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Samples of anthrax vaccine have been found to contain a banned substance which could threaten the health of troops in the Gulf.

Ministry of Defence tablets were analysed and found to contain squalene, an agent which could damage nerves, cardiac tissue or skin, according to the ITV1 programme Tonight with Trevor McDonald.

Squalene has not been granted a licence for use in drugs, has never been included in the UK licensed anthrax vaccine, and is not used in the production of vaccine.

The Ministry of Defence said squalene existed within almost all living creatures and said the amount found could represent "background levels".

But scientists said the findings suggested that the vaccine was dangerous, with research linking the substance to arthritis conditions.

Former Gulf war veterans warned that troops might return home sick if the vaccination programme was rushed.

Ray Bristow, a veteran of the 1991 Gulf war, believes that the drugs and vaccines given to him were responsible for the fits, memory loss, incontinence and chronic fatigue from which he suffers.

He said: "When I first came back, my health started to deteriorate. I remember sitting on the end of the bed with my head in my hands thinking I was going mad.

"I've had my dignity stripped from me and it should never have happened."

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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.