood THIS anemia.  It is more life threatening than any other autoimmune issue or cancer that subsequently shows up.  Yes, it would be the FATIGUE that caused Senator Kennedy's recent seizure (lack of oxygen) and doctors should look at the red blood cells.  They are not the right type of red blood cells, as would be expected per 'the numbers'  Gulf war vet, Cesar Arreola, became dizzy with shortness of breath after strenuous exercise.  Dies 1/18/09 at age 37.  I suspect he used up the oxygen that his red blood cells had to offer, and then died from the lack of oxygen (THE FATIGUE, THE ANEMIA) ... when the red blood cells could not easily replace it.

I also suspect this as the most probable cause of Jett Travolta's death:  advance anemia after near death from Kawasaki syndrome when he was 2 years old (exposure was this chemical in carpet cleaning) ... would lead to a very advance anemia years later. *    *

I think there may be some helps here for our Senators & others affected http://www.valdezlink.com/gwv/diesafterworkout2.htm#is

The autoimmune metabolic causing chemical should also be suspect for the cause of Autism.  I was noticing in UK research that there is an autoimmune metabolic aspect to Autism & nervous system issues would be a part of it.  The UK has better research on this chemical causing a multitude of cancers, as well *  An EVOS worker, Richard Nagel, has looked into the French Inipol and said there was research on what happened to those workers and that cancers were a stand out harm.  Even our President has been touched by the type of cancers this chemical would cause, with very possible exposures to his mom & his grandparents  *

There is research that shows that there is a preponderance of Autism among gulf war vets.  And since I suspect EGBE for the primary harm of these vets .... so also do I suspect it for Autism in general * and also for the epidemic of cancers and autoimmune metabolic issues such as Syndrome X and diabetes (only a side effect that is easy to find).

We need to help today's Vets as they are at risk even more than those of other war eras.  We need to be looking for what is alike for every war era from WWI, WWII, Vietnam War *, Korean War, Panama & Somalia conflicts, Gulf War I, Iraqi war, and that in Afghanistan.  Any and all autoimmune issues for them and for their children (Serious birth defects from this teratogen chemical).  My condolences go out to all who have had too much exposure to this chemical ... which also I suspect * for SSG James Alford of Karnack, TX who died last month of 'mad cow disease' ... actually the most serious autoimmune issue that trumps even ALS, Parkinson's, MS.  www.valdezlink.com/pages/autoimmune.htm  There are so many autoimmune issues that some of them don't even have names yet  *

In advance anemia you start to see very high white blood cell counts (not likely an infection for these - an anemia sign) and what do white blood cells do in a system that has become autoimmune?  Attack even our bones (Degenerative Disc Disease is often an autoimmune issue.) *  I see Senator Kennedy walking with a cane ... also our Dick Cheney, Former Justice Rehnquist, etc

I hope doctors will consider looking at the same medical info in a new light.  I can't think of anything worse than letting this chemical continue to harm us ... and for us to give more chemical exposures (often even medications) hoping for help.  I suppose our health care costs could bankrupt us all by themselves.  Continuing on the road of 'helps' we have been on would be a big mistake.  A new direction will definitely be in order.

Since EPA lifted all restrictions on this chemical at the lobbying of chemical companies in 2003, I suspect EGBE should be suspect for contributing to the rapid acceleration of global warming and the melting of the polar ice caps. *

I thank you for your interest and I hope that your influence, and what Alaska can contribute to our Nation's health information will help this chemical from continuing to harm our soldiers and our babies & our moms and dads and the hardworking people who are most at risk (Those who clean, who paint, who WORK)  Worst exposure is vapors in your eyes.  Everyone also needs to understand 'secondhand solvent exposure'

Beyond poisoning of our Troops and not knowing by what ... the next most troubling issue  is the damage to the children.  The birth defects *, the inability to have a full term baby (or any baby at all) ... the loss of hearing, the loss of eyesight, loss of sense of taste and smell, the loss of touch' ... even short term memory loss.  Study for class & know what you need to know the night before, and forget 80% by the next day.  There are widespread implications for Alzheimer's for those who will need special education.  The burden upon our families ... upon our schools ... upon our healthcare system ... and upon our Military ... should not be.  Even our pets are at risk  *

We need new laws of disclosure.  As it is now, companies do not have to disclose to housewives what is in the cleaning products they use.  We should consider banning this chemical and if not learn to avoid it!  *

The worst pesticide our Soldiers have been (& are being) exposed to

Flu shots?  *

http://www.valdezlink.com/gwv/whyegbeforcauseandautism.htm

Cesar Arreola, died 1-18-09 at age 37 / Survived by wife, Martha & 2 children, El Paso, TX