Veterans and Agent Orange : Update 2010

Because of continuing uncertainty about the long-term health effects of the sprayed herbicides on Vietnam veterans, Congress passed the Agent Orange Act of 1991.

The legislation directed the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to request the Institite of Medicine to perform a comprehensive evaluation of scientific and medical information regarding the health effects of exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides used in Vietnam to be followed by biennial updates.

The 2010 update recommends further research of links between Vietnam service and specific health outcomes, most importantly COPD, tonsil cancer, melanoma, brain cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and paternally transmitted effects to offspring. Table of ContentsFront MatterSummary1 Introduction2 Evaluating the Evidence3 Exposure to the Herbicides Used in Vietnam4 Information Related to Biologic Plausibility5 Epidemiologic Studies: Compendium of New Publications andBackground on Multiple Referenced Populations6 Immune-System Disorders7 Cancer8 Reproductive Effects and Impacts on Future Generations9 Neurologic Disorders10 Cardiovascular and Metabolic Effects11 Other Health Effects12 Conclusions and RecommendationsAppendix A: Agendas of Public Meetings Held by the Committee toReview the Health Effects in Vietnam Veterans of Exposure toHerbicides (Eighth Biennial Update)Appendix B: Short-Term Adverse Health ResponsesAppendix C: Clarification of Cancer Groupings Used in ReportingResults, with Correspondence to NIOSH Cause-of-Death Codes and ICDCodes for CancersAppendix D: Biographies of Committee to Review the Health Effectsin Vietnam Veterans of Exposure to Herbicides (Eighth BiennialUpdate) and Staff