The ongoing concerns of Vietnam Veterans and their families.
By Gary McMahon
Make no mistake. Our families and we Vietnam veterans have been poisoned by one of, if not the most deadly chemical known to man. The human cost of this poisoning has yet to be totaled. The two most important features of this killer are the slow effect rate and the diverse symptomology. That is, its effects are delayed. After being ingested by the body, it is stored in the fat tissue only to be released at a later time.
The range of symptoms that this killer throws out are obscene:
Dermatological, neurological, gastrointestinal, and psychological disorders.
Chloracne, an incurable rash on the face, neck, back, arms and legs, boils, blisters, skin irritation and sensitivity to sunlight.
Loss of sensation and tingling in the fingers and toes, intolerance to cold, damage to the peripheral nervous system. Constant fatigue. Depression, inability to concentrate, nervousness and irritability, insomnia, vertigo, loss of sex drive, recurring headaches, nausea and sudden unexplained weight loss. Red blood rectal bleeding has also been reported.
Respiratory distress, shortness of breath, allergies, tender liver, recurring digestive upset and slowed digestion, vascular lesions, stomach, intestinal kidney and liver pain, and stiffness. Swelling and pain in the joints of the arms and legs.
Finally and probably worst of all, numerous and varied birth defects in the children of Vietnam veterans. All documented in our governments last mortality study into the health of Vietnam veterans and their families.
New evidence supports the association between chemicals used in herbicides in the Vietnam War and cancers and other assorted health problems. It has been confirmed that there is a link to Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Non Hodgkin?s Lymphoma, Hodgkin?s disease, and Cloracne.
There is also evidence to show an association with the congenital birth defect Spina Bifida in veteran?s children, and with a neurological disorder in veterans.
The latest Mortality Study into the health of Vietnam veterans and their families shows a horrifying number of abnormalities and serious health problems suffered by the families of Vietnam veterans. While we may be prepared to wait for the wheels of government to turn as pathetically slow as they do concerning our own health problems, we are not prepared to give an inch or to listen to any bullshit when it comes to the health of our children. This needs to be looked at and fixed...NOW.
Although we refer to the chemicals as Agent Orange there were in fact fifteen chemicals used extensively in Vietnam during the war. They are:
PURPLE A formulation of 2,4,-D and 2,4,5,-T used in 1962 to 1964.
GREEN Contained 2,4,5,-T and was used 1962-1964.
PINK Contained 2,4,5,-T and was used 1962-1964.
ORANGE A formulation of 2,4,D and 2,4,5,-T used in 1965 to 1970.
WHITE A formulation of Picloram and 2,4,-D.
BLUE Contained cacodylic acid.
ORANGE 11 A formulation of2,4,-D and 2,4,5,-T used in 1968 and 1969.
DINOXOL A formulation of 2,4,-D and 2,4,5,-T.
Tested in Vietnam between 1962 and 1964.
TRINOXOL: Contained 2,4,5,-T. Tested in Vietnam 1962 to 1964.
BROMACIL.DIQUAT TANDEX MONURON DIURON DALAPON
Quantities of all of the above were tested in Vietnam, 1962 ? 1964.
Agent Orange is the best known of the chemical killers as it was used as part of the massive defoliation program to destroy jungle cover, crops and other vegetation during the Vietnam War.
Prior to using Agent Orange the military experimented with Agent Green, Agent Pink, and Agent Purple.
In 1965 Agent Orange and Agent White replaced the previous agents and began to be used in even larger amounts as the war escalated.
Agent Blue, the only agent not derived from phenoxyacetic acid, was used through all phases of the war. All of these herbicides were named after the colourcoded bands around the 55-gallon drums they were stored in.
The volume of undiluted herbicide sprayed is testimony to the wide degree of exposure among the military in all areas of Vietnam. All military personnel were exposed, though some were exposed more directly with greater amounts of herbicide than others.
Exposure came through contaminated food and water; through direct contact to the skin and from breathing the fumes and many other ways.
Also, the cocktail effect, the multiple exposure to toxic agents like, 24D, 245T, Cacodylic Acid, and Picloram were accompanied by stress, fatigue, high humidity and temperatures and the use of other drugs.
The chemical killer that is the biggest worry to veterans is TCCD (2,3,7,8,Tetrachlorodibenzopdioxin), better known simply as dioxin. There are 75 different dioxins, but scientists recognize the dioxin found in 245T as the most toxic synthetic chemical in existence. Out of 44 million lbs. Of 245T sprayed, some 368 lbs. Of TCDD were deposited in Vietnam.
When we look at the degree of toxicity of dioxin it amazes me that anyone would bother to do surveys and health studies trying to prove or disprove a link. This stuff is unbelievably deadly.
Think of Dioxin this way; it is measured in parts per trillion. This can be roughly compared to a teaspoon of salt mixed evenly through a dump truck full of sand. The extreme toxicity of Dioxin makes even this amount a potentially lethal dose. It is the most potent cancer-causing agent known to man. The tiniest amount causes malignant tumors in animals. It is also a powerful teratogen, causing birth defects and reproductive toxicity such as stillbirths and miscarriages.
The sick part is, TCDD does NOT kill plants. It could have been removed from 245T without affecting its purpose. The manufacturers knew its extreme toxicity and the danger of using it, but TCDD was not removed from 245T because that would have increased production costs.
There needs to be action taken NOW.
Who the hell do the leaders of this country think they are? Do they honestly think they can get away with allowing the nations Armed Forces to be poisoned and then do nothing about it.
So far the diversity of these symptoms and the slow effect rate have encouraged government agencies to downplay the problem. Goodness knows how many veterans have died or suffered because of their inaction.
Remember that scientists knew the Agent Orange problems as early as 1972. The National Academy of Sciences in the US, in 1974, released their report, "The Effects of Herbicides in South Vietnam." They called for a variety of studies to begin immediately yet neither our federal government, nor the US federal government, or the scientists did anything. They still do nothing?
The Australian governments' latest study into The Mortality of Vietnam Veterans and their Families shocked even us Vietnam veterans.
The report shows that veterans, their spouse and their children suffer from a range of illnesses much, much higher than the rest of the population.
We all know about the greatly elevated rates of Spina Bifida and Cancer, and other normally rare diseases but I was shocked to the core when I read that the number of deaths of Vietnam veterans children from accident and suicide is 250% higher than for other Australians.
Other examples are:
Male breast cancer 2,500% higher
Ischaemic heart disease 200%
Leukemia 300%
Prostate cancer 300%
Cancer of colon 350%
Motor neuron disease 6000%
Cleft lip or palate 400%
Absent body parts 1000%
Spina Bifida 1000%
I won't go on. I don't think I need to. This needs to be dealt with now.
We can no longer tolerate the inaction of our so-called leaders.
While we veterans now continue the task of fighting the government for treatment and disability payments, we need to remember who we are up against and the things they will do to deny responsibility. "
