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