1 15 3 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. 078 Folder The folder containing the original item. 2026 Series The series number of the original item. Series III Subseries IV 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 McCulloch, Jock Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Age (Melbourne) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 23 1984 Title A name given to the resource Orange: Science and Politics Subject The topic of the resource Australian Royal Commission Hearings Australian veterans compensation VVA 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. 051 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1337 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 Prage, Denis J. Title A name given to the resource Memorandum: Agent Orange Studies in Vietnam, from Denis J. Prage to Ray Burghardt, Vernon Houk, and Jim Stockdale, May 13, 1982 Subject The topic of the resource VVA veteran health and hygiene ao_seriesIII https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/files/original/012d655ecbc1c5fc456b1d30af93e6b6.pdf c18399877530db8922e805db6db064ec PDF Text Text Item ID Number 01384 Author Rogers, Jim Corporate Author ROpOrt/ArtlClO TltlO Typescript: Agent Orange Research in Vietnam Journal/Book Title Year ™M Month/Day A r| Color n Number of Imaoos 3 P i 26 DescNpton Notes Thursday, May 03, 2001 Page 1384 of 1403 �.Agent Orange Kesparch_ in Vietnam The Vietnamese have been investigating the environmental and medical effects of herbicidal defoliants since 19GG. TheVarly investigations were based on clinical observations made by Vietnamese physicians. During the same period, American biologists began to comment on the destruction of plant life resulting from the Hader and Ranch Hand .defoliation operations. ..j1' In 1970 the effects of phenoxy herbicides and their dioxin contaminants were debated at a scientific conference in Orsay, France. Soon afterward the defoliation missions were discontinued, or at least sharply curtailed. f Following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, the Vietnamese continued their studies. In January, 1983, an international symposium was held in Ho Chi Minh City. The work done by the Vietnamese was presented and debated for several days. The participants concluded t h a t the results obtained by the Vietnamese were generally consistent w i t h studies done in other countries. The complexity of the problems under study in Vietnam was explicitly recognized. Recommendations were made which may f u r t h e r improve the methodology of f u t u r e studies. There WHS also an interest in applying methods which might develop a causal (as opposed to statistical) link between dioxin exposure and the medical and environmental problems which have been identified. J,! !£ J '• . A scries of ecological studies has been completed. Additional studies in other areas of the country are in the planning stages. The environmental impact of phenoxy herbicide application has been convincingly demonstrated in: 1) The Ma Da forest, located about 100 kilometers northeast of Ho Chi M i n h City. 2) The Ca Man region, located in" the southeastern tip of the Mekong Delta. This is largely mangrove forest. 3) Areas of Quang Tri province 4) The A Luoi region, about fiO kilometers from Hue. A number of environmental effects has been noted. The physical characteristics and chemical composition of soil has been drastiely altered. In mountainous areas extensive erosion and flooding has resulted. Because the defoliated nnd eroded mountainsides can no longer contain moisture, evaporation of streams and rivers during the dry season has been accelerated. This had led in t u r n to the death of many aquatic and forest animals. In most heavily defoliated areas the natural flora'has not yet returned. Sparse grasses now grow in areas which were once heavily forested. This profound change in habitat, together w i t h the direct toxic effect of the chemicals, has resulted in the local and regional disappearance of many species of large predatory animals and birds. �Page 2 Small rodents .survived the e n v i r o n m e n t a l changes well, and the elimination of n a t u r a l predators led to an increa-.o in t h e i r numbers. In south Vietnam, an increased number of rats and an increased incidence of plague has been correlated w i t h t h e defoliation. In some areas reforestation work has begun. There have been some initial successes in the mangrove forest of the Mekong Delta, but it is too early to know just how successful these e f f o r t ? will ultimately be. Reproductive Effects A number of detailed epidemiologic studies have been carried out which indicate that the effect of chemical exposure on normal human reproduction has been profound. Much of the evidence suggests t h a t the primary mechanism involves rnutation (alteration of genetic material) rather than _t_er_atoge.ncsls (in-utero injury of the embryo or fetus). In practical terms this means: 1) Effects on reproduction can result from exposure of either the male or the female parent. 2) Abnormalities in reproduction may occur many years following exposure. 3) The possibility exists that defective genetic material may be passed on to succeeding generations. A large number of specific reproductive abnormalities have been observed in exposed male and female Vietnamese. These include: 1) An increased rate of spontaneous abortion 2) An increase in molar pregnancies 3) An increased number of still-born children 4) High rates of s t e r i l i t y in exposed males; as high as 2196 in one study. Vietnamese physicians and researchers say t h a t prior to the defoliation, V i e t n a m had a low rate of birth defective children. Since t h a t t i m e the number of tr'rth defective children has increased, although the precise parameters of that increase are not clear. The types of defects encountered include eranio-facial abnormalities, malformations of the extremities, neural tube malformations, malformations of the trunk, and conjoined twins. A large number of non-viable "monsters'' have been collected by Vietnamese researchers. We saw such a display at the obstetric-gynecologic hospital in Ho Chi Minn City. I must say that the malformations we saw were very bizarre. Despite several years of involvement with neo-natal surgery and neonatal intensive care, I had never before seen such astounding fetal malformations. Some additional evidence has been collected, f u r t h e r implicating herbicide use as a cause of mutation and reproductive problems. Well controlled studies have shown an increased incidence of chromosomal damage in those exposed to spraying and in the children of those exposed. Teslicular biopsies carried out in some exposed males showed a failure of normal germ cell maturation. �Pago 3 The quality of the reproductive studies was generally good. Improvements are always possible, but I believe that improved studies will further refine the information thus far developed. It is not likely that improvements in rncthodoloj. will alter the basic content of that devolping fund of information. Primary cancer of the liver has been extensively studied. The increased incidence of that particular tumor in Vietnamese exposed to defoliants was first reported in 1973. Subsequent studies have strengthened the correlation. Studies in the West have not focused on this type of cancer. Chorio carcinoma, probably related to the increased occurence of hydotiforrn mole, also seems to be increasing in frequency. The extent of increase of this highly malignant reproductive cancer is far from door. General Health E f f e c t s Other less specific, but nevertheless serious, health effects have been observed at an increased rate in the exposed population. Those include, gastric disorders. chronic hepatitis, dental and oral diseases, and psychological disorders. Few studies have been done on these more general h e a l t h effects. It would require additional, larger samples to confirm the i n i t i a l impressions and to sort out the causative factors. Coriclusinsan<J Relevance of the Vietnamese work to the concerns of American veterans and the general American public should be clear. The effects of dioxin on humans and on the environment is a major national issue. VVA should now take the lead in organizing the necessary scientific cooperation between Vietnamese researchers and American scientists. The Vietnamese are eager to cooperate simply because the resolution of existing medical and environmental problems (nnd the prevention of future damage) is a major point in their national reconstruction. The valuable information which could be available to American veterans and the American public will simply be lost if effective scientific cooperation is not initiated. Additionally it is clear that, in certain specific and focused areas, the studies being conducted on Vietnamese veterans ore superior to any similar studies now being conducted in the United States. VVA should undertake consultations with leading medical researchers in the United States to determine the relevance of portions of the Vietnamese protocols to research currently underway on veterans in the United States, I hope 'hat VVA Directors nnd other individuals receiving this report will. feel free to communicate directly to me their comments and questions. Submitted 4-26-84 Jim Rogers, M. 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. 052 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1384 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 Rogers, Jim Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 26 1984 Title A name given to the resource Typescript: Agent Orange Research in Vietnam Subject The topic of the resource VVA Vietnamese health studies veteran health and hygiene ao_seriesIII