| That dioxin is a deadly toxin cannot be disputed. | | | | heart disease relative to the comparison group. |
| The weight of scientific evidence is just too great. | | | | Associations between measures of cardiac |
| The Department of Defense released in early July | | | | function and history of heart diseases and |
| the latest report of the Air Force Ranch Hand | | | | herbicide or dioxin exposure were not consistent |
| Study on the health effects of exposure to | | | | or clinically interpretable as adverse." |
| herbicides in Vietnam. And guess what? The final | | | | Similarly, "the Ranch Hand enlisted ground crews, |
| examination of the 20-year epidemiological study | | | | the subgroup with the highest dioxin levels and |
| provides the strongest evidence yet that Agent | | | | presumably the greatest herbicide exposure, |
| Orange is associated with adult-onset diabetes. | | | | exhibited a 14 percent decreased risk of cancer." |
| This report, along with many other studies on | | | | We do not concur. We believe that dioxin is |
| herbicide and dioxin exposure, will be reviewed by | | | | associated with a lot more conditions that ravage |
| the National Academy of Sciences. Based upon | | | | and can eventually end the lives of our brother |
| this review, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs | | | | and sister veterans. We believe that the Ranch |
| can ask Congress for legislation on disability | | | | Hand Study should not end the government's |
| compensation and health care. | | | | investigation into the adverse health effects |
| Results from the 2002 physical examination | | | | caused by or associated with exposure to Agent |
| suggest that as dioxin levels increase, not only are | | | | Orange. We are particularly concerned for our |
| the presence and severity of adult-onset diabetes | | | | offspring and their children: There must be further |
| increased, but the time to onset of the disease is | | | | investigation into the intergenerational effects of |
| decreased. A 166 percent increase in diabetes | | | | dioxin. |
| requiring insulin control was seen in those with the | | | | I'm proud that VVA took the lead and prodded |
| highest levels of dioxin in their system. | | | | the government to recognize the insidious and |
| Cardiovascular disease findings were not | | | | lingering effects of Agent Orange and other |
| consistent, according to a news release from | | | | defoliants on the health and well-being of ground |
| DoD. Separate studies have found an increased | | | | troops in Vietnam and, of course, the Air Force |
| risk of cardiovascular death in Ranch Hand enlisted | | | | "hands" that did the spraying. |
| ground crews, the subgroup with the highest | | | | I hope that VVA will continue to lead, advocating |
| average serum dioxin. | | | | and putting pressure on the powers that be in our |
| The news release went on: "Overall, Ranch Hand | | | | government and insisting that additional research |
| pilots and ground crews examined in 2002 had not | | | | be properly funded and undertaken. We owe this |
| experienced a statistically significant increase in | | | | to our children; the government owes this to us. |