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