ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SPECIFIC HEALTH OUTCOMES & EXPOSURE TO HERBICIDES

The herbicides mentioned in the title and in Table 1. refers to the major herbicides used in Vietnam namely 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T and its' contaminant 2,3,7,8-TCDD ie. Dioxin, cacodylic acid and picloram. This Table and the background information came from a good friend and environmental colleague now living in Guelph. The following health outcomes are described as having "Sufficient Evidence of an Association".

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Soft-tissue sarcome

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Hodgkin's disease

Chloracne

We then have "Limited or Suggestive Evidence of an Association" namely:

Respiratory cancer (lung & brochus, larnyx, and trachea)

Prostate cancer

Multiple myeloma

Acute and subacute transient peripheral neuropathy (ie. tingling, numbness etc. in the hands & feet)

Porphyria cutanea tarda (no idea what that is)

Type 2 diabetes

Spina bifida in the children of veterans


There are numerous other suspected health outcomes although they are referred to as "Inadequate or Insufficient Evidence to Determine Whether an Association Exists".

Keep in mind that these health outcomes are in regards to Herbicides used in Vietnam during the war between the U.S. and Vietnam. Currently the U.S. and Canada are involved in remediation efforts along with Hatfield Consultants for the purpose of removing still toxic Agent Orange and Dioxins.