1 15 17 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange Description An account of the resource The Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange comprises 120 linear feet and spans the late 1800s to 2005; however, the bulk of the coverage is from the 1960s to the 1980s and there are many undated items. The collection was donated to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1985 by Dr. Alvin L. Young (1942- ). Dr. Young developed the collection as he conducted extensive research on the military defoliant Agent Orange. The collection is in good condition and includes letters, memoranda, books, reports, press releases, journal and newspaper clippings, field logs and notebooks, newsletters, maps, booklets and pamphlets, photographs, memorabilia, and audiotapes of an interview with Dr. Young. For more about this collection, <a href="/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/alvin-l--young-collection-on-a">view the Agent Orange Exhibit.</a> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Box The box containing the original item. 035 Folder The folder containing the original item. 0754 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries I Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hobson, Lawrence B. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 11 1983 Title A name given to the resource Porphyria Cutanea Tarda Subject The topic of the resource dioxin health effects VA industrial exposure ao_seriesIII Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange Description An account of the resource The Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange comprises 120 linear feet and spans the late 1800s to 2005; however, the bulk of the coverage is from the 1960s to the 1980s and there are many undated items. The collection was donated to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1985 by Dr. Alvin L. Young (1942- ). Dr. Young developed the collection as he conducted extensive research on the military defoliant Agent Orange. The collection is in good condition and includes letters, memoranda, books, reports, press releases, journal and newspaper clippings, field logs and notebooks, newsletters, maps, booklets and pamphlets, photographs, memorabilia, and audiotapes of an interview with Dr. Young. For more about this collection, <a href="/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/alvin-l--young-collection-on-a">view the Agent Orange Exhibit.</a> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Box The box containing the original item. 036 Folder The folder containing the original item. 0755 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries I Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hobson, Lawrence B. Description An account of the resource Corporate Author: Agent Orange Projects Office, VA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 5 1983 Title A name given to the resource Epidemiology of Soft-tissue Sarcoma and Related Human Research (as related to herbicide exposure) Subject The topic of the resource soft tissue sarcoma Sweden ao_seriesIII https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/files/original/38839a64312ae9dcc7caa24cf8a03baf.pdf 23b90dbd23063ef4c066775f230dc307 PDF Text Text Item ID Number 01397 Hobson, Lawrence B. Corporate Author Report/Article Title Human Effects of TCDD Exposure Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Year 1984 Month/Day Color LI Number of Images 4 Descripton Notes Thursday, May 03, 2001 Page 1397 of 1403 �Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. (1984) 33:696-701 »Environmental I Contamination land Toxicology Human Effects of TCDD Exposure Lawrence B. Hobson Agent Orange Projects Office, Veterans Administration Central Office (10A7), 810 Vermont Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20420 The Vietnam situation and the exposure of servicemen to the herbicide Agent Orange presented the Veterans Administration with a series of problems and questions that the agency had not encountered before. Since about 1978, the VA has undertaken a variety of programs prompted by the Vietnam conflict and herbicide exposure. Beyond the VA's programs, a number of related efforts are going on in the world about which one will want to know. Most of them have not been completed. We shall review them very briefly, but first there are certain differences among these various studies of which one must be cognizant. In the first place, it is literally impossible to determine quantitatively the extent of herbicide-realted exposure in any human study that is being conducted at present. Tt sometimes is possible to divide a population Into groups with a high likelihood exposure, a low likelihood, and occasionally into even slightly finer divisions, but these divisions are not truly quantitative. The VA, therefore, Is conducting a number of studies to determine the effects of the military experience in Vietnam partly on the assumption that military experience in Vietnam entailed exposure to Agent Orange which contained on the average about 2 parts per million of TCDD. Other studies being undertaken, particularly by the Centers for Disease Control, will attempt to determine exposure to Agent Orange in the field. We do not know whether it is possible to do that, but it will be attempted in most of the studies that deal with the Vietnam experience. One must distinguish clearly between any attempt to study the effects of exposure to Agent Orange, and therefore TCDD, and an investigation to evaluate the effects of the military experience as a whole. Tn fact, it is possible to define only one population where we are certain of exposure to Agent Orange. That population is the Ranch Hand group being studied by the Air Force. When we want to examine the results of exposure to TCDD apart from the other Ingredients In Agent Orange, we have to go to Industrial situations where TCDD has been generated In an Industrial process 696 �and Is delivered, If not In pure form, at least In a fairly high concentration to that population. The VA has no such population available to it, but they are present around the world. The Congress at the present time Is considering compensation of veterans for certain conditions. I shall not discuss questions of compensation that are the responsibility of an entirely different subdivision of the VA. When such legislation is being considered, however, we are expected to advise Congress on what compensation should be established on "presumptive bases" without definite knowledge that exposure occurred or that any particular defect is due to exposure to Agent Orange. For a scientist, this Is an unsatisfactory situation. We have tried to convince Congress and others that it is important to come to some medical and scientific consensus as to whether exposure results in a particular effect before Congress considers compensation for it. As T am sure you know, there is no clear-cut way to arrive at a medical consensus even though a number of techniques have been tried. Basically, they all require that sufficient numbers of statistically significant and relevant data are available, that these data and the methods of obtaining them withstand peer review, and finally, that the results are duplicated. We do not want universal agreement. We are seeking only a consensus In the medical and scientific community that these effects can be attributed to TCOD, or to Agent Orange, In our Instance. The veterans themselves have reported a wide variety of effects. Many have recounted symptoms that occurred in Vietnam and, therefore, were presumably acute. In general, the acute effects they report, as well as the acute effects from other toxic agents, are more or less generalized: malaise, headache, nausea, sometimes diarrhea, or respiratory responses if it is an inhaled toxin. All of these have been reported by veterans. Tt Is impossible for us to verify them now since they occurred more than 10 years ago. Some veterans complain of neurological problems. Some suggest that they have had liver problems as well. Other reported reactions have not been discussed in this conference, but ought to be mentioned, namely, the reproductive effects. Some veterans have complained of sterility and Impotence as well as miscarriages, abortions and birth defects, some of which occurred to their wives shortly after their husbands came back from Vietnam; they might be considered acute effects. More commonly, however, the veterans complain of chronic effects that have persisted from the time they left Vietnam. These also have varied. Leading the list a few months ago were probably birth defects and miscarriages. The complaints are less frequent now, In part because of some research results that are being reported. The possibility of the development of cancers, including soft tissue sarcomas, Is very much on the minds of the veterans. Many are afraid 697 �that their lives are going to be shortened, that they will have a shorter life expectancy than they would otherwise. There have been complaints and still are complaints of chloracne, a skin eruption, none of which has been verified as being present at the time of examination. Some veterans complain of porphyria cutanea tarda, either at present or during the time since they left Vietnam. Some have complained simply that they have dtoxin in their tissues and it presents a threat to their future health. It has been said by some people, Including at least one from St. Louts, that this constitutes a time bomb, that if they ever lose weight the dioxln will be released in the body and intoxicate them. We are dealing here with questions of toxiclty which have not been common in the past. Veterans are complaining of delayed toxic effects, where the individual has had no symptomatology, nothing wrong, for 10, 15 or even 20 years after exposure and then suddenly develops difficulties. Interest in the delayed effects centers primarily on birth defects and cancer. A number of studies completed and underway at present are attempting to define any possible risk of birth defects or reproductive failures. Four studies have been completed, including one reported this year in Australia and one conducted in Arkansas for the EPA. One was done in Arkansas by EPA. The Australian study Is a Vietnam experience study of veterans. They did not evaluate the exposure to Agent Orange or to TCDD. A New Zealand applicator study, a the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health study In New York and the Arkansas study all deal with exposure to herbicides, primarily 2,4,5-T, which probably contains TCDD. All of the completed studies found no increased risk of reproductive failure. Prior to the completion of those studies, two others were Initiated. One is being conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) with support from the VA and the Department of Defense. It Is expected to be completed next year. The .other Is the Air Force's Ranch Hand study which will also be reported early in the coming year. The latter is looking for reproductive effects In their population of Ranch Banders who are known to have been exposed to Agent Orange. The CDC study is a Vietnam experience study but an attempt will be made to determine exposure to Agent Orange and, therefore, to TCDD. One of the major problems is that of soft tissue sarcomas. Every study that has been done on herbicides and soft tissue sarcomas and every study that is In progress is open to question on epidemiological grounds. None is methodologically clean and I know of no way to make them so. We are going to be faced with the results in a number of studies, all of which leave questions unanswered. A group of Swedish studies began In 1978 with the chance observation that soft tissue sarcomas were occurring among forestry workers who 698 �were exposed to herbicides. These studies deal with herbicides as do the others in New Zealand and Finland. Some American industrial studies are a separate group. They have been mentioned already and I shall not review them In great detail. A total of seven cases of soft tissue sarcomas was reported among chemical workers In the United States. This caused great concern but reexamination of the cases has shown that only two workers had softtissue sarcomas and also had documented exposure to TCDD. T can give what was reported to be the anticipated number of soft tissue sarcomas among the exposed population. T must qualify this in that the exact count of the exposed population has not been reported and so the number of expected cases Is tentative. Tt is estimated that only 0.07 cases of sarcoma would have been anticipated and two were found. One can juggle numbers, and this Is done very often, but T never have treated seven-hundredths of a case of any disease. T either had one case or T did not. The evidence is a little stronger if you have two cases, but clinicians know that two cases of a rare disease can appear within a short time even in the same location. So it is unclear what those industrial studies mean, although they do tend to lend support to the Swedish studies that claim an association of the sarcomas with herbicide use. There is certainly no consensus now on the relationship of exposure to herbicides or TCDD and the appearance of soft-tissue sarcomas. Some other studies have been reported In industrial settings apart from those in the U.S. They have not indicated any relationship between the two experiences. One study that has been completed In Midland, Michigan. There was an increased incidence of soft tissue sarcomas among women in that community, but the men showed no Increase. The rate among women was less than the rate among women In other Michigan counties where there was no industrial plant. Midland is the home of two chemical companies, both of which made herbicides. No employment history of either the patients or their spouses and no geogrpahic location within the city could be correlated with the sarcoma cases. So what It means Is an open question. Other studies include a New York State study that has been completed. Like the National Cancer Institute studies, it is concerned with exposure to herbicides rather than to pure chemicals. The VA is undertaking a study which has also been mentioned already. The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology has the largest collection of soft tissue sarcomas In this country and probably in the world. All of the tumors will be reexamlned and diagnosed by the same team, Including Dr. P.M. Enzlnger, generally considered the world's best qualified pathologist to characterize these sarcomas. The research will be a case/control study and Is expected to be completed in 1985. 699 �The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has created a registry of Industrial workers exposed to TCDD and will use It for a case/control study. A similar but International registry Is being compiled at present, and It also will be examined for possible causal factors of soft tissue sarcomas. The CDC study that Is concerned with the effects of exposure to Agent Orange In Vietnam will Include an evaluation of the effects of the Vietnam experience. Tt Incorporates as well a study of the soft tissue sarcomas In the civilian population, which now Includes Vietnam veterans. Tn addition to soft tissue sarcomas, several other forms of cancer have been reported to be associated with herbicides or TCDD. The studies, In general, have shown very disparate malignancies with no increased prevalence of malignancies as a whole In the various exposed populations. Many studies will extend Into the future as the population Is followed. Individuals exposed In Vietnam and during the Vietnam era are now 10 to 15 years past their exposure and are entering the period when we would expect most of the solid malignancies to appear If they were due to exposure at that time. Mortality studies are being conducted around this country and the world to determine whether exposure to herbicides or TCDD shortens life. A number of them have been completed. They have found no Increased death rate. There was likewise no increased mortality among Ranch Banders as a group. As Is usually true in studies of industrial and military groups, the mortality rates were below those anticipated because of the so-called "well worker effect." This is particularly pronounced In the military studies where, at one point at least, each Individual has had a careful health evaluation and has been given medical care throughout the military career. There Is no evidence of an Increased mortality rate among-veterans or among industrial workers exposed to TCDD. A major New York State mortality study is soon to be reported and a larger VA mortality study Is underway. There are already reports of mortality rates among industrially exposed groups in England and Europe as well as the United States. The workers have been followed for two decades or longer in some studies without more deaths than expected. Also In the aggregate, they have not died from any single characteristic cause. As you can see, research up to the present has not established definitely that phenoxy herbicides or TCDD cause any prolonged or delayed toxic effects when exposure has been relatively slight. The search for such effects has continued, however, and the answers to our questions may emerge more clearly as the work continues. 700 �SUGGESTED READING Australian Government Publishing Service (1983) Case-control study of congenital anomalies and Vietnam service (Birth defects study). Canberra, Australia. Coggon D, Acheson ID (1982) Do phenoxy herbicides cause cancer in man? Lancet 1:1057-1059. Dolderup LM, Zellenrath D (1983) Dioxin exposure: 20 years followup. Lancet 1:1134-1135. May G (1982) Tetrachlorodibenzo-dioxin: a survey ten years after exposure. Br J Tndustr Med 39:128-135. US Government Printing Office. Review of. literature on herbicides, including phenoxy herbicides and associated dioxins, vols. I & IT. Washington DC (stock numbers 051-000-00154-1, 051-000-0001559. ) Young AL, Calcagni JA, Thalken CT, Tremblay JW (1978) The toxicology, environmental fate and human risk of herbicide orange and its associated dtoxins. OEHL TR=78-92. Naitonal Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161. Received July 5, 1984; accepted September 2, 1984. 701 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange Description An account of the resource The Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange comprises 120 linear feet and spans the late 1800s to 2005; however, the bulk of the coverage is from the 1960s to the 1980s and there are many undated items. The collection was donated to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1985 by Dr. Alvin L. Young (1942- ). Dr. Young developed the collection as he conducted extensive research on the military defoliant Agent Orange. The collection is in good condition and includes letters, memoranda, books, reports, press releases, journal and newspaper clippings, field logs and notebooks, newsletters, maps, booklets and pamphlets, photographs, memorabilia, and audiotapes of an interview with Dr. Young. For more about this collection, <a href="/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/alvin-l--young-collection-on-a">view the Agent Orange Exhibit.</a> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Box The box containing the original item. 052 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1397 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries II Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hobson, Lawrence B. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1984 Title A name given to the resource Human Effects of TCDD Exposure Subject The topic of the resource Australian veteran health studies VA/AFIP STSS ao_seriesIII https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/files/original/08323be2faa2c58f0ea23dee5c718bd7.pdf 7023d5e9e3775b0d0df286732abccfeb PDF Text Text Item ID Number °1566 Author Hobson, Lawrence B. Corporate Author Veterans Administration RBpOPt/ArtfClB TltlB Memorandum: from Clinical Assistant (102A) to Acting Dir. Agent Orange Projects Office (10A7), with subject Ranch Hand, Advisory Committee, September 28,1982. Journal/Book Title Year 000 ° MontD/Day Color n Number of Images 2 Descrlpton Notes Wednesday, May 23, 2001 Page 1567 of 1608 �Veterans Administration Date: October 20, 1982 Memorandum From: Clinical Assistant (102A) Acting Dir. Agent Orange lo: Projects Office (10A7) Subj. Ranch, Hand, Advisory Committee September 28, 1982 1. On September 28, 1982, the Advisory Committee on Special Studies Relating to the Possible Long-term Health Effects of Phenoxy Herbicides and Contaminants (the Air Force Ranch Hand study) met at NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, NC. The purpose was to review the progress of the study. 2. Dr. J.A. Moore chaired the session with Drs. I. Selikoff, R. Monson, A. Poland, G. Comstock, and N. Nelson, members in attendance. Aside from Air Force personnel and me, the only attendees were Maureen Corcoran and Margaret Warner, the latter a lawyer from Carr, Jordan, Coyne, and Savits. 3. To date more than 1,000 participants have been examined with only one serious complaint (nature unspecified). An attempt is underway to obtain military records and private medical records for all. 4. Serum (20+cc.) and urine (100 cc.) from each participant are being retained at - 70°C. Selikoff suggested needle fat biopsies to obtain 500 mg, of material for storage. This suggestion was rejected, as it had been before, despite Poland's skeptical report that Rappe claims measurement in tissue with less than 1 ppt. (less than 0.1 nanagram) of TCDD. Nelson believes that even smaller amounts (1 femtogram) can be measured by immunological techniques. He suggested that red blood cells should be stored since hemoglobin has proved to be an effective long-term adsorbant for a variety of chemicals. 5. The morality study, as expected, is showing a death rate below that for the U.S. population control and equal among Ranch Handers and their Air Force controls. Analysis of causes of death is not yet complete and, in any event, the numbers are very small, limiting the significance of differences (all P's equal to or greater than 0.05). 6. Only 3 Ranch Handers have died from malignant neoplasms, less than half the rate among controls; 5 died of gastrointestinal diseases, more than twice the rate among controls. Three participants are 5 year post-operative survivors of testicular carinoma but the code has not been broken to determine whether they are in the exposed or the control cohort. �7. No chloracne has been observed. Selikoff said that 50 percent (sic) of the the chemical workers at Nitro who had cloracne initially still had it 30 years later and that this indicates severe exposure; laborers who cleared a dump site at Jacksonville, Arkansas, had no chloracne. 8. An attempt is being made to develop an exposure index for Agent Orange. The Ranch Banders include individuals who were exposed to 320,000 to 1 million gallons of all herbicides a maximum to 100 gallons as a minimum. 9. Of 1,265 Ranch Banders, 22 were killed in action, 38 are dead of other causes, and 1,205 were alive on December 31, 1981. The search for these has resulted in 1,160 cooperative participants, 39 who refused participation, and 6 who are still not located. The corresponding numbers for controls are 1,149, 81, and 10. Of the Ranch Banders it is anticipated that 90 percent will complete the examination at best, 75 percent at worst; for controls the percentages are 82 and 65. Lack of time and interest is the most common reason given for refusal. 10. The immunology testing of a subset of 600 participants was discussed at length. The Air Force has not included skin tests as unreliable or dangerous; Selikoff believes that the decision should be reconsidered. 11. Among laboratory tests, BDL is the least reliable, although BUN, total and conjugated bilirabins are also poor,. Electrophoresis studies are also variable but this was shown to be within the accepted limits of general experience. 12. The study remains on schedules Mortality results will be available in March, 1983; an interim report on morbidity in April to June 1983* The next Committee meeting will be in March, 1983, to consider the mortality data and perhaps the exposure index determinations. \ ••.<.,*<:< ''O. & LAWRENCE B. HOBSON, M.D., Ph.D. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange Description An account of the resource The Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange comprises 120 linear feet and spans the late 1800s to 2005; however, the bulk of the coverage is from the 1960s to the 1980s and there are many undated items. The collection was donated to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1985 by Dr. Alvin L. Young (1942- ). Dr. Young developed the collection as he conducted extensive research on the military defoliant Agent Orange. The collection is in good condition and includes letters, memoranda, books, reports, press releases, journal and newspaper clippings, field logs and notebooks, newsletters, maps, booklets and pamphlets, photographs, memorabilia, and audiotapes of an interview with Dr. Young. For more about this collection, <a href="/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/alvin-l--young-collection-on-a">view the Agent Orange Exhibit.</a> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Box The box containing the original item. 058 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1566 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries III Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hobson, Lawrence B. Description An account of the resource Corporate Author: Veterans Administration Title A name given to the resource Memorandum: from Clinical Assistant (102A) to Acting Dir. Agent Orange Projects Office (10A7), with subject Ranch Hand, Advisory Committee, September 28, 1982. Subject The topic of the resource Air Force Health Study Ranch Hand crew VA ao_seriesIII https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/files/original/02cd35ede6a71fe70b790d60f56ff2b0.pdf 1896e1c439ce288ab2caac47c177a4c2 PDF Text Text Item ID Number °1618 Author Hobson, Lawrence B. Corporate Author RODOrt/ArtlClO TltlB Memorandum: Request for Contract Negotiation with Dr. Michael L. Gross for Dioxin Assays in Human Fat, from Lawrence B. Hobson to Director, Supply Service, January 30, 1979 Journal/Book Title Year 000 ° Month/Day Color Number of Imauos D 12 Doscrlpton Notes Wednesday, June 06, 2001 Page 1619 of 1688 �January 30, 1979 Director, Supply Service (134C) Deputy ACMD for Research and Development (ISA) Request for Contract Negotiation with Dr. Michael L. Gross for Dioxin Assays in Human Fat 1. Please negotiate a contract with Michael L. Gross, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68583. This is to cover 20 assays for dioxin content of human fat samples to be submitted to him by the Veterans Administration. Dr. Gross has agreed to conduct these assays for $525 per sample for a total of $10,500. 2. The assay in question is a highly sensitive one detecting parts per trillion of dioxin and as such it requires specialized techniques and equipment. Dr. Gross is able to conduct the assays for so low a sum because he is already engaged in a series of determinations for the EPA. This means that he does not have to assemble equipment, standardize the method, and so on. 3. Attached are the answers to the required 20 questions and the briefing slip. There is also included a Protocol for submission with answers to the questions. LAWRENCE B. HOBSON, M.D., Ph.D. Attachments CO • •rla-7 AP*". 0 3 2 0. �BRIEFING DOCUMENT Contractor; Contract: Michael L. Gross, Ph.D. Department of Chemistry University of Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska 68588 Dioxin in Human Tissue; new contract. R&D Contact; Dr. Lawrence B. Hobson Deputy ACMD for Research & Development (ISA) Purpose; This is a contract with an analytical chemist to perform a series of scout assays comparing the dioxin content, if any is detectible, in the abdominal wall fat of veterans exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam with the dioxin content, if detectible, in the fat of veterans who were not in Vietnam and had no known military exposure to Agent Orange. History: Public pressure to detect dioxin and compensate veterans for damage supposedly produced by defoliant agents containing small amounts of the chemical has culminated in claims that the material is retained indefinitely in human fat. The quantities, if any material is retained, would be extremely minute and the first question is whether they can be detected. To answer this, the most sensitive available assay will be used to examine fat from 20 veteran volunteers. Ten (10) will have been exposed and usually will claim continuing or late effects from the agent. Ten (10) volunteer control patients who were not in Vietnam but are matched by age, sex, and place of residence will have fat removed at an operation done for medical reasons, e.g., appendectomy. The necessary operations will be performed in VA medical centers. Justification; (1) Public pressure is the primary impetus for the study. If dioxin can be detected only in veterans exposed in Vietnam routine assays could be used as proof of exposure. If somewhat more dioxin is found in exposed veterans a larger series would be necessary to establish a significant difference. (2) Suspicion that the VA is biased against finding dioxin only in veterans exposed to it in Vietnam led to a • AP" C013 �decision to use a non-Federal analytical laboratory. Very few chemists are now conducting dioxin assays by the specialized chromatography-mass spectrography method arranged to detect dioxin in parts per trillion. (3) Dr. Michael L. Gross is currently assaying for dioxin for the EPA and is recommended by that agency as the best qualified analist. As a research contract, this one does not require an'RFP. The figure of $525 per assay is low since Dr. Gross already is performing the assays for EPA and does not have to make separate standardizations, etc. Costs and Schedules: This is a new contract. Current FY Costs 1979 $10,500 Future Total 1980 1 year 0 $10,500 Comments; Should the results suggest a significant difference between veterans exposed to defoliants and the controls, more cases will have to be studied. This would require an extension of the contract with additional funding. AP*"6G14 �Problem on Project 1. Dioxin in Human Tissue. The contract is for highly sensitive assays of the dioxin content in abdominal wall fat of veterans exposed to Agent Orange, a defoliant, in Vietnam and, for comparison, in fat from veterans who were not in Vietnam and had no known military exposure to Agent Orange. 2. It is not known whether dioxin persists in human fat over a decade or more. Nor is it known whether it causes a problem if it does. 3. Lack of knowledge as to the persistence of dioxin can encourage continuing claims of damage from the chemical. 4. Not relevant. 5. The dioxin assays are to be done on biopsy specimens from veteran volunteers, 10 with exposure to Agent Orange and 10 without known exposure. The biopsies will be performed in VA medical centers to obtain the fat for assay. The assay results are critical as the only data to be obtained. 6. The VA could probably conduct the assays. Veterans groups charge, however, that the VA might bias the results and so a non-Federal assay laboratory was sought. Dr. Michael L. Gross, chemist at the University of Nebraska, was chosen over other analists on recommendation of the EPA as having the most sensitive, precise, and dependable assay. 7. Not relevant. 8. Results of the assays should disclose whether dioxin can be detected in the fat of men exposed to Agent Orange and whether it can also be detected in matched veterans who were not. If the chemical is present only in the exposed veterans, the test can be used to prove exposure. If there seems to be more dioxin in exposed veterans but it occurs in both groups, this scout experiment would have to be extended to determine whether the difference is continuous and significant. If no dioxin is detected (in parts per trillion) it would suggest that current claims for its persistence are unfounded. �Equipment and Skills 9. Equipment lack is no problem. 10. Skills required are those of an organic analytic chemist experienced in the specific assay for dioxin by the specialized gas-liquid-chromatograph-mass-spectrophotometric technique for halogenated polycyclic compounds. Personnel 11. For this scout experiment, qualified VA personnel would not be suitable if available because of the public fear of bias. 12. The surgeons who will biopsy the abdominal fat of exposed veteran volunteers and the surgeons who remove a small amount of fat from selected volunteers undergoing an abdominal operation for other reasons, e.g., appendicitis, are the only VA personnel directly involved in conducting the trial. Minimal clerical time will be required for mailing the 20 specimens. 13. The chemist is a full-time faculty member at the University of Nebraska and the small number of assays would not justify hiring him. 14. See question 6. Dr. Michael L. Gross, according to the EPA, is best qualified and already is performing assays for that agency. A considerable number of other organic chemists could perform the assays but would require time and money to "tool up" and standardize the procedure. Firms 15. Not relevant. Cost of Contract and Funds 16. & 17. Estimated cost is $10,500 to be paid from Medical Research funds. �Attachments 18. "Tentative Protocol for Dioxin Content of Fat in Vietnam and Non-Vietman Veterans." 19. ~ Automated Data Processing 20. Not relevant. AP'~ CG17 �TENTATIVE PROTOCOL FOR DIOXIN CONTENT OF FAT IN VIETNAM AND NON-VIETNAM VETERANS PURPOSE; To compare the dioxin content in abdominal wall fat of veterans presumed to be exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam with the dioxin content in the fat of veterans who were not in Vietnam and had no known contact with Agent Orange. SUBJECTS: Initially, 10 men will be included in each of two groups: (a) the experimental group composed of fonner servicemen who were in areas of Vietnam within 6 months of defoliation by spraying with Agent Orange and (b) the control group of former servicemen who never served in Vietnam and who never had known contact with Agent Orange during their military service. Each subject in the experimental group will be matched with a control subject who is resident in the same state, and who lives in the. urban or rural environment, and who is within 5 years of his age. Each experimental subject will have a biopsy of the abdominal Vail to obtain a fat sample or the sample will be obtained at laparotomy for another purpose. Each control subject will have a fat sample taken during laparotomy for a medical indication. SAMPLING TECHNIQUES: During the biopsy or at the start of laparotomy, the surgeon will obtain a specimen of fat, weighing about 10 grams, from the anterior abdominal wall. This corresponds to a volume of about one cubic inch. The specimen-may be obtained using local or general anesthesia and there is no restriction on premedication or agents for induction. The one substance that will interfere with the analysis for dioxin and is likely to be encountered during surgery is hexachlorophene (contained in Pre-op and Pre-op Plus Scrub Sponge [Davis & Geek], pHisoHex [Winthrop], Presulin Cleanser [Schieffelin], and Soy-Dome Cleanser [Dome]). Hexachlorophene should be avoided in surgical scrubs, �pre-operative preparation, and Instrument sterilization prior to obtaining the fat specimen.. The specimen should be placed in a test tube that has been rinsed twice with reagent grade acetone and allowed to dry. The tube should be closed with a cork also twice rinsed with acetone. These rinses renove interfering compounds. Plastics are intrinsically contaminating and should not be allowed to touch the specimen. Each tube will be labeled with ( ) the patient's name and SSN, 1 (2) the hospital name, and (3) the date. The test tube can be stored in a deep freeze until shipment. It should be sent air freight in a shipping tube filled with dry ice to Dr. Michael Lawrence Gross Professor of Chemistry Department of Chemistry University of Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska 68588 The material should be shipped on a Monday so that delivery will not bo attempted on the weekend. INFORMATION SHEET; A separate Information Sheet will be completed on the day of biopsy for each subject. One copy should be mailed to Another copy should be placed in the subject's medical record. The Sheet will contain data for (1) identification of the subject, (2) location of subject's residence, age, and occupation, (3) military exposure to Agent Orange including place, duration, date, and nature of exposure, (A) known exposure to chemical herbicides apart from military experience, including name of herbicide, place, duration or frequency, date, and nature of .'••••• • ' AP -0019 �exposure, (5) symptoms or conditions (past or present) that patient ascribes to Agent Orange, (6) current diagnosis or diagnoses, (7) operation performed, (8) pre-operative medication, agents for induction, and anesthetic used, (9) date, (10) informant. INFORMED CONSENT; Each experimental subject and each control patient will have the procedure and its purpose explained to him. He will then be asked to sign the consent documents which will be placed in his medical record prior to the biopsy. DIOXIN • 'ASSAY: Dr. Gross will analyze an aliquot of each specimen for its - ' " ' " " -••'•' / dioxin content. Another aliquot will be analyzed if dioxin is found in the first. Standards will be analyzed as necessary to assure accuracy and precision. L.B.Hobson 8/3/78 ' " • " ' • • -' AP" 0 2 00 �TENTATIVE PROTOCOL FOR DIOXIN CONTENT OF FAT IN VIETNAM AND NON-VIETNAM VETERANS PURPOSE; To compare the dioxin content in abdominal wall fat of veterans presumed to be exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam with the dioxin content in the fat of veterans who were not in Vietnam and had no known contact with Agent Orange. SUBJECTS; Initially, 10 men will be included in each of two groups: (a) the experimental group composed of former servicemen who were in areas of Vietnam within 6 months of defoliation by spraying with Agent Orange and (b) the control group of former servicemen who never served in Vietnam and who never had known contact with Agent Orange during their military service. Each subject in the experimental group will be matched with a control subject who is resident in the same state, and who lives in the. urban or rural environment, and who is within 5 years of his age. Each experimental subject will have a biopsy of the abdominal vail to obtain a fat sample or the sample will be obtained at laparotomy for another purpose. Each control subject will have a fat sample taken during laparotomy for a medical indication. SAMPLIKR TECHNIQUES; During the biopsy or at the start of laparotomy, the surgeon will obtain a specimen of fat, weighing about 10 grams, from the anterior abdominal wall. This corresponds to a volume of about one cubic inch. The specimen1 may be obtained using local or general anesthesia and there is no restriction on premedication or agents for induction. The one substance that will interfere with the analysis for dioxin and is likely to be encountered during surgery is hexachlorophene (contained in Pre-op and Pre-op Plus Scrub Sponge [Davis & Geek], pHisoHex [Winthrop], Presulin Cleanser [Schieffelin], and Soy-Dome Cleanser [Dome]). Hexachlorophene should be avoided in surgical scrubs, �pre-operative preparation, and instrument sterilization prior to obtaining the fat specimen.. The specimen should be placed in a test tube that has been rinsed twice with reagent grade acetone and allowed to dry. The tube should be closed with a cork also twice rinsed with acetone. These rinses remove interfering compounds. Plastics are intrinsically contaminating and should not be allowed to touch the specimen. Each tube will be labeled with (1) the patient's name and SSN, (2) the hospital name, and (3) the date. The test tube can be stored in a deep freeze until shipment. It should be sent air freight in a shipping tube filled with dry ice to Dr. Michael Lawrence Gross Professor of Chemistry Department of Chemistry University of Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska 68588 The material should be shipped on a Monday so that delivery will not be attempted on the weekend. INFORMATION SHEET; A separate Information Sheet will be completed on the day of biopsy for each subject. One copy should be mailed to Another copy should be placed in the subject's medical record. The Sheet will contain data for (1) identification of the subject, (2) location of subject's residence, age, and occupation, (3) military exposure to Agent Orange including place, duration, date, and nature of exposure, (A) known exposure to chemical herbicides apart from military experience, including name of herbicide, place, duration or frequency, date, and nature of �exposure, (5) symptoms or conditions (past or present) that patient ascribes to Agent Orange, (6) current diagnosis or diagnoses, (7) operation performed, (8) pre-operative medication, agents for induction, and anesthetic used, (9) date, (10) informant. INFORMED CONSENTt Each experimental subject and each control patient will have the procedure and its purpose explained to him. He will then be asked to sign the consent documents which will be placed in his medical record prior to the biopsy. DIOXIN ASSAY; Dr. Gross will analyze an aliquot of each specimen for its dioxin content. Another aliquot will be analyzed if dioxin is found in the first. Standards will be analyzed as necessary to assure accuracy and precision. L.B.Hobson 8/3/78 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange Description An account of the resource The Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange comprises 120 linear feet and spans the late 1800s to 2005; however, the bulk of the coverage is from the 1960s to the 1980s and there are many undated items. The collection was donated to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1985 by Dr. Alvin L. Young (1942- ). Dr. Young developed the collection as he conducted extensive research on the military defoliant Agent Orange. The collection is in good condition and includes letters, memoranda, books, reports, press releases, journal and newspaper clippings, field logs and notebooks, newsletters, maps, booklets and pamphlets, photographs, memorabilia, and audiotapes of an interview with Dr. Young. For more about this collection, <a href="/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/alvin-l--young-collection-on-a">view the Agent Orange Exhibit.</a> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Box The box containing the original item. 060 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1618 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries III Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hobson, Lawrence B. Title A name given to the resource Memorandum: Request for Contract Negotiation with Dr. Michael L. Gross for Dioxin Assays in Human Fat, from Lawrence B. Hobson to Director, Supply Service, January 30, 1979 Subject The topic of the resource VA Dioxin Fat Assay Study study protocol ao_seriesIII https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/files/original/036be05dc4cd3fdd8eaa8a36cf10f8a5.pdf b5aaba201be3dd714ae000c41daa2648 PDF Text Text Item ID Number 0162 Author Hobson, Lawrence B. 4 Corporate Author Memorandum: Work to be Performed by Dr. Gross on Dioxin, from Lawrence B. Hobson to J.R. Ryan, April 6, 1979 Journal/Book Title Year 000 ° Month/Day Color ^ Number of Images 1 Descriptor! Notes Wednesday, June 06, 2001 Page 1625 of 1688 �April 6, 1979 Mr. J. R. Ryan Supply Service ( 3 C 14) Deputy ACMD for Research and Development (15A) Work to be performed by Dr. Gross on Dloxln 1. The contract with Dr. Gross of the University of Nebraska should indicate that he will complete the quantitative analysis for diozia on twenty specimens of human fat sent to him by various representatives of the Veterans Administration and should forward the results of the assays to Dr. Lyndon Lee, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Washington, D.C. 2. I do not believe that we should attempt to characterize the assay methods to be used by Dr. Gross since he is the outstanding expert in this area and will be using his standard assay techniques. LAURENCE B. HOBSON, M.D., Ph.D. LBHobson:LL ISA ,> 4/6/79 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange Description An account of the resource The Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange comprises 120 linear feet and spans the late 1800s to 2005; however, the bulk of the coverage is from the 1960s to the 1980s and there are many undated items. The collection was donated to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1985 by Dr. Alvin L. Young (1942- ). Dr. Young developed the collection as he conducted extensive research on the military defoliant Agent Orange. The collection is in good condition and includes letters, memoranda, books, reports, press releases, journal and newspaper clippings, field logs and notebooks, newsletters, maps, booklets and pamphlets, photographs, memorabilia, and audiotapes of an interview with Dr. Young. For more about this collection, <a href="/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/alvin-l--young-collection-on-a">view the Agent Orange Exhibit.</a> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Box The box containing the original item. 060 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1624 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries III Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hobson, Lawrence B. Title A name given to the resource Memorandum: Work to be Performed by Dr. Gross on Dioxin, from Lawrence B. Hobson to J.R. Ryan, April 6, 1979 Subject The topic of the resource VA Dioxin Fat Assay Study study protocol ao_seriesIII https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/files/original/0998d73416f2ad3cdb61e5bbad12d9d8.pdf 0532a296acdeea7d98f8f199a3d434a5 PDF Text Text Item ID Number 01 628 Hobson, Lawrence B. Corporate Author ROpOrt/ArtlClB TltlO Memorandum: Dioxin Assay Contract with Michael Gross, from Lawrence B. Hobson to J.R. Ryan, June 15, 1979 Journal/Book Title Yoar 000 ° Month/Day Color Number of Images D 6 DescNpton Notes Wednesday, June 06, 2001 Page 1629 of 1688 �June 15, 1979 Mr. J. fc. Ryan (134C) Deputy ACMD for Research and Development (ISA) Dloxin Assay Contract with Michael Gross, Ph.D. 1. This contract will be paid by Medical Research Program Funds 1001-821-101-2580 3906.0(06 601101.1) CP 102 In initiating the research on the level of dioxin in fat tissue Dr. Michael Gross, University of Nebraska, was selected to do the assays, using the most sensitive, analytic method available. He agreed to do so and a contract was requested. In the meantime, Dr. Lyndon Lee was authorized to solicit volunteers who would be biopsied to obtain fat samples. These samples were sent to Dr. Gross for subsequent assay. 2. The sensitive analysis used is best done on a large group of samples rather than on individual samples as they are received. Dr. Gross therefore said that when samples arrived he would hold them all to be assayed at one time. He was not authorised to proceed with the assay prior to the receipt and conclusion of the contract. 3. My information is that when the contract documents arrived Dr. Gross did not complete and return them immediately to us but rather at some point in time while he had them in his possession proceeded with some of the assays. This procedures was not specifically authorized at any time nor were we informed that the contract had not been completed and that he was proceeding with the assays. Under these circumstances, it seems essential that we compensate Dr. Gross for the work that he has done as well as for the work he will do in the future. LAWRENCE B. HOBSON, M.D., Ph.D. 15A LBHobsonrLL 6/15/79 �VETERANS ADMINISTRATION REFERENCE SLIP TO (Name or title-Hail muting symbol) INITIALS-DATE i. Dr. Hobson ISA 2. 3. 4. 5. REASON FOR REFERENCE £] AS REQUESTED I_J FOR YOUR FILES 1 [_J INFORMATION LJ PER CONVERSATION LJ NECESSARY ACTION |_J SIGNATURE 1 COMMENTS |_J CONCURRENCE 1 1 NOTE AND RETURN REMARKS Subject: Authorization for Study (Dioxin Assays in Human Fats - Agent Orange) Mr. Ryan, Supply Service, 2577, Rm. 754, informs us that the cost of the proposal for the subject study to be done by Michael Gross, Ph.D., Lincoln, Nebr., is $10,000. What appropriation will be used? Mr. Ryan needs a Form 2237. TEU. SXT. VA FORM AUG 1976 EXISTING STOCKS OF VA FORM 3230, OCT 19SS, WILL BE USED WU.S. Qo«rnm«n« PrlntllK Of*lM l»7»-2«»-*4f �:• C£ c '' 1 E: e o- N-" SOLICITATION, OFFER i *ND AWARD 1 CONTRACT lf*oc I*U lotfi! 1 NO ~',-.. Dt =fc\£F•.».;«- r ? : - R E : - • * - ?- J-.'i SEC ' i C*OL 1 RATING I 0- ' 18 ! SOLICITATION NO Q ADVERTISED ilfB ~ ISSUED ev Veterans Administratel Procurement Division 810 Vermont Avenue, N.If. Washington, D.C. 204213 4/25/79 3 NEGOTIATED '**?< [ coot (134C) 6 ADDRESS OFFER TO HI otter ihsn 6/oc* 7; fn tonnnttt procuwwti o"»r *ntf "ottttot vtii ot comtiufo to m9tr> O'd *r><? (vow SOLICITATION 9. -Seeled offers in original and .' Q copies for furnishing the supplies or services in the Schedule win be received at the place specified in block 8. or ifhtndcamed. in th, *,aos,,en, loema ,„ ':" ^ 75 ^_ 2:0 ° P'ny,. locH »m. ,.mii 5/16/79 If this Is <n idvertiied toliciution, offers will be publicly opened «t that time. CAUTION -LATE OFfERS: See pan. 7 and Sol Solicitation instructions *nd Condition!. All offers ire lubjeci to the folio wing: 1. The Solicitation Inttructiom »nd Conditions, SF 33-A1— JL28__»_ 3. The Schedule included herein and/or attached hereto. edition which is attached or incorporated herein by reference. 2. The General Provisions. SF 39 4-75 4. Such other provisions, representations, certifications, and specifications .rim™ which is at are attached or incorporated herein by reference. attached or incorporated herein by reference. Mrtae/imencc art listed in tehtdule.l rofiiNfOf<UATiONCAi.LiNam&Hinaontao.>(NocoHKia/M* J.R. Ryan 202-389-2577/2966 SCHEDULE 12. QUANTITY 13 UNIT 1 11 SUPPUES/SERVICES to ITEM NO Svc Dioxin A»s«y> in Human Fats . U UNIT MICE IS AMOUNT 5ft co/mrXMlJOn of scfMtfu'* on tHO* * OFFER (pages 2 ana 3 must il&o be tally completed t>y olttmr) In compliance with the above, the undertiQned agrees, if this offer is accepted within ^ calendar days fo*0 C9ltndtr dmys vff/ecr « dUftrtnt pttiod is inamd by the offtmtl from the date for receipt of offers specified above, to furnish any or all items upon which prices are offered at the price set opposite each item, delivered at the designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule. l*i DISCOUNT FOfl MIOMPT PAYMENtTSM 0«r' 9. Sf &•*! «, 10 CALENDAR OAVS. CODE [ 17. OFFEROR NAME AND p IM2IPCUHI [_ AREA CODE AND TE1 ' «• W CALENDAR DAYS. 1 % X CALENDAR OAVS. CALENDAR DAYS 18 NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN OFFER (Typf Of print 1 FACILITY CODE 1 Michael L. Gross, Ph.D. Department of Chemistry University of Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska 68588 1« SIGNATURE 20 OFt-ER DATE n GftfC* it iwnmtna Mdrtu if tfi/ft r*nr from «60w — tmtr tuCH •dorvxi (ft Scrwuto 1 AWARD I To be completed by Qovernment) 21 ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS NUMBERED 22 AMOUNT 25 NEGOTIATED CUniUAMT TO 24 SUBMIT INVOICES 14 coptl unMIl orMnnw tptalKKtl TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN ""-"-K x 23 ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA ... . ...,.-- » AOMINlSTi RED BY CODE //r ori>f r rfti 10 U.S.C 23WHI I — 41USC2H.cn 1 1 0 27 PAYMENT WILL SC MADE BY i.3 CODE F iscal Offic er Veterans Ada Lnistratioa 810 Vermont <ive., NH » NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER 1 TIM or onnll >C 90i7n 29. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 30 AWACIO DATE BY J& . . RYAN (Signature of contnclifig officer) Awiro witt ot fn«o*e on f)ix torn Qr on Sttngtra form K. or OY ottttt oiticiti M" iff n rtocc* 33-131 Standard Form 33 Page 1 (REV 3-77) PrMCrtbed by QSA, FPft (41 CFR) 1-16.101 AP "0027 �REPRESENTATIONS. CERTIFICATION'S AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS REPRESENTATIONS (Check or complete all applicable boxes or blocks.! The offerer represents as part of his offer that: 1. SMALL BUSINESS /See par. 14 on SF 33-A.I He D is, D is not, a small business concern. If offerer is a small business concern »nd is not the manufacturer of the supplies offered. h« also represents that all supplies to be furnished hereunder G will, O will not, be manufacturer^ or produced by * small business concern in the United States, its possessions, or Puerto Rico. 2. MINORITY BUSINESS. ENTERPRISE He Q is. D is not, a minority business enterprise. A minority business enterprise is defined as a "business, at least'50 percent of which is owned by minority group members or,in case of publicly owned businesses, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by minority group members." For the purpose of this definition, minority group members are Negroes, Spanish-speaking American persons, American-Orientals, American-Indians, American Eskimos, and American-Aleuts. 3. REGULAR DEALER - MANUFACTURER (Applicable only to supply contracts exceeding $10.000.) He is a Q regular dealer in O manufacturer of, the supplies offered. 4. CONTINGENT FEE (See par. IS on SF 33-A.I .. . (a) He O has, D has not, employed or retained any company or persons (other than a full-time bona fide employee working solely for the offerer! to solicit or secure this contract, and (b) he Q has, O has not, paid or agreed to pay any company or person (other than a fulltime bona fide employee working solely for the offerorl any fee, commission, percentage, or brokerage fee contingent upon or resulting from the award of this contract; and agrees to furnish information relating to (ai and (bl above, as requested by the Contracting Officer. (Interpretation of the representation, including the term "bont fide employee." see Code of Federal Regulations. Title 41, Subpart 1-1.5.1 6. TYPE OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATION He operates as Q an individual, Q a partnership, G a nonprofit organization, D a corporation, incorporated under the laws of the State of. 6. AFFILIATION AND IDENTIFYING DATA (Applicable only to advertised solicitations.I Each offeror shall complete (a) and (b) if applicable, and (c) below: (a) He Q is, D it not, owned or controlled by a parent company. /See par. 16 on SF 33-A.I (b) If the offeror is owned or controlled by a parent company, he shall enter in the blocks below the name and main office address of the parent company: NAME Of PARENT COMPANY AND MAIN OFFICE ADDRESS (Cl EMPLOYERS IDENTIFICATION NUMBEHlSff MB itoaSfn-ti OFfEflOflSt.l NO. wr. COMPANY £./. MO. 7. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY (a) He O has, O has not, participated in a previous contract or subcontract subject either to the Equal Opportunity clause herein or the clause originally contained in section 301 of Executive Order No. 10925, or the clause contained in Section 201 of Executive Order No. 11114; that he D has, D has not. filed all required compliance reports: and that representations indicating submission of required compliance reports, signed by proposed subcontractors, will be obtained prior to subcontract awards. (The above representation need not be submitted in connection with contracts or subcontracts which are exempt from the equal opportunity clause.) (b| The bidder (or offeror) represents that (1) he O has developed and has on file, D has not developed and does not have on file, at each establishment affirmative action programs as required by the rules and regulations of the Secretary of Labor (41 CFR 60-1 and 60-2) or (2) he D has not previously had contracts subject to the written affirmative action programs requirement of the rules and regulations of the Secretary bf Labor. (The above representation shall be completed by each bidder lor offerorl whose aid (offer! is $50.000 or more and who has 50 or more employees.) Q " ''CERTjFICATIQfjIS (Check ^co^eteaff applicable boxes of b/ocksl^ t u . ^ ,, ^- 1. BUY AMERICAN CERTIFICATE The offeror certifies as part of his offer, that: each end product, except the end products listed below, is a domestic end product (as defined in the clause entitled "Buy American Act"); and that components of unknown origin have been considered to have been mined, produced, or manufactured outside the United States. EXCLUDED CNO PRODUCTS COUNTRY OF ORIGIN Sundvd Form 33 Pag* 2 (REV. 3-771 AP~"0028 �2. CLEAN AIR AND WATER (Applicable if the bid or offer exceeds $100.000 or the contracting officer has determined that orders under ar, indefinite quantity contract in any year will exceed $100,000, or a facility to be used has been the subject of a conviction under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 185?c8tcl(l)l or the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 133 U.S.C. 1319/cll and is listed by EPA. or is not otherwise exempt.) The bidder or offerer certifies as follows: (a) Any facility to be utilized in the performance of this proposed contract O has, D has not, been listed on the Environmental Protection Agency List of Violating Facilities. (bl He will promptly notify the contracting officer, prior to award of the receipt of any communication from the Director. Office of Federal Activities, Environmental Protection Agency, indicating that any facility which he proposes to use for the performance of the contract is under consideration to be listed on the EPA list of Violating Facilities. (c) He will include substantially this certification, including this paragraph (cl. in every nonexempt subcontract. 3. CERTIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT PRICE DETERMINATION (Seepar. 18on SF 33-AI (a) By submission of this offer, the offerer certifies, and in the case of a joint offer, each party thereto certifies as to its own organization, that in connection with this procurement: (1) The prices in this offer have been arrived at independently, without consultation, communication, or agreement, for the purpose of restricting competition, as to any matter relating to such prices with any other offeror or with any competitor; (2) Unless otherwise required by law, the prices which have been quoted in this offer have not been knowingly disclosed by the offeror and will not knowingly be disclosed by the offeror prior to opening in the case of an advertised procurement or prior to award in the case of a negotiated procurement, directly or indirectly to any other offeror or to any competitor; and (3) No attempt has been made or will be made by the offeror to induce any other person or firm to submit or not to submit an offer for that purpose of restricting competition. <b| Each person signing this offer certifies that: (1) He is the person in the offerer's organization responsible within that organization for the decision as to the prices being offered herein and that he has not participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to (aid) through (a)(3). above; or (2) (i) He is not the person in the offerer's organization responsible within that organization for the decision as to the prices being offered herein but that he has been authorized in writing to act as agent for the persons responsible for such decision in certifying that such persons have not participated and will not participate, in any action contrary to (aid) through (a)(3) above, and as their agent does hereby to certify; and (ii) he has not participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to <a)(1) through (a)(3) above. 4. CERTIFICATION OF NONSEGREGATED FACILITIES (Applicable to III contracts, (2) subcontracts, md (31 agreements with applicants who are themselves performing federally assisted construction contracts, exceeding SW.OOO which are not exempt from the provisions of the Equal Opportunity clause./ By the submission of this bid, the bidder, offeror, applicant, or subcontractor certifies that he does not maintain or provide for his employees any segregated facilities at any of hit establishments, and that he does not permit his employees to perform their services at any location under his control, where segregated facilities are maintained. He certifies further that he will not maintain or provide for his employees any segregated facilities at any of his establishments, and that he will not permit his employees to perform their services at any location, under his control, where segregated facilities are maintained. The bidder, offeror, applicant, or subcontractor agrees that a breach of this certification it a violation of the Equal Opportunity clause in this contract. As used in this certification, the term "segregated facilities" means •ny waiting rooms, work areas, rest rooms and wash rooms, restaurants and other eating areas, time clocks, locker rooms and other storage or dressing areas, parking lots, drinking fountains, recreation or entertainment.areas, transportation, and housing facilities provided for employees which are segregated by explicit directive or are in fact segregated on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin, because of habit, local custom, or otherwise. He further agrees that (except where he has obtained identical certifications from proposed subcontractors for specific time periods) he will obtain identical certifications from proposed subcontractors prior to the award of subcontracts exceeding $10,00d which are not exempt from'the provisions'of the Equal. Opportunity clause; that he will retain such certifications. In his files; and that he will forward .the'following notice to such proposed subcontractors (except where the proposed subcontractors have submitted identical certifications for specific time periods!:""" . . . . . ' • Notice to prospective subcontractor* of requirement for certif icationj of nonsegregated f»cilitie«. '•'• ' - ' •• ' ; '.-' . * Certification of Nonsegregated Facilities mutt be submitted prior'to the award of a subcontract exceeding $10,000 which is not exempt from the provisions of the Equal Opportunity clause. The certification may be submitted either for each subcontract or for all subcontracts during a period (if.,-quarterly; semiannually,-or annually). NOTE: The penalty for making false often is prescribed in 18 U.&C1001. =.,,. . . , . . . „ " . . , . - . - . ' . - ...-.1,.,..,1 ... ' r ...,..". : " : • '' •^ AMENDMENT NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS Tht olltior Kknowltdgn rtcupt 01 .amend- . m«ni lo tht Solicitation <or offers and rilattd documtnu numMrid and dattd as fellowi: v.'; '.• ^ .. •. WTE ' ':' ' - ' ..• : :•• i.l •' 5- AMENDMENT NO . '.. .' •:.-... • • • DATE : HOTS: Offers must set forth full, accurate and complete information as required by this Solicitation (including attachments!. The penalty for making fa/st statements in offers is prescribed in 1SU.S.C. 1001. '~ • ' •"'' ^ SUnoird Form 33 P*o« 3 (BEV. 3-77T| �SCHEDULE. Coniinutt-on . ITIMNO SUPPLIES SERVICES QUANTITY Contractor will complete the quantitative analysis for dioxin on twenty ( 0 specimens 2) of human fat forwarded to him by selected representatives of the Veterans Administration. Results of the assays will be forwarded to Lyndon Lee, K.D. V.A. Medical Center, W shington, DC 20422 1 . 1 UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT sv ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS V.A. Form 10-1130 (Oct. 1978) is attached hereto and incorporated by reference. 1 . 2. This contract is subject to the Service Cootract act of 1965, As Amened (V.A. Form 10-1312, copy attached) 3. ' This contract is subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act (copy attached) Travel and Perdiem (copy attached) 4 . SPECIAL COlfDinoitS Provisions for Payments; Invoices will cite contract number and be nailed to: 1. Contracting Officer ( 3 C 14) DH&S Supply Service 810 Vermont Ave., BH Wasington, DC 20420 Term of Contract; Term of contract will run rom date of acceptance by the V.A. through Septet)! er 30. 1979. 2. • Representative of the Contracting Officer: D . Lyndon Lee V.A. Media 1 Center Wasington, DC has been designated as the repre entative of the contract ing officer in furnishing technical guidance of the work t be perfo mei under this contract. 3. Only the contracting officer it authorized to i take any « (anents or c! ange> which will effect the price, quantity or quality of elivery t ena . All chanies oust be authorized by the contracting officer within ti e scope e f h • authority in writing. ~ The contractor shall obtain all necessary lice ses and/o r pi raits requi: ed to perform this work. He shall take all precautions nece sary to p roti ct persons i ad property from injury or damage during the performance o this cor trai t. He shal be responsible for any injury to himself, employees, or others, as vei: as for any damage to personal or public property' that occurs during the perfc *«pHi ce of this < on tract that is caused by his or hit employees ' fault r neglige ace // this Schedule is Continued on SF 36. check here^ Q • o.«. oovannmrr Mnrran orncz: tin o - MI-MI imn SUndird form 33 P«g« 4 (REV. 3-77) � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange Description An account of the resource The Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange comprises 120 linear feet and spans the late 1800s to 2005; however, the bulk of the coverage is from the 1960s to the 1980s and there are many undated items. The collection was donated to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1985 by Dr. Alvin L. Young (1942- ). Dr. Young developed the collection as he conducted extensive research on the military defoliant Agent Orange. The collection is in good condition and includes letters, memoranda, books, reports, press releases, journal and newspaper clippings, field logs and notebooks, newsletters, maps, booklets and pamphlets, photographs, memorabilia, and audiotapes of an interview with Dr. Young. For more about this collection, <a href="/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/alvin-l--young-collection-on-a">view the Agent Orange Exhibit.</a> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Box The box containing the original item. 060 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1628 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries III Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hobson, Lawrence B. Title A name given to the resource Memorandum: Dioxin Assay Contract with Michael Gross, from Lawrence B. Hobson to J.R. Ryan, June 15, 1979 Subject The topic of the resource VA Dioxin Fat Assay Study study protocol ao_seriesIII https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/files/original/d1b0d18de39391a5faf0e91c9c2016ab.pdf d07ad70f405e036c7793f4e3b88a9250 PDF Text Text Item ID Number 0163 Author Hobson, Lawrence B. ° Corporate Author Report/Article Title Typescript: Fat Assays for Dioxin, December 14,1979 Journal/Book Title Year Month/Day Color Number of Imeges D 3 Doscrlpton Notes Wednesday, June 06, 2001 Page 1631 of 1688 �Fat Assays for Dioxin Dioxin, the toxic contaminant of Agent Orange, is retained in body fat but it has not been known how long it persists in human fat. Veterans who served in Viet Nam were sometimes in contact with dioxin when Agent Orange was used as an herbicide or defoliant. Batches of Agent Orange differed, however, in how much dioxin they contained, some having none at all, and there is no way to determine the content of any particular batch. Aside from a very few armed forces personnel, troops were last exposed to Agent Orange about ten years ago. The fat of the men would contain very little, if any, dioxin so long after exposure even though the body concentrates the substance there. Earlier chemical methods would not be expected to detect the substance but recent advances in assay techniques make it possible to identify and measure very small amounts of dioxinactually a few parts per trillion in the fat. The Veterans Administration has undertaken a study to determine whether dioxin can be detected in Viet Nam veterans and in Viet Nam era veterans who did not serve in that country. To conduct this work, samples of body fat were removed surgically from 20 volunteers who reported exposure to Agent Orange in Viet Nam, from 10 volunteers who had not been there, and 3 Air Force volunteers (identified as "Ranch hand") with recent known exposure to Agent Orange. A highly skilled analytic chemist, without knowing the source of each sample, assayed the fat using a two-part method. The first part tentatively identified and measured the dioxin, specifically TCDD; the second identified the TCDD more certainly and measured it more precisely. The methods used included careful extraction techniques, gaschromatography and mass spectrometry with stable isotope identification of the substance. The method as a whole is delicate, complicated, and still the subject of study in itself. At present, 3 parts per trillion can be considered the lower limit of detection. The accompanying table summarizes the results as they are available today. "Final Results" are those for samples in which both parts of the assay have been completed; "Tentative Results" are for samples in which only the first part of the method has been done to date and they cannot be considered definite as yet. As an additional check on the assay results, duplicate samples of some fat specimens have been sent to an Environmental Protection Agency laboratory that uses a somewhat different technique. No results are yet available from these assays. AP""CC55 �The results to date have shown that the assay used can detect and measure dioxin in amounts as small as a few parts per trillion and that the substance can be found in some persons whose last exposure was ten years or more earlier. There is no evidence that the presence or the absence of dioxin in body fat correlates with symptoms or abnormalities that could be caused by the substance. The study has made available an additional research tool that will be used in further studies of Agent Orange. Until ill effects can be correlated with the presence of dioxin, the assay has limited clinical usefulness. It demonstrates now only that a person has at some time had contact with substances containing dioxin. The contact may have occurred in fairly recent non-military circumstances, however, since dioxin is found in materials other than Agent Orange. UH 1 * 12/U/79 , �Final Results 22 Veterans Viet Nam Service Symptoms 3/12* No Symptoms 3/4** Total 6/16 No Viet Nam Service 1/6 . 1/6 Tentative Results*** 12 Veterans Viet Nam Service No Viet Nam Service Symptoms 3/7 0/1 No Symptoms 1/1 0/3 Total 4/8 0/4 * Numerator is number of veterans whose fat contained more than 2 parts per trillion above base line; denominator is total of veterans in group ** All 3 of "positive" veterans were Ranch hand *** Results of single unvalidated assay AP""C057 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange Description An account of the resource The Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange comprises 120 linear feet and spans the late 1800s to 2005; however, the bulk of the coverage is from the 1960s to the 1980s and there are many undated items. The collection was donated to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1985 by Dr. Alvin L. Young (1942- ). Dr. Young developed the collection as he conducted extensive research on the military defoliant Agent Orange. The collection is in good condition and includes letters, memoranda, books, reports, press releases, journal and newspaper clippings, field logs and notebooks, newsletters, maps, booklets and pamphlets, photographs, memorabilia, and audiotapes of an interview with Dr. Young. For more about this collection, <a href="/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/alvin-l--young-collection-on-a">view the Agent Orange Exhibit.</a> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Box The box containing the original item. 060 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1630 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries III Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hobson, Lawrence B. Title A name given to the resource Typescript: Fat Assays for Dioxin, December 14, 1979 Subject The topic of the resource VA Dioxin Fat Assay Study ao_seriesIII https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/files/original/51677e302db2f496c884c5e9d56dac1f.pdf 4fc49a9e87fced8588bf4ff5e5487be5 PDF Text Text Item ID Number °1633 Hobson, Lawrence B. Corporate Author ROPOrt/ArtiClB TltlB Typescript: brief overview of the study results, January 22, 1980 Journal/Book Title Year 000 ° Month/Day Color Number of lmanos D 2 Descrlpton Notes Wednesday, June 06, 2001 Page 1634 of 1688 �As you know, the Veterans Administration has undertaken a study to find out whether it is possible, by the most sensitive tests known, to detect and measure dioxin in the body fat of veterans exposed to Agent Orange. That study is completed and the results are fairly definite. Briefly 20 veterans who report that they were exposed to Agent Orange in Viet Nam and who now have trouble they attribute to that exposure volunteered to allow a surgeon to remove fat from their belly wall for the test. Three Air Force officers who have worked long and recently with Agent Orange but who have no ill effects similarly volunteered. Another 11 veterans of the Viet Nam era who were never exposed to Agent Orange agreed that surgeons could take a sample of their fat as "control" when they performed a needed operation. All these men gave informed consent for the procedure. The 34 fat samples were tested by an independent, university chemist who used the most sensitive method known to detect and measure dioxin, the most toxic material in Agent Orange. The method, known as gas chromatography with high resolution mass spectrometry, is still experimental, delicate and tempermental. Despite difficulties with the equipment, the results are now available. The tests show that seven of twenty veterans with Viet Nam service had dioxin in the small amounts of 3 to 89 parts per trillion in their fat. Six others had even smaller amounts and seven had no detectable dioxin at all. The three Air Force �officers, none of whom had symptoms, had 3 or 4 parts per trillion. One of the eleven controls with no known exposure to Agent Orange had 3 parts per trillion, three others had less and seven had none at all. Environmental Protection Agency scientists using different but similar tests on eight duplicate samples have confirmed that these results are reasonable. We can say then that there is a method to detect and measure small amounts of dioxin in body fat but that it is difficult to do. Further, it requires an operation to obtain a fat sample. The test seems to be a research tool rather than a routine procedure. The results suggest that a veteran who had contact with Agent Orange in Viet Nam a decade or more ago may still have minute amounts of dioxin in his fat but if the test fails to detect these small amounts we cannot say that he had no such contact. Similarly, it is unreasonable to say that the presence of dioxin in the fat means that it causes any set of symptoms or, on the other hand, that the absence of dioxin means that current difficulties are not due to it. One thing seems certain and that is that the "ticking time bomb" idea is incorrect. The amounts of dioxin found are far- too small - even if all were released a once - to cause trouble in any manner so far demonstrated. If exposure years ago to dioxin is causing trouble today, it is not due to - and it isn't predicted by - the presence of dioxin in the body fat so far as we know. LBHOBSON ISA 1/22/80 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange Description An account of the resource The Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange comprises 120 linear feet and spans the late 1800s to 2005; however, the bulk of the coverage is from the 1960s to the 1980s and there are many undated items. The collection was donated to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1985 by Dr. Alvin L. Young (1942- ). Dr. Young developed the collection as he conducted extensive research on the military defoliant Agent Orange. The collection is in good condition and includes letters, memoranda, books, reports, press releases, journal and newspaper clippings, field logs and notebooks, newsletters, maps, booklets and pamphlets, photographs, memorabilia, and audiotapes of an interview with Dr. Young. For more about this collection, <a href="/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/alvin-l--young-collection-on-a">view the Agent Orange Exhibit.</a> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Box The box containing the original item. 061 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1633 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries III Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hobson, Lawrence B. Title A name given to the resource Typescript: brief overview of the study results, January 22, 1980 Subject The topic of the resource VA Dioxin Fat Assay Study ao_seriesIII Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange Description An account of the resource The Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange comprises 120 linear feet and spans the late 1800s to 2005; however, the bulk of the coverage is from the 1960s to the 1980s and there are many undated items. The collection was donated to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1985 by Dr. Alvin L. Young (1942- ). Dr. Young developed the collection as he conducted extensive research on the military defoliant Agent Orange. The collection is in good condition and includes letters, memoranda, books, reports, press releases, journal and newspaper clippings, field logs and notebooks, newsletters, maps, booklets and pamphlets, photographs, memorabilia, and audiotapes of an interview with Dr. Young. For more about this collection, <a href="/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/alvin-l--young-collection-on-a">view the Agent Orange Exhibit.</a> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Box The box containing the original item. 061 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1636 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries III Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hobson, Lawrence B. Title A name given to the resource Letter: from Lawrence B. Hobson to Alvin L. Young, March 10, 1980 Subject The topic of the resource VA Dioxin Fat Assay Study ao_seriesIII https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/files/original/ed1dd4f88876fbc75ea517f8966ee17b.pdf 75c437fc70ad4ed5b2e80f4b3581e4de PDF Text Text Item ID Number 01637 Author Hobson, Lawrence B. Corporate Author RBpOrt/ArtiClB TltlB Typescript: TCDD (Dioxin) Content of Human Fat: Progress Report, March 13,1980 Journal/Book Title Year 000 ° Month/Day Color ^ Number of Images 2 Doscrlpton Notes Wednesday, June 06, 2001 Page 1638 of 1688 �TCDD (Dioxin) Content of Human Fat: Progress Report The VA has undertaken a study to determine whether there is a method that can detect minute amounts (in parts per trillion) of 2, 3, 7, 8 tetraclorodibenzo-para-dioxin (TCDD or dioxin) in the body fat of persons claiming exposure to Herbicide Orange and those with no known exposure. Samples of fat were obtained by biopsy from 20 veterans who believe they were exposed to the herbicide in Vietnam and 3 Air Force officers with known close and more recent exposure. Ten veterans who denied exposure had fat biopsies during operations for other disorders. (An eleventh name was entered in the latter group but no biopsy specimen was submitted.) The gas chromatography = high resolution mass spectrometry used at a university laboratory for the sensitive assay proved difficult with the low concentrations encountered but the comparatively large biopsy samples have allowed repeated assays. Duplicate extracts and biopsy samples from 10 veterans were sent to the EPA laboratory which uses a more discriminating gas chromatograph but a lower resolution mass spectrometer. Both laboratories assayed "blinded" samples; both experienced difficulties with the new and delicate techniques. Replication and equipment problems have delayed results. At present, the assay problems have been resolved except for tv1 samples extracted and assayed by EPA scientists. These two gave concentrations that far exceeded any other determinations, results AP"""C085 �thought to be due to contamination. Both laboratories are attempting to resolve the discrepancy. Simultaneously, the exposures to Herbicide Orange reported by the 20 Vietnam veterans are being evaluated to see whether they can be assigned a relative value for the extent of contact. This will allow a comparison of assay results with exposure within the group. The symptoms and signs of the Vietnam veterans have been reviewed and the findings of their clinical chemistries are being tabulated. Correlation of these with the assay results and the exposure evaluations will then be sought. The results to date can be tentatively interpreted as showing that a method does exist to detect minute amounts of TCDD in body fat but it requires samples so large that open biopsy is used and the technique is still too difficult and slow for routine use. The method remains at present a research tool for use with small groups. TCDD has been detected both in individuals claiming exposure to Herbicide Orange and in those with no known exposure. Some in- dividuals in both groups have no TCDD in the fat using methods that can measure as little as one or two parts per trillion. No value to date has been so great as one part per billion even in the two samples with questionably large concentrations. • 2—• 3/13/80 - LBHOBSON AP~"'C'OS'l � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange Description An account of the resource The Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange comprises 120 linear feet and spans the late 1800s to 2005; however, the bulk of the coverage is from the 1960s to the 1980s and there are many undated items. The collection was donated to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1985 by Dr. Alvin L. Young (1942- ). Dr. Young developed the collection as he conducted extensive research on the military defoliant Agent Orange. The collection is in good condition and includes letters, memoranda, books, reports, press releases, journal and newspaper clippings, field logs and notebooks, newsletters, maps, booklets and pamphlets, photographs, memorabilia, and audiotapes of an interview with Dr. Young. For more about this collection, <a href="/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/alvin-l--young-collection-on-a">view the Agent Orange Exhibit.</a> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Box The box containing the original item. 061 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1637 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries III Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hobson, Lawrence B. Title A name given to the resource Typescript: TCDD (Dioxin) Content of Human Fat: Progress Report, March 13, 1980 Subject The topic of the resource VA Dioxin Fat Assay Study ao_seriesIII https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/files/original/d3477de010125998646d5d90f8884651.pdf 8206d1669d313b899e016591ec7f78f5 PDF Text Text Item ID Number °1638 Author Hobson, Lawrence B. Corporate Author Ronort/ArtlCiO TltlU Form: Report of Contact, Fat Biopsies for Dioxin, March 18, 1980 Journal/Book Title Year 000 ° Month/Day Color n Number of Images 4 DOSCrlptOU NOtOS Discusses a telephone conversation between Hobson and a Mr. Schroeter (lawyer for Dow Chemical Co.) regarding the study. Wednesday, June 06, 2001 Page 1639 of 1688 �ttENTirtCATIOM NO* 1C, XC, SS, XSS V, JC, etc.) REPORT OF CONTACT NOTE: TMtform mutt btfJUfd ml in ink or on typewriter, «t it ttcomci m permment record In vetennt' foUen. -WSTI : NAME Of VET8WN (Tfft «r prmt) Mr. Schroeter ADMESS Of VfWtAN Central Office DATE Of CONTACT 3/18/80 TElfmONE NO. OF VETEKAN CONTACTED TYK Of CONTACT (Cluck) AODM3S Of KKSOM CONTACTED LJ HKSONAl LJ TEtffHONE TttEPHONC NO. Of KtSON CONTACTED aATEMCNT Or MFOHMATIONttQMSTEDAND OMN Biopsies for Dioxin On March ISth Mr. Schroeter who introduced himself as a lawyer for DOW Chemical Company in the current hearings for the EPA called to ask me some questions about the fat biopsy study of Agent Orange. He said that he.was disturbed by jthe press releases claiming that the fat biopsy completely invalidated some "bt th6 stand taken by ouWV2,4,5-T. He asked me whether the figures of the blqjlissay had been released and I told him that they had not and that the Administrator had promised the congressional committees not to release the study until 1t had been reviewed by the National Academy of Sciences and some other groups. . He asked me what conclusions we had revealed and I said that we had made public the fact that there were individuals who had been in Vietnam and individuals who toad not been in Vietnam who had very small amounts of TCDD in their fat. There were also individuals who claimed exposure in Vietnam and some who had not been 1n Vietnam who ted no dectable TCDD. He said this was pretty much as he had understood the situation and asked how he could obtain the data when they were released. I told him that I was certain that they would be given to the press and that he could obtain notice there about as rapidly as elsewhere. He asked whether he could call me after the data had been released and I said certainly. No further action is needed at present. DIVISION O« SCCTION .RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FORM . . 0 JUL i IV OUSTING STOCKS Of VA fO*M )1», JUU »«74. WIU It USED- , or Research & Development 0.U.5. G . P . O . 1978-261-143/1538 AP'""C117 �Concentration TCDD Subject Exposure* TCDD Presence Gross I Vietnam Service 1 - **** - **** 5 (3) EPA (#2) $ (JP 6 Gross II** EPA (.Gross extract) _ 2 nd 8 - **** 5 (3) 9 - *** nd (12) nd (3) nd (4) 10 11 + 12 16 35 23 + (2) (4) (9) (4) 2 nd 3 (1) 36 (3) 230 21 17 2 1 9 (3) 13 nd (0.2) nd nd (2 nd (2 13 160 1 3 (2) 12 3 (0.6) 5 14 4 (3) 15 7 (4) 16 nd (4) nd (8) 19 nd nd 15) 3) 24 3 12 (4) 10 (3) 26 11 63 (6) 96 (10) 25 100 173 (1) AP""Cll8 �Concentration TCDD Subject Exposure* TCDD Presence Gross I Gross II ** EPA (Gross extra) EPA (#2) . Vietnam Service (Continued) 27 nd (1 ) nd (6) 8 (6) 28 nd 3 29 7 5 nd (6 13 (5 30 9 (4) nd (3 nd 4 (4) 5 (3) 5 5 (2) 4 4 (1) 2 6 (6) 4 9 (5) 4(4) 6 5 3(2) - 2 nd 17 3(3) 4(3) 2 3 18 nd (4) 20 5(4) 34 — 8 Ranch Hand 2 3 *** 4 3 10 Non-Vietnam - no exposure 5 7 21 _ **** *** 6(3) 20 5 8 3 12 5 2 _ 6(3) 8(2) 31 32 33 *** 3 _ nd(5) 4(4) *** 8 4(2) 7(4) 23 5 7(6) 14(7) (2) — 5 nd(3) �No Biopsy 22 * Exposure as judged by veteran's statements ** Via the absolute intensity of 322 *** Cannot be considered positive because of poor validation (substance detected probably not TCDD) **** Cannot be considered positive because of poor validation and contaminant removed on repeat of analysis TCDD presence (+) or absence (-) evaluated by Dr. Gross; +. indicates + if evaluated as 2.5:1 signal to noise ratio - if evaluated as 3:1 ratio Parenthetic figures are detection limits of individual assay AP C120 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange Description An account of the resource The Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange comprises 120 linear feet and spans the late 1800s to 2005; however, the bulk of the coverage is from the 1960s to the 1980s and there are many undated items. The collection was donated to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1985 by Dr. Alvin L. Young (1942- ). Dr. Young developed the collection as he conducted extensive research on the military defoliant Agent Orange. The collection is in good condition and includes letters, memoranda, books, reports, press releases, journal and newspaper clippings, field logs and notebooks, newsletters, maps, booklets and pamphlets, photographs, memorabilia, and audiotapes of an interview with Dr. Young. For more about this collection, <a href="/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/alvin-l--young-collection-on-a">view the Agent Orange Exhibit.</a> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Box The box containing the original item. 061 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1638 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries III Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hobson, Lawrence B. Title A name given to the resource Form: Report of Contact, Fat Biopsies for Dioxin, March 18, 1980 Subject The topic of the resource VA Dioxin Fat Assay Study ao_seriesIII https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/files/original/ce58cc3112b41e0996b2055c9ffa9998.pdf b2cae190c2cf97eec1aafe61eb59554c PDF Text Text Item ID Number 01639 Author Hobson, Lawrence B. Corporate Author Report/Article TltlB Memorandum: Contract No. V101 (134)P-705, from Lawrence B. Hobson to Director, Supply Service, March 20, 1980 Journal/Book Title Year 0000 Month/Day Color n Number of Images 1 DeSCrlpton NotBS Discusses budget increase for contract to University of Nebraska-Lincoln, one of the laboratories where analysis of samples was performed. Wednesday, June 06, 2001 Page 1640 of 1688 �UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DATE: March 20, 1980 T0 FROM Memorandum Director, Supply Service (134) Deputy ACMD for Research and Development (15A) suBJ: Contract No. V101034)P-705 1. Contract No. V101(134)P-705 issued to the University of NebraskaLincoln under obligation no. S90068 for. $10,000 was exceeded by $6,500. 2. This error was due to originally believing that 20 samples were all that were going to be available. An additional 13 samples were obtained and sent for analysis. This was done in order to obtain more reliable results and establish a broader base. Prior approval for increasing the contract was not obtained due to unfamiliarity with VA contract procedures by the person collecting these samples. 3. I am requesting the contract be increased at this time to cover these additional samples. This will be charged to obligation no. S90068. LAWRENCE B. HOBSON, M.D., Ph.D. AP""'C083 Buy U .S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange Description An account of the resource The Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange comprises 120 linear feet and spans the late 1800s to 2005; however, the bulk of the coverage is from the 1960s to the 1980s and there are many undated items. The collection was donated to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1985 by Dr. Alvin L. Young (1942- ). Dr. Young developed the collection as he conducted extensive research on the military defoliant Agent Orange. The collection is in good condition and includes letters, memoranda, books, reports, press releases, journal and newspaper clippings, field logs and notebooks, newsletters, maps, booklets and pamphlets, photographs, memorabilia, and audiotapes of an interview with Dr. Young. For more about this collection, <a href="/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/alvin-l--young-collection-on-a">view the Agent Orange Exhibit.</a> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Box The box containing the original item. 061 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1639 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries III Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hobson, Lawrence B. Title A name given to the resource Memorandum: Contract No. V101(134)P-705, from Lawrence B. Hobson to Director, Supply Service, March 20, 1980 Subject The topic of the resource VA Dioxin Fat Assay Study ao_seriesIII Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange Description An account of the resource The Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange comprises 120 linear feet and spans the late 1800s to 2005; however, the bulk of the coverage is from the 1960s to the 1980s and there are many undated items. The collection was donated to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1985 by Dr. Alvin L. Young (1942- ). Dr. Young developed the collection as he conducted extensive research on the military defoliant Agent Orange. The collection is in good condition and includes letters, memoranda, books, reports, press releases, journal and newspaper clippings, field logs and notebooks, newsletters, maps, booklets and pamphlets, photographs, memorabilia, and audiotapes of an interview with Dr. Young. For more about this collection, <a href="/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/alvin-l--young-collection-on-a">view the Agent Orange Exhibit.</a> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Box The box containing the original item. 061 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1642 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries III Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hobson, Lawrence B. Title A name given to the resource Letter: from Lawrence B. Hobson to Alvin L. Young, April 22, 1980 Subject The topic of the resource VA Dioxin Fat Assay Study ao_seriesIII https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/files/original/2fc7d650eaf170dc32d70ef2bc723dd6.pdf b7028bf96030e5b3867faef85a02c8df PDF Text Text Item ID Number 01647 Author Mobson, Lawrence B. Corporate Author Report/Article TltlB Typescript: Dioxin in Body Health and Health Status: a Feasibility Study Journal/Book Title Year 000 ° Month/Day Color n Numbor of Images 11 DOSCriptOD NOtOS Study was presented before the Division of Environmental Chemistry, American Chemical Society, 186th National Meeting, August 28-September 2,1983 (preprint exended abstract is included with typescript). Wednesday, June 06, 2001 Page 1648 of 1688 �Dioxin in Body Health and Health Status: A Feasibility Study L. B. Hobson, L. E. Lee, M. L. Gross, and A. L. Young Agent Orange, the defoliant used in Vietnam, contained an average of about 2 parts per million of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin or TCDD. Since it is extemely toxic for some animal species, it has been blamed for a wide variety of medical problems by veterans who served in Vietnam. It was suggested that TCDD might remain concentrated in the body's fat long after contact with it and serve both as a cause of ill effects and as a marker to prove prior exposure to Agent Orange. It also became evident that improved methods of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry would allow detection of TCDD in amounts as small as a few parts per trillion, a few picograms per gram of human fat. In order to test the feasibility of using such assays, the Veterans Administration undertook a pilot study with Dr. Michael L. Gross of the Department of Chemistry, the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Three groups of men volunteered to provide specimens of their fat: twenty men, believing that they had been exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam and— except for one man—experiencing medical problems submitted to surgical biopsy of the abdominal wall. A second group of �ten veterans who were having operations anyway provided specimens of fat from the body wall as control samples since none had been in Vietnam nor had contact with Agent Orange. A third group of three Air Force officers had worked with TCDD or Agent Orange within the prior two years and one had also been exposed to the defoliant in Vietnam. They also were biopsied. To do this, VA surgeons removed 10 to 30 grams of fat from the abdominal wall of the volunteers of the first and last group using local anethesia. In all instances precautions were taken to avoid contaminating the specimens with TCDD and to deliver them frozen to the assay laboratory. I am not competent to discuss the methods of extraction, gas chromatography and high resolution mass spectrometry used by Dr. Gross. Nor can I describe in detail the techniques used by the chemists of the Environmental Protection Agency who assayed 15 of the -specimens to confirm Gross1 findings. I am quite willing to believe that the methods are delicate, exacting, and time-consuming. Each volunteer had a medical work-up at the VA medical center. The military record of each "exposed" man was examined to evaluate his exposure before the assay results were available. The assays were conducted "blind" as well since the chemist had only a code number for each specimen. Estimating exposure to Agent Orange is generally a less �than satisfactory procedure and the results must be viewed sceptically. We did divide, as best we could, the 20 "exposed" men into three subgroups: the most likely exposed, the least likely exposed, and an intermediate group with possible but less definite exposure. The results showed that it is indeed possible to detect and quantify to some degree, at least, 2,3,7,8-TCDD in human fat. To be specific, it was present in fat from 13 of the 20 exposed veterans, from 9 of the 10 controls, and from all three Air Force officers. The amounts ranged from 3 to 99 parts per trillion with the two highest values in "most likely exposed" veterans. The third veteran in that group, however, had no detectible TCDD and the heavily exposed Air Force officer had only 6 parts per trillion. It will be easier to review the results in graph form (Slide I) than in a large table. The front row of cubes • indicates the results from the most likely exposed volunteers, the rear row of cubes refers to controls, the other two portray the possibly exposed and least likely exposed groups. Each cube stands for the highest value obtained for one volunteer. Only three individuals had more than 15 parts per trillion and one of these was a control. Most values were below 10 parts per trillion. It is difficult in so small a sample to evaluate the significance of an "outlier" such as the 99 parts per �trillion, especially because of the intralaboratory, as well as the interlaboratory, variability on replication. It is best to say only that a-larger series would have to be tested with better documentation of exposure before any firm conclusion can be drawn. This is especially true because two recent small series, one in Canada and another in the United States have found TCDD in fat samples from civilians, each with a mean value of about 10 parts per trillion. In Canada one "outlier" of 130 ppt was discarded to arrive at that mean. The mean of our controls was 5.7^ 3.1 ppt, the mean of the Vietnam veterans (except the "outlier") was 8.3^6.9. In considering the clinical situations of the 20 "exposed" veterans, it must be kept in mind that all but one volunteered because they had medical problems. are a self-selected Vietnam veterans. Hence they sample and are not representative of The 19 men had a total of 36 diagnoses ranging from the grave to the trivial. 'They are reasonably typical of what can be seen in a large clinic serving a truly sick population. Thus, 8 men had minor skin problems, 4 had blood vessel problems of high blood pressure or varicose veins, 3 each had gastro-intestinal disorders, neuropsychiatric problems, benign tumors, joint diseases, or reproductive disorders. However, one of the benign tumors was inside the skull, one man had sarcoidosis and another a cancer, one was schizophrenic. All of these are serious �diseases. I will show you the complaints, the diagnoses and the TCDD values of only the most and least heavily exposed groups in order to give you an idea of the results (Slide II). First, please, notice the column of TCDD concentrations, you can readily see, expecially for subject number 10, that the assay presented some problems. The "ND" indicates that no TCDD was detected. "S" stands for skin, "G-I" for gastrointestinal, "V" for vascular, and so on. Without going into detail, the variability and the lack of relation to TCDD values is obvious for both complaints and diagnoses. One serious illness—schizophrenia—was diagnosed in a man with 7 ppt in his fat, the other—a cancer—was in a veteran with no detectible TCDD. Even a small series such as our 20 veterans and 10 controls should reveal some correlation if these levels of TCDD were associated with some one or two diseases or groups of diseases. There is no evidence of this. There remains the question of whether the TCDD in the body fat poses a threat to health, for example, if it were all released into the blood within a very short time. It is most unlikely that there is any danger from this source. TCDD concentrates in fat but even if all our soft tissues contained 100 ppt, the blood concentration would only be 0.1 �microgram per kilogram of body weight, far below a dose expected to endanger health. At present, we do not recommend or provide an assay of body fat for TCDD in order to determine whether a veteran was exposed to Agent Orange or to evaluate his medical condition. An operation is necessary to obtain a fat specimen, not always a trivial undertaking. The assay is difficult and therefore expensive and, most important, the results of our pilot study give no hope that useful information will be obtained. The assay unquestionably has value in research. It would be most desirable to follow the course of TCDD's disappearance from fat after a known exposure to it. It may also help us detect suspected sources of TCDD in our civilian environments but only on a very selective basis. It is by no means a practical screening procedure for occupational or public health studies. �Adipose Tissue Content of 2,3,7,8 - TCDD 5 10 15 20 35 100 Each cube represents highest assay * A» Force Officer* value for any one subject 2, 3. 7, 8 - TCDD (ppt) �Fat Assay Results/ Complaints, and Diagnoses of Vietnam Veterans Subject Code 2,3,7,8-TCDD (ppt) Complaints Diagnoses Most heavily exposed 26 10 4* 19 63,99 12,16,23,35 6 ND,ND S G-I None V S S None V Least heavily exposed 28 15 34 1 13 7,8 7 5 ND ND * - Air Force O f f i c e r - Serious Diagnosis None N-P,R,V,S N-P,S,V CA N-P None S B-T (CAJ N-P,B- T GEH ND - Not detected �Aiwn<Acr l*ror>ehte<l IWjfore the Division ot Environmental Chemistry American Chemical Society WaHhiivjton, D.C. Septcmlier, 1903 Uioxin in IVxiy Kal and Health Status: A feasibility Study ..-•• •'"'•'•" /'/ L. B. llolxjon, L. K. Lee, M. L. Gross ancl A. t,. Youtvj Arjent Oraivje ('rejects Office, Veterans Administration 810 Vernont Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20420 Since 1978 there has been mounting concern over human exposure to 2,3,7,8tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDO). Much of this concern has been expressed by veterans of the Vietnam war who believe that they were exposed to the TCDO-oontaminated herbicide, 2,4,5-trichlocophenoxyacotlc acid (2,4,5-T), an ingredient of Agent Orange, the major defoliant used by the United States Armed forces In Vietnam. During a 5-year period (com 1965 to 1970, the U.S. Air Force applied more than 40 million liters of Agent Orange containing more than 92 kg TCDO in South Vietnam. Some two million American military personnel served t-yeac tours during the same period. Many veterans of that era have reported medical problems that they ascribe to exposure to Agent Orange. Their complaints have ranged from tingling in the extremities to rare forms of cancer. Some veterans have fathered children with birth defects and have suggested that the TCDO is the cause. Accordingly, the Veterans Administration (VA) has initiated extensive health studies of veterans exposed to Agent Orange and its dioxin contaminant during the Vietnam Conflict. Since TCDO is known to accumulate preferentially in the adipose tissue of certain species of laboratory animals, it was suggested, early in the history of the Agent Orange issue, that the analysis of human fat Cor TCDO might provide a way to determine earlier Agent Orange exposure. A relation between the presence of this substance health problems had also been suggested. Although methods for TCDO analysis have Improved in recent years, no such study had been carried out in humans with known exposure to herbicides containing this toxic contaminant. Consequently the VA embarked on a small feasibility study to test the methodology and to determine whether conclusions might be drawn regarding the significance of the results. The study was carried out in three groups of adult males as follows: (1) Twenty Vietnam veterans all but one of whom claimed health problems related to Agent Orange exposure and who volunteered for the fat biopsy. (2) Three U.S. Air R>cce officers with known heavy and relatively recent exposure in connection with herbicide disposal operations but who did not serve in Vietnam. (3) Ten veterans with no service in Vietnam and no known exposure to herbicides who were undergoing elective abdominal surgery and who volunteered to serve as controls. Methods; The procedure called for the removal of 10-30 grams of subcutaneous adipose tissue from the abdominal wall. This was accomplished surgically under local anesthesia. Precautions were token before, during an! after the procedure 91 AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY Division of Environmental Chemistry 186th National Meeting Washington, DC August 28—September 2, 1983 Vol. 23 No. 2 SYMPOSIA . • Safe Drinking Water; The Impact of Chemicals on « Limited Resource • Chlorinated Dioxins and Dibenzofurans in the Total Environment - II • Acid Precipitation • Recent Advances in Environmental Chemical Kinetics • Organic Contaminant Behavior in the Subsurface Environment • The Master Analytical Scheme for Organic Pollutants • General Papers �to avoid contamination by products, e.g., hexachlorophene, that could contain TCDD. Specimens were collected In glass containers previously rinsed with acetone and dried before use. All tissues were refrigerated during shipment bo the assay laboratory, each of the volunteers had a medical history, physical examination, and routine clinical chemistry. The details of military service in Vietnam from the volunteer's report and his service record were examined to evaluate his potential exposure to military herbicides using the dates, location and nature of his service. Prom these a rough estimate of the likelihood of exposure to TCDO was made without knowledge of the assay results. The extraction and assay of all samples for TCDD were conducted at the University of Nebraska, Midwest Center for Mass Spectrometry, Lincoln, Nebraska. Approximately 5 to 10 grams of tissue were used, when available, for each analysis. A known amount, generally 2 ng, of internal standard (either 37 C-2,3,7,8- TCDO or 13 C-2,3,7,S-TCDD) was added to the adipose tissue. The sample was digested in alcoholic potassium hydroxide followed by extraction with hexane to renove TCDD. The hexane extract was washed with concentrated sulfuric acid, neutralized, dried and concentrated. The final stage of preparation involved the use of three short-column liquid chromatography steps (silica gel, alumina and Florisil). Gas chroinatography/hlgh resolution mass Spectrometry was employed for quantitation of 2,3,7,8-TCDO and coeluting isomers. Signal profiles were obtained at a mass resolution of 10,000 for ra/z 321.8936, the itost abundant molecular ion for TCDD, and for the internal standard mass by signal averaging for approximately 100 sec. commencing with the appearance of the co-eluting internal standard 2,3,7,8-TCDO. Extracts which contained materials giving signals greater than 2.5 times noise at the exact mass of TCDD (i.e. 321.8936 + 0 0 2 ) over the Integration period .00 discussed above were reanalyzed. For the~second analysis, signal profiles of tn/z 321.8936 and m/z 319.8965 were nonitored over the elution period oC 2 3 7 8 ,,,TCDO (determined by injection of standard solutions). A positive detection was reported if signals were observed above the detection limit (2.5 times raise) and if their intensity ratio was 1.0:0.78 + 0.10, which is consistent with the presence of four chlorine atoms in the nolecule. Samples meeting all criteria except the correct isotope intensity ratio have been considered to contain "not detectable" levels of TCDO. Foe these samples, it was judged that the presence of TCDD is not disproved by the observation of an incorrect isotope ratio at these low concentrations; rather, the presence of TCDD is not confirmed. Results; Of the twenty veterans who served in Vietnam, seven had no detectible TCDD with the limit of detection at 2 to 6 part per trillion (ppt) . Another two had detectible material that could not be validated as TCDD and the results for one was considered equivocal because the measured value was only questionably above the detection limit. Five of the ten remaining Vietnam veterans had TCDD in amounts from 5 ppt to 7 ppt. three Vietnam veterans had TCDO in the amounts from 9 ppt to 13 ppt. One individual had 63 and 99 ppt (average - 81 ppt) and another had 23 and 35 ppt (average - 29 Of the ten control ("unexposed") veterans, four had TCDO identified in their fat ( , , and 14 ppt). Two other veterans had values low enough to be considered 677 equivocal and in three instances the detected material was not validated as TCDO. The remaining veteran had no detectible TCDD. One of the three Air Force officers with known exposure had no identified TCDD in his fat. The unidentified substance in his case and the TCDD measured in the other two officers was never more than 3 ppt above the limit of detection. 92 »\ �The clinical data were reviewed, seeking correlations between complaints or diagnoses and the assay results. Within the group of twenty Vietnam veterans, seven of them reported some health problems beginning in or during a tour of duty in Vietnam. No two, however, reported the same symptoms. The remaining thirteen veterans reported no illness in Vietnam although only one reported good health at all times. Anong the nineteen veterans with current medical complaints, symptoms and diagnoses varied widely without any common pattern. Five had mental problems ranging from nervousness to schizophrenia and three had experienced difficulties of reproduction, namely, spontaneous abortion by the wives of two and congenital heart disease in the son of a third. Pour of the seven veterans who reported difficulties while in Vietnam had no TODO detected. The five veterans with mental problems included three without detectible TCDO and three whose assays results were 5 to 7 ppt. Che of three veterans reporting reproductive problems had no detected TCDO, one had doubtful level and one had 7 ppt. Detectible TCDO in the body fat could not be correlated with clinical chemistry findings. Similar results applied to the controls i.e., veterans who did not serve in Vietnam. The highest values for TCDO in adipose were found In two Vietnam veterans. Both men had military records substantiating duties that involved the use of TCDD-oontaminated herbicides in Vietnam. Other individuals, however, who claimed extensive handling of herbicide in base perimeter operations had little or no TCDO in their adipose. Discussion; TCDO was found in some persons who reported exposure to Agent Orange and in others who were never in Vietnam. On the other hand, some veterans from Vietnam had no detectible TCDO and the same is true of veterans who were never in Vietnam. The low level of TCDD in two Air Force officers and its absence in another is of special interest since their exposure to TCDO is certain and more recent than that of the veterans. Among the twenty Vietnam veterans there was no uniformity of symptoms, either Immediately after exposure, at the time of biopsy, or during the Intervening period. N> one symptom or group of symptoms was common to veterans with detectlble TCDO in their fat. The presence of TCDD did not mean ill health nor did its absence indicate good health, tb detailed statistical analysis was attempted of this small pilot series. The TCDO content in the fat was very small, not exceeding 100 ppt. Since TCDO accumulates in fat more than in other tissue, the average body concentration woald be much lower. Even if all tissues contained 100 ppt, however, the concentration would be less than 0.1 mircogram per kilogram of body weight, a value below the demonstrated toxic dose to threaten health. Conclusions; The present assay for TCDO in fat tissue does not offer a satistactdry routine test for exposure to Agent Orange, providing neither clear evidence of contact with that specific defoliant nor of absence of such contact. Moreover, the technique cannot be used to correlate body levels of TCDO and medical conditions. The assay technique is difficult and not readily available, fat'samples must be obtained by surgical biopsy and the source of any TCDO detected is uncertain. The current assay method does provide a research tool under proper conditions and for specific purposes, e.g., for determining the rate of disappearance of TCDD after known exposure. 93 »\ � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange Description An account of the resource The Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange comprises 120 linear feet and spans the late 1800s to 2005; however, the bulk of the coverage is from the 1960s to the 1980s and there are many undated items. The collection was donated to Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library in 1985 by Dr. Alvin L. Young (1942- ). Dr. Young developed the collection as he conducted extensive research on the military defoliant Agent Orange. The collection is in good condition and includes letters, memoranda, books, reports, press releases, journal and newspaper clippings, field logs and notebooks, newsletters, maps, booklets and pamphlets, photographs, memorabilia, and audiotapes of an interview with Dr. Young. For more about this collection, <a href="/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/alvin-l--young-collection-on-a">view the Agent Orange Exhibit.</a> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Box The box containing the original item. 061 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1647 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries III Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hobson, Lawrence B. L.E. Lee M.L. Gross A.L. Young Title A name given to the resource Typescript: Dioxin in Body Fat and Health Status: a Feasibility Study Subject The topic of the resource VA Dioxin Fat Assay Study ao_seriesIII