Vietnam, associations

Butler T, Linh NN, Arnold K, Pollack M. Chloramphenicol-resistant typhoid fever in Vietnam associated with R factor. Lancet 1973 2(7836) 983-5. 

Technology (Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Association) 2005 Kato Memorial Award (Kato Memorial Science Foundation)... 

Honorary Professor of St. Petersburg University, Russia Honorary Member of Japan Society of Coordination Chemistry Honorary Member of Japan Association of Solution Chemists Medal of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations... 

Even so, 2,4-D is advertised as being safe to humans when used as directed, and there is no evidence that the chemical bioaccumulates like DDT does, or that it has any immediate effects on human reproduction or human organs. Although 2,4-D made up nearly half of the active ingredient of Agent Orange, the controversial defoliant used in the Vietnam War, the stated problems with that compound were associated with the contaminant component, dioxin, not... 

Several epidemiological studies in Sweden suggested an association between exposure to phenoxyherbicides (and/or their contaminants) and soft tissue sarcomas." There has also been widespread concern among Vietnam veterans that exposure to the defoliant Agent Orange, which contains equal quantities of 2,4-D and... 

The first report on cortisol levels in PTSD was that of Mason et al. who found that the mean 24-h urinary excretion of cortisol was significantly lower in combat Vietnam veterans with PTSD compared to psychiatric patients in four other diagnostic groups (Mason et al. 1986). The authors noted surprise at the fact that cortisol levels were low, since certain clinical features such as depression and anxiety [in PTSD] might have been expected to be associated with increased activity of the pituitary-adrenal cortical system. Since this initial observation, the majority of the evidence supports the conclusion that cortisol alterations in PTSD are different from those observed in acute and chronic stress, and major depression, but more importantly, that the HPA axis appears to be regulated differently. 

The second major symptom of PTSD is an active and persistent avoidance of anything associated with the trauma. This means that the person avoids anything that can possibly be connected with the context in which the trauma took place. In the example of the Vietnam veteran, the former soldier went out of his way to avoid going outside if the ground was wet on a summer day, because such conditions reminded him of the Vietnamese jungle. Similarly, he avoided contact with anyone of Asian heritage who would remind him of the native people in Vietnam. Another component of this second set of symptoms is... 

By 1975, Vietnam veterans, supported by some scientists and politicians, blamed Agent Orange as the cause of their own diseases and of birth defects in their children and demanded medical treatment and monetary compensation. Their efforts received a huge boost from two television programs that associated Agent Orange with cancer in veterans and birth defects in their children.6... 

Directs the Secretary [of the Department of Veterans Affairs] to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) under which NAS shall review and summarize the scientific evidence (and its strength) concerning the association between exposure to a herbicide agent during service in Vietnam and each disease suspected to be associated with such exposure.16... 

The maximum body burden of dioxin in the Comparisons is 55 ppt (parts per trillion of dioxin in fat taken from a blood sample), about ten times less than the maximum of 618 ppt in the Ranch Hands, but the incidence of diabetes is the same in both populations. The IOM 2000 committee s report about diabetes is masterful. It emphasizes every factoid that can be interpreted to support its conclusion about a limited/suggestive association and brushes aside all the contradictory information. Based on the committee s finding of a limited/suggestive association, the DYA is paying compensation to Vietnam veterans who have diabetes. 

Reports associating herbicides and birth defects in humans first appeared in Vietnamese newspapers in 1969. These led to a survey of birth defects, conducted by Dr. Cutting of the U.S. Army medical research team with the cooperation of the South Vietnam ministry of health. Over 1/2 million obstetrical records from 22 maternity hospitals located in 16 cities were examined for the years 1960-69. 

There are two reasons for a brief discussion here of napalm. First, the war in Vietnam led to an association of napalm with chemical weapons. 

We are not embarking upon gas warfare in Vietnam. We are not talking about agents or weapons that are associated with gas warfare in the military arsenals of many countries. We are not talking about gas that is prohibited by the Geneva convention of 1925 or any other understandings about the use of gas.85... 

No respiratory effects were associated with exposure to 2,3,7,8-TCDD-contaminated herbicides in a group of Vietnam Air Force veterans involved in Operation Ranch Hand examined more than 10 years after the war (Wolfe et al. 1985). In the 1987 follow-up (USAF 1991), no association was found between the initial or current serum level of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and incidences of asthma, bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, or tuberculosis abnormal spirometric measurements were often associated with CDD blood levels, but according to the authors (USAF 1991), the differences in the mean level between high- and low-exposure subjects were not clinically important. The authors suggested that these findings may have been related to the association between 2,3,7,8-TCDD and body fat because obesity is known to cause a reduction in vital capacity. 

No cardiovascular effects were observed in a group of Air Force veterans exposed to 2,3,7,8-TCDD-contaminated herbicides during the Vietnam war and examined several years post-exposure (Wolfe et al. 1985). However, a follow-up study of the Ranch Hand cohort reported increased mean diastolic blood pressure in those with current serum lipid 2,3,7,8-TCDD levels from 15 to 33.3 ppt, but not in subjects with higher 2,3,7,8-TCDD serum levels (USAF 1991). In addition, the proportion of abnormally low peripheral pulses in all Ranch Hand veterans, regardless of serum levels, was elevated relative to a comparison group. Also, arrhythmias detected on the electrocardiogram were significantly associated with 2,3,7,8-TCDD exposure, but there was no consistent dose-response relationship. 

A health study of Vietnam veterans involved in Operation Ranch Hand indicated an association between high initial and current serum 2,3,7,8-TCDD levels and increased erythrocyte sedimentation (Wolfe et al. 1995), and an earlier study by Wolfe et al. (1985) indicated an increase in mean corpuscular volume however, these changes were minor and were not observed in the 1991 follow-up (USAF 1991). Higher serum 2,3,7,8-TCDD levels were also associated with positive dose-response trends for increases in white blood cell and platelet levels. 

Endocrine function was assessed in Vietnam veterans involved in Operation Ranch Hand. A strong positive association was found between glucose intolerance or increased risk of diabetes and... 

The effects of 2,3,7,8-TCDD exposure on gonadal function (production of germ cells and secretion of sex hormones) has not been extensively investigated. A health study in Vietnam veterans involved in Operation Ranch Hand found a significant association between decreased testicular size and serum... 

A number of studies have examined pregnancy outcomes following paternal exposure or paternal and maternal exposure to 2,3,7,8-TCDD. No significant alterations in the incidence of spontaneous abortions were found in several studies of Vietnam veterans. In a case-control study conducted by Aschengrau and Monson (1989), no association was observed between paternal military service in Vietnam and the risk of spontaneous abortion (odds ratio [OR] of 0.88, 95% confidence interval [Cl] of 0.42-1.86). A limitation of this study is that service in Vietnam is not an adequate exposure surrogate for 2,3,7,8-TCDD exposure ... 

TCDD contaminated herbicides as compared to a group of Ho Chi Minh City residents presumably never exposed to 2,3,7,8-TCDD-contaminated herbicides. In contrast, a case-control study by Ha et al. (1996) did not find a significant association between exposure to 2,3,7,8-TCDD-contaminated herbicides and the occurrence of complete hydatidiform mole or choriocarcinoma among women living in southern Vietnam. 

Neurological Effects. Some psychological effects were reported in Vietnam veterans potentially exposed to 2,3,7,8-TCDD-contaminated herbicides. These included depression in Air Force and ground troop veterans (Levy 1988 Wolfe et al. 1985) and hypochondria and hysteria in Air Force veterans (Wolfe et al. 1985). In contrast, a more recent study did not find any association between 2,3,7,8-TCDD exposure and neurological or psychological diseases in Air Force personnel (USAF 1991). These... 

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