A new report from the Institute of Medicine finds suggestive but limited evidence that exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides used during the Vietnam War is linked to various diseases.
It could lead to an increased chance of developing ischemic heart disease and Parkinson's disease for Vietnam veterans.
Herbicide Linked to Altered Hormonal Signalling in Human Cells
Researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have reported that a common weedkiller in the U.
Researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have reported that a common weedkiller in the U.
A finding of "limited or suggestive evidence of an association" means that the evidence indicates there could be a link between exposure to a chemical and increased risk for a particular health effect, though conflicting results from studies, problems with how the studies were conducted, or other confounding factors limit the certainty of the evidence. Until now, the cumulative evidence had been inadequate to draw conclusions about whether these two conditions may be associated with veterans' exposures to herbicides or TCDD.
Ischemic heart disease, a condition characterized by reduced blood supply to the heart, which can lead to heart attack and stroke, is the foremost cause of death among people in industrialized countries. Major risk factors include buildup of cholesterol in the arteries, age, smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The committee that wrote the report reviewed several studies investigating TCDD exposure and heart disease, many of which showed that higher TCDD exposure correlated with greater incidence of disease. The studies had weaknesses; for instance, it is difficult to adjust entirely for the impact of smoking, age, weight, and other common risk factors. But based on the preponderance of the evidence as well as biologic data beginning to show how TCDD can cause this toxic effect, the committee concluded that the evidence suggests that veterans exposed to defoliants contaminated with TCDD during the war may face a higher risk for developing ischemic heart disease.
Exposure To Pesticides Increases The Risk For Parkinson's Disease
Researchers say that exposure to pesticides can increase the risk of Parkinson's disease.
Researchers say that exposure to pesticides can increase the risk of Parkinson's disease.
In response to a request for clarification by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the committee also affirmed that hairy cell leukemia is in the same category as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and lymphomas. Previous reviews in the series found sufficient evidence to state that there is an association between herbicide exposure and increased risk for CLL and lymphomas.
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Exposure to Agent Orange Raises Prostate Cancer Recurrence Risk
A new study has revealed that people who have been exposed to Agent Orange, a herbicide and defoliant used during the Vietnam War, are at an increased risk of aggressive recurrence of prostate cancer.
A new study has revealed that people who have been exposed to Agent Orange, a herbicide and defoliant used during the Vietnam War, are at an increased risk of aggressive recurrence of prostate cancer.
U.S. forces sprayed Agent Orange and other defoliants over parts of southern Vietnam and surrounding areas from 1962 to 1970. Most large-scale sprayings were conducted from airplanes and helicopters, but herbicides were also dispersed from boats and ground vehicles and by soldiers wearing back-mounted equipment.
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