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Agent Orange biography, Agent Orange discography
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Welcome to the Agent Orange Website.This website is an attempt to provide information about the herbicide Agent Orange used in the Vietnam War, and the results of exposure to this herbicide.Whenever possible, we will try to link to appropriate sources.Agent Orange was the code name for a herbicide developed for the military,
primarily for use in tropical climates.The combined product was mixed with kerosene or diesel
fuel and dispersed by aircraft, vehicle, and hand spraying.An estimated 19
million gallons of Agent Orange were used in South Vietnam during the war.The earliest health concerns about Agent Orange were about the product's
contamination with TCDD, or dioxin.In
laboratory tests on animals, TCDD has caused a wide variety of diseases,
many of them fatal.Disclaimer: The information on these pages is presented as a public service.We are not an "official" source of any kind and present this information solely as private citizens.Visit other sites in the ring now!Agent Orange and the Vietnamese...The Battle with Agent Orange.Vietnamese director Tran Van Thuy.Vu Le My of the National Documentary and Scientific Film Studio, Hanoi .Agent Orange in Vietnam and Cambodia.Vietnamese Americans and all concerned about peace and justice.Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange.Agent Orange left by US Military forces in the region.Agent Orange Victims Fund Flyer (pdf).Agent Orange Victim's Fund in the US.FRD for complimentary copies of our recent newsletters.Veterans health issues in Congress."Image of a yellow telephone ringing vigorously."Please include that information in your inquiry.Must occur within one year of exposure to Agent Orange).This website is dedicated to the surviving spouses and dependents of military personnel who died while in active military service and to the survivors of veterans who died after active service."Do you owe the VA money?The official US federal government benefits information website."Your 'front door' to the US Government."Note: some videos not suitable for minors may still appear in search results.This video has been added to your favorites.The video has been added to your playlist.Slapshock Music Video: Agent OrangeSee more at ...Slapshock Music Video: Agent OrangeSee more at www.One of these defoliants was Agent Orange, and some troops were exposed to it.As the US veteran population ages, study results continue to emerge.This article offers a brief overview of the health evidence on Agent Orange and cancer.It is intended to help doctors, Vietnam veterans, and their family members understand our current state of knowledge.It also introduces readers to benefits programs and other issues that arise in caring for cancer patients or others concerned about the risks from exposure to Agent Orange during military service.Because this herbicide came in drums with orange stripes, it was called Agent Orange.Today, Agent Orange is used to refer generally to all the phenoxy herbicides sprayed at the time.Because they can remain in the environment for years, they form part of a group of chemicals known as "persistent organic pollutants."Some veterans were concerned that Agent Orange exposure might have contributed to these health problems.Although there is now quite a bit of evidence available about the health effects of Agent Orange, many questions have not yet been answered.How Were People Exposed to Agent Orange?Exposure to Agent Orange varied a great deal.However, some herbicides were sprayed from boats or trucks, and some were applied by soldiers with backpack sprayers.Those who loaded airplanes and helicopters may have been exposed the most.Members of the Army Chemical Corps, who stored and mixed herbicides and defoliated the perimeters of military bases, probably also had some of the heaviest exposures.Exposures could have occurred through breathing the chemicals in, ingesting them in contaminated food or drink, or absorbing them through the skin.Other exposure pathways may have been possible as well, such as through the eyes or through breaks in the skin.One of the challenges in assessing the health effects of Agent Orange exposure is determining the amount of exposure any individual veteran received (or even what they were exposed to), as there is very little information of this type available.Does Agent Orange Cause Cancer?Studies of Vietnam veterans potentially provide the most direct evidence of the health effects of Agent Orange exposure.However, because of the small number of highly exposed persons, these studies have yielded very limited information on cancer.In both of these studies, the number of veterans with heavy exposure to Agent Orange was too small to draw firm conclusions.Both the CDC and the VA studies looked broadly at Vietnam veterans, without a special focus on Agent Orange exposure (although some VA studies focused on Chemical Corps veterans).In contrast, the Air Force Health Study specifically compared about 1,200 Ranch Hand veterans directly involved in herbicide distribution to 1,300 veterans not involved.These studies, too, were limited by their small size, by the lack of detailed exposure assessment, and (at least initially) by the relatively young age of the veterans.As the veterans continue to age, additional research should yield more information about cancer risk.Based on this relatively large body of evidence, conclusions can be drawn about several cancers.Soft tissue sarcoma: Studies of Vietnam veterans have not demonstrated an increase in soft tissue sarcomas.In particular, no association with soft tissue sarcoma was seen in the Ranch Hand study, in a study of over 10,000 Marines who had served in Vietnam, a large study of sarcoma patients in VA hospitals, the Selected Cancers Study, or studies of veterans in Michigan, Massachusetts, or other states.However, soft tissue sarcomas have been linked to phenoxy herbicide exposure by a series of studies in Sweden and by some studies of industrially exposed workers.Many studies of farmers and agricultural workers show an increase in soft tissue sarcomas, which may relate to herbicide exposure.Agent Orange exposure was not linked with increased risk.Based on military job titles, there was no suggestion that the 7 Vietnam veterans with NHL had sustained Agent Orange exposure.In a study that attempted to confirm the diagnoses, the number of NHL cases declined to the upper end of the expected range.However, Hodgkin disease was linked to phenoxy herbicide exposure in one study in Sweden.The large occupational study of over 5,000 chemical manufacturing workers in the United States did not show an increase in Hodgkin disease.The Seveso, Italy study showed no cases of Hodgkin disease in the zone of greatest dioxin exposure, and a small excess of cases in the other zones.Other studies have given mixed results.Lung and other respiratory cancers: Studies of Vietnam veterans have not shown a consistent pattern of increases in respiratory cancers, such as those of the lung, trachea (windpipe), bronchus, and larynx (voice box).The Ranch Hand study suggested an increase in lung cancer, but this finding was based on only 10 deaths, and a high prevalence of smoking in the group being studied may have accounted for this finding.Prostate cancer: While the VA and Ranch Hand studies did not show an excess of prostate cancer, the Australian veterans study did show an excess, with 212 cases observed and 147 expected.Seveso accident revealed a small excess of prostate cancer (which may have been due to chance), as did a National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study of chronic dioxin exposure.Overall, the evidence of an association between Agent Orange and prostate cancer is not strong.For example, several studies of farmers and agricultural workers have reported a small increase in risk of multiple myeloma, although other studies show no excess risk.Overall, the evidence linking Agent Orange to multiple myeloma is sparse and indirect.Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in the children of veterans: Three studies have pointed to an association between paternal Agent Orange exposure and acute myeloid leukemia (also called acute myelogenous leukemia) in children.The risk was elevated for children diagnosed before the age of 6and for children who had sustained direct pesticide exposure."Pesticides" in this study included both insecticides and herbicides, so it is not clear which agents were associated with the increased risk.The second study was a survey of nearly 50,000 Australian Vietnam veterans.The risk of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) was not increased in this study.Agent Orange was not associated with increased risk.Vietnam veterans, occupational groups with herbicide exposure, and people exposed to dioxins.These studies have yielded a fairly consistent pattern of no association between these exposures and any GI cancer.Hanoi suggested that former military service, presumably entailing Agent Orange exposure, was associated with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), but the risk was far smaller than that associated with hepatitis B virus infection.Brain cancer: Similarly, there is a fairly consistent pattern suggesting no association between Vietnam service, occupational herbicide exposure, or dioxin exposure, and brain cancer.Other cancers: There is not enough evidence to draw conclusions regarding a link between Agent Orange exposure and other cancers, including cancers of the nose and nasopharynx (upper part of the throat), breast, cervix, endometrium (uterine corpus), ovaries, liver and bile ducts, bone, kidneys, urinary bladder, testicles, or skin, or leukemias other than chronic lymphocytic leukemia (in veterans themselves, as opposed to their children).Picloram has caused increases in benign liver tumors and in benign thyroid tumors in rats, but has not caused DNA mutations in cells in lab dishes.In lab dish studies, dioxin does not seem to damage DNA directly, but helps tumors to grow instead.What Do the Expert Agencies Say?The "Agent Orange Act of 1991" directed the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to request the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to review and evaluate the effects of Agent Orange exposure.The Institute of Medicine (IOM), part of the NAS, responded by forming the Committee to Review the Health Effects in Vietnam Veterans of Exposure to Herbicides.The Committee has issued a series of studies, beginning with its 1994 Veterans and Agent Orange: Health Effects of Herbicides Used in Vietnam.As of the most recent update, the links between Agent Orange exposure and cancer were designated as shown.Those exposures thought to be carcinogenic are included in the "Report on Carcinogens," published every 2 years.The first category includes substances for which human studies provide "sufficient evidence" of cancer causation in humans.TCDD (dioxin) is classified as "known to be a human carcinogen."Group 1 exposures are those "known to be carcinogenic to humans," usually based on "sufficient" human evidence, but sometimes based on "sufficient" evidence in experimental animals and "strong" human evidence.Group 2 exposures are divided into 2 categories.Group 3 exposures are not considered classifiable, because available evidence is limited or inadequate.TCDD (dioxin) is categorized as "known to be carcinogenic to humans" (Group 1).Does Agent Orange Cause Any Other Health Problems?Vietnam service and Agent Orange exposure in particular have been extensively studied in relation to health problems other than cancer.Dioxin exposures are also linked to a condition called porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), which can result in liver damage and hypersensitivity of the skin to light.For other health effects, the evidence is more variable.Some data are suggestive, especially with regard to neural tube defects (such as spina bifida), but this is an area that continues to be marked by great uncertainty.Again, these links are uncertain.Some evidence exists of an association between Agent Orange exposure and diabetes.Vietnam veterans with Agent Orange exposure may be eligible for 3 kinds of benefits.Doctors who are familiar with these benefits can counsel their patients who are veterans accordingly.The first benefit is the Agent Orange Registry, a health examination program administered by the VA since 1978.Veterans who participate in this program receive medical examinations, basic laboratory evaluations, and specialty referrals if appropriate.The amount of the payments is determined by the extent of disability.Third, some veterans qualify for medical care following Agent Orange exposure.Vietnam (to the extent that Congress appropriates funds to provide this care).VA physician determines is possibly associated with Agent Orange exposure during service in Vietnam.Agent Orange (GI tumors and brain tumors).Doctors should also provide medical advice and careful routine medical care to patients with a history of Agent Orange exposure.They may be located through the Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics at www.For medical information on this subject, the definitive source is the series of Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports, Veterans and Agent Orange.US Department of Veterans Affairs.AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare).Alavanja MC, Blair A, Merkle S, et al.Mortality among forest and soil conservationists.State of Wisconsin, Department of Health and Human Services; 1986.Asp S, Riihimaki V, Hernberg S, et al.Selected Cancers Cooperative Study Group.The association of selected cancers with service in the US military in Vietnam.The Selected Cancers Cooperative Study Group.The association of selected cancers with service in the US military in Vietnam.The Selected Cancers Cooperative Study Group.Clapp RW, Cupples LA, Colton T, et al.Collins JJ, Strauss ME, Levinskas GJ, et al.Volume 1: Male Vietnam Veterans Survey and Community Comparison Outcomes.Cordier S, Le TB, Verger P, et al.Courtney KD, Gaylor DW, Hogan MD, et al.Dalager NA, Kang HK, Burt VL, et al.Fett MJ, Nairn JR, Cobbin DM, et al.Fingerhut MA, Halperin WE, Marlow DA, et al.Cancer incidence in a cohort of licensed pesticide applicators in Florida.Fleming LE, Bean JA, Rudolph M, et al.Mortality in a cohort of licensed pesticide applicators in Florida.Mortality of Australian veterans of the Vietnam conflict and the period and location of their Vietnam service.Hardell L, Eriksson M, Lenner P, et al.Veterans and Agent Orange: Health Effects of Herbicides Used in Vietnam.Washington: National Academy Press, 1994.Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 1996.Washington: National Academy Press, 1996.Institute of Medicine, Committee to Review the Health Effects in Vietnam Veterans of Exposure to Herbicides.Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 1998.Institute of Medicine, Committee to Review the Health Effects in Vietnam Veterans of Exposure to Herbicides.Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 2000.Washington: National Academy Press, 2000.Institute of Medicine, Committee to Review the Health Effects in Vietnam Veterans of Exposure to Herbicides.Dioxin Exposure and Type 2 Diabetes.Institute of Medicine, Committee to Review the Health Effects in Vietnam Veterans of Exposure to Herbicides.Dioxin Exposure and Acute Myelogenous Leukemia in the Children of Vietnam Veterans.Washington: National Academy Press, 2002.Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 2002.Washington: National Academy Press, 2003.Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity: An Updating of IARC Monographs Volumes 1 to 42.International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).Vietnam veterans and matched controls.Kang HK, Dalager NA, Needham LL, et al.Soft tissue sarcomas and military service in Vietnam: a case comparison group analysis of hospital patients.Ketchum NS, Michalek JE, Burton JE.Serum dioxin and cancer in veterans of Operation Ranch Hand.Kogevinas M, Becher H, Benn T, et al.Hodgkin lymphomas: An ongoing study in Vietnam .Lawrence CE, Reilly AA, Quickenton P, et al.Air Force Health Study: Final Report.United States Air Force and Science Applications International Corporation.Tenth Annual Report on Carcinogens; 2000.Brien TR, Decoufle P, Boyle CA.Hodgkin lymphoma in a cohort of Vietnam veterans.Ott MG, Olson RA, Cook RR, et al.Persson B, Fredriksson M, Olsen K, et al.Some occupational exposures as risk factors for malignant lymphomas.Dioxin exposure and public health in Chapaevsk, Russia.Rix BA, Villadsen E, Engholm G, Lynge E.Hodgkin disease, pharyngeal cancer, and soft tissue sarcomas in Danish paper mill workers.Saracci R, Kogevinas M, Bertazzi PA, et al.Recent dioxin contamination from Agent Orange in residents of a southern Vietnam city.Agent Orange and the Vietnamese: The persistence of elevated dioxin levels in human tissues.Developing scientific and policy methods that support precautionary action in the face of uncertainty: The Institute of Medicine Committee on Agent Orange.Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Initiative.Vietnam Veterans and Agent Orange Exposure.Washington: Department of Veterans Affairs; March 2002.Visintainer PF, Barone M, McGee H, et al.Military service in Vietnam and the risk of death from trauma and selected cancers.Wolfe WH, Michalek JE, Miner JC, et al.Health status of Air Force veterans occupationally exposed to herbicides.Register now or see reasons to register.The idea was that the VC wouldn't be so hard to kill if we
could see them better by killing the jungle canopy that protected them.It is ironic that the Dioxin
that makes Agent Orange so deadly isn't even an intended part of the plant killer.Phenoxy herbicides like
Agent Orange.Dioxins are also created unintentionally during the manufacture of Chlorine containing
products like the Polychlorinated Byphenal (PCB) oils used for years in the utility
transformers that supply power to our homes.It
may also be that Dioxins like TCDD lie dormant in body fats until triggered by some
internal stress.The unpredictable reactions of the lab animals exposed to dioxins and the actual method
by which they kill is one of the mysteries that medical science is still trying to solve.Even more tragic is the fact
that exposure to Agent Orange appears to multiply the chances of birth defects in the
children of those exposed.Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), for example is four times more likely to kill the
children of Veterans exposed to Agent Orange than it is children of parents who were not
exposed.Information and cases are sparse but they are there.In one case a platoon that operated in an part of Vietnam that had been heavily sprayed
has had five of it's twenty members diagnosed as suffering from dioxin poisoning.This in itself is frightening but, the researcher was only able to locate six
of the twenty members of his platoon!How many of those that weren't contacted had similar
symptoms?Veterans tell story after story of Veterans who suddenly age.Their hair falls
out in clumps, what remains turns white.They suffer from strange nerve disorders,
irritableness, weight loss, palsies and finally, mercifully, death.In every case these
men were exposed to Agent Orange.They were told
that the spray was not harmful to humans.Despite the weight of evidence to the contrary
the military and the Chemical companies continue to insist that Agent Orange is harmless.The Veterans Administration, Chemical Companies and the Department of Defense point to a
study done with the personnel of Operation Ranch Hand that showed no correlation between
Agent Orange and the problems associated with it by the Veterans.The federal
government refuses to conduct a study of Ground combat troops as a comparison.Only in the last few years has that opinion begun to change.New
Jersey has established an Agent Orange Commission to investigate the effects of exposure
to Agent Orange.The report of
their findings has not yet been published.Vietnam Veterans of Ventura County, Inc.
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