Neurological Effects of Repeated Exposure to Military Occupational Levels of Blast: A Review of Scientific Literature

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Simmons, Molly M.

Contributor:

Anderson, Brent

Azhar, Gulrez Shah

Engel, Charles C.

Hoch, Emily

Orr, Patrick

Language:

English

Other Title:

Neurological Effects of Repeated Exposure to Military Occupational Levels of Blast

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, Calif. RAND Corporation 2020

Summary:

Over the past decade, there has been increasing awareness of the central nervous system (CNS) effects of exposure to explosive blast. A key driver of that awareness has been the blast-related injuries suffered during combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. With the near cessation of U.S. combat operations in these regions, concern has grown over common, repetitive forms of blast exposure during military service that are, most often, unrelated to combat. An example of such an exposure is routine military training involving heavy weaponry, such as artillery, recoilless rifles, and shoulder-held rocket launchers. These blast exposures are of a lower intensity than those causing acute combat-related injuries; however, repeated exposure may also have impacts on CNS structure, function, and development, as well as on the broader health of military service members. The authors of this report review the relevant literature on the effects of repeated, military occupational blast (MOB) exposures; prioritize the key research and policy gaps related to repeated MOB exposure; and examine the projects and initiatives that attempt to address those research and policy gaps.