1 15 13 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. 085 Folder The folder containing the original item. 2139 Series The series number of the original item. Series IV 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/. Description An account of the resource Corporate Author: Jefferson City Post-Tribune Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Jefferson City Post-Tribune Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 13 1983 Title A name given to the resource Clipping: Times Beach residents meet with governor Subject The topic of the resource government liability human exposure popular press compensation 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. 079 Folder The folder containing the original item. 2058 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 Manning, B. H. Title A name given to the resource Letter: from B. H. Manning to Jacque Grinberg, 5 December 1984 Subject The topic of the resource compensation ecological impact Australian Royal Commission Hearings 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. 079 Folder The folder containing the original item. 2057 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/. 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 Australian Newspaper Clippings on Australian Royal Commission Hearings, November - December 1984. Subject The topic of the resource Australian Royal Commission Hearings popular press compensation mortality trends 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. 079 Folder The folder containing the original item. 2056 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/. 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 Australian Newspaper Clippings on Australian Royal Commission Hearings, November 1984. Subject The topic of the resource Australian Royal Commission Hearings popular press compensation 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. 079 Folder The folder containing the original item. 2055 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/. 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 Australian Newspaper Clippings on Australian Royal Commission Hearings, October - November 1984. Subject The topic of the resource Australian Royal Commission Hearings popular press compensation ao_seriesIII https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/files/original/1433af7cc366aca0699c8b8f1de90e19.pdf be72678cadb717e6de1865737dd44674 PDF Text Text Item ID Number 01731 Author Corporate Author Roport/Artldo Tltlfl CDC JOUrnal/BOOk TltlB Occupational Health & Safety Letter Year 1984 Month/Day August 22 Color H Number of Images 2 Study Discounts Links Between Agent Orange, Birth Defects Doscrlpton Notes Monday, June 11, 2001 Page 1732 of 1793 �4 Occupational Health & Safety Letter, August 22, 1984 dence. Because of the strengths and weaknesses of the data to be evaluated in the assessment of human risk and the complexity of the problem, case-by-case analysis is most appropriate." INDUSTRY SEEKS MODIFICATION, STAY OF ETHYLENE OXIDE ORDER: The Association of Ethylene Oxide Users has asked OSHA to modify its recent standard for worker exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO) and has petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia for a stay of the order. The 1 ppm permissible exposure limit and the signs and labels stating that EtO is a cancer and reproductive hazard "cannot be shown to be necessary to eliminate significant risks" and therefore the order should be stayed, it told the court through Washington attorney David H. Larry. In its comments to OSHA, the industry group said its grounds for a modification and stay are based on the failure to justify the need for a short-term exposure limit of 10 ppm for 15 minutes, the inability to demonstrate the need for a PEL of 1 ppm, and the lack of evidence that signs and labels saying EtO is a "cancer hazard and reproductive hazard" are needed. CDC STUDY DISCOUNTS LINKS BETWEEN AGENT ORANGE, BIRTH DEFECTS: To the surprise of few observers, the Centers for Disease Control found that Vietnam veterans generally are no more likely to father children with birth defects than non-veterans as a result of exposure to Agent Orange. Dr. J. David Erickson, who directed the study, wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Aug. 17) that they gained health histories from the parents of a case group of nearly 5,000 babies born with defects and compared them with the histories from parents of a control group of about 3tOOO babies born without defects. Both groups were drawn from all the approximately 325,000 births in Atlanta from 1968 through 1980. The background risk of serious birth defects in the general population is between 2 and 3 percent. "The conclusion that Vietnam veterans in general have not fathered babies with all types of birth defects combined at higher rates than other men is based on relatively strong evidence," Dr. Erickson and colleagues wrote. "In addition, this study does not provide support to the notion that those men who may have been exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam have had an increased risk of fathering babies with most types of defects. The conclusion regarding the lack of increased risks associated with Agent Orange is based on considerably weaker evidence than the conclusion about Vietnam veterans in general." About 50,000 tons of Agent Orange were used in Vietnam, containing a total of 368 pounds of TCDD. Approximately 2.6 million Americans served in Vietnam. The CDC birth defects study estimated exposure to Agent Orange by interviewing the Vietnam veterans and by studying military records that showed troop movements and spraying missions. It was the second study this year to discount the health effects of Agent Orange on Vietnam veterans. In February the Air Force released initial findings of an ongoing study of 1,200 airmen who sprayed Agent Orange in Vietnam. It found them to be generally in good health but with higher rates of skin cancer, liver disorders and circulatory problems than the general population. It stressed, however, that evidence directly linking these problems to Agent Orange was lacking. A Federal District Court in New York is conducting hearings to determine whether to accept a $180 million out-of-court settlement in a class-action lawsuit by Vietnam veterans exposed to dioxin. Meanwhile, on the basis of the studies by the Air Force and CDC, Sen. Alan Cranston (D-CA) says he will introduce legislation directing the Veterans Administration to develop and evaluate various approaches for providing health care, �Occupational Health 4 Safety Letter, August 22, 1984 5 rehabilitation and compensation to affected children with birth defects. LET US SPRAY — BUT EPA SEEKS GREATER FARMWORKER PROTECTION: EPA plans to expand and strengthen current regulations for protecting farmworkers who use agricultural pesticides. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, EPA is responsible for licensing all pesticides to prevent any unreasonable risks and hazards they may pose to the environment and public health, and this responsibility extends to agricultural workers. The proposal is based on a determination that the pesticide farmworker protection standards adopted in 1974 do not adequately reflect the latest information on the potential adverse effects of pesticide exposure. The changes would expand the current regulations to set safe work practices for categories of workers not currently covered. These include mixers, loaders and applicators of pesticides. The current standards are limited to field workers who perform hand labor after fields have been sprayed with pesticides. The regulations would require employers to provide training, supervision, personal protective equipment, emergency medical attention and other protective measures for their employees. The agency also intends to revise the time intervals required before workers can reenter a field after certain pesticides have been applied, and is considering setting a minimum 24-hour reentry interval for the most hazardous category of pesticides (toxicity 1 category). Certain exemptions may be considered for non-hazardous uses, and longer intervals may be required for certain pesticides. The protective clothing requirements for field workers may also be revised to include gloves or other equipment for workers performing tasks prior to expiration of reentry intervals to reduce exposure to freshly sprayed fields. The current standard requires that workers be warned before they begin working in a field treated or to be treated with certain pesticides. The employers now have the option of giving the warnings orally or by posting warning signs at points of entry to the field. EPA is considering revisions to those requirements and will address whether, in addition to oral warnings, the posting of fields should remain optional or be required. The person or persons responsible for communicatring warnings may also be specified, the agency said. All comments should be submitted within 45 days to Environmental Protection Agency, Program Management and Support Division (TS-767C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 401 M St. S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. EX-EMPLOYEE WINS SUIT UNDER STATE RIGHT-TO-KNOW LAW: A pregnant woman who refused to work with toxic chemicals unless given information about them has won a lawsuit against an optical company under New York State's four-year-old right-to-know law. It is understood to be the first time an employer has been cited under the state law, which requires that employers respond within 72 hours to an employee's request for information about workplace hazards and that an employee need not work with the chemicals if a reply is not received. Instead, the former employee, Kathryn Stellecht, contended she was fired from her job as a laboratory technician at Resin Optics, Inc., of Elma, N.Y., a suburb of Buffalo. She was represented by the office of the State Attorney General, Robert Abrams, who commented that the case "vindicates the right of workers to demand information about toxic chemicals in the workplace and to receive training that will prevent any injuries." The ruling by the State Supreme Court opened the way for Mrs. Stellecht to collect back wages, court expenses and possibly be reinstated. She had sought � 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. 064 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1731 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/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Occupational Health & Safety Letter Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource August 22 1984 Title A name given to the resource CDC Study Discounts Links Between Agent Orange, Birth Defects Subject The topic of the resource CDC Birth Defects Study compensation litigation 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. 079 Folder The folder containing the original item. 2050 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/. 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 Australian Newspaper Clippings on Australian Royal Commission Hearings, August - September 1984. Subject The topic of the resource Australian Royal Commission Hearings popular press compensation congenital birth defects 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. 079 Folder The folder containing the original item. 2047 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/. 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 Australian Newspaper Clippings on Australian Royal Commission Hearings, August 1984. Subject The topic of the resource Australian Royal Commission Hearings popular press compensation congenital birth defects 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. 079 Folder The folder containing the original item. 2045 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/. 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 Clippings on Agent Orange Settlement, September and November 1984. Subject The topic of the resource Agent Orange controversy popular press compensation litigation 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. 079 Folder The folder containing the original item. 2044 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/. 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 Australian Newspaper Clippings on Australian Royal Commission Hearings, August 1984. Subject The topic of the resource Australian Royal Commission Hearings popular press compensation litigation ao_seriesIII https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/files/original/da311e083120bf0d68f221e9d26a2b1f.pdf c6b3941f1411f9224758dafd2066384d PDF Text Text Item ID Number °1878 Author Corporate Author Report/Article TitlB Statement on Herbicides and Chemicals and Vietnam Veterans Made by The minister for Veterans' Affairs, The Hon. A. E. Adermann, M. P. in the House of Representatives, 31 March 1980. Journal/Book Title Year 000 ° Month/Day Color Number of Images 10 DBSOrlpton NOtBS Includes cover letter from the Australian embassy to Colonel George D. Lathrop, Chief, Epidemiological Division, School of Air Force Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas. Wednesday, July 18, 2001 Pago 1878 of 1908 �/••*• .-11.. - Of, -'// -.//// ';/> / / • -./(f/rf///'/' !\ />L.UI MAP1.C [IUILD!\'CS F UHZ'-R STRI'I'T PillLLir AC �EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA WASHINGTON. D. C. Sir Nicholas Parkinson May 9, 1980 Colonel George D. Lathrop Chief, Epidemiological Division School of Air Force Medicine Brooks Air Force Base TEXAS 78235 AUS TRALIAN_INVESTIGATION_INTO THE* EFFECTS" OF ""AGENTTORANGE|T I would like to thank you personally, as well as on behalf of the Australian Government, for the assistance which you and your staff so willingly extended to Commissioner Medbury when he visited Washington recently. Commissioner Medbury has now completed his report to the Australian authorities and the Australian Government:, has decided that it will conduct a major study in an attempt to achieve a satisfactory scientific resolution of the questions which have been raised concerning the effects of "agent orange" on servicemen. You may bo interested in the nature and scope of this study and I am attaching a statement, made by our Minister for Veterans' Affairs to Parliament, which sets out those details. Please do not hestitate to let me know if there are further ways in which this Embassy can assist your enquiries. f r ' j , •. - ? /, * �STATEMENT ON HERBICIDES AND CHEMICALS AND VIETNAM VETERANS MADE BY THIS MINISTER FOR VETERANS' AFFAIRS, THE HON. A.E. ADERMANN, M.P. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 31 MARCH 1980 �Mr S p e a k e r , d u r i n g l.ho l a s t few m o n t h s , t h e r e has been ip.:.1! oar> I.;rj c o n c e r n !v M e m b e r s of t h i s House, by the m e d i a and by i n . J i v i r t u a l v'c-ri.orari; 1 . and t h e i r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o r g a n i s a t i o n s t h a t con I-oc;. \ / j t h h e r b i c i d e s and other chemicals in Vietnam r^ay have h.ul on i!iip<\ct on tlio h e a l t h of. v e t e r a n s such as to cause long-terra d i n a b i 1. i ti en . T h e r e is also i n c r e a s i n g concern t h a t contact w i t h the::o c'.v;-::,.i.c.\l.'.;, s p r a y e d for v a r i o u s reasons r a n g i n g f r o m do To.] i at t o n to disease c o n t r o l , may also have caused m a l f o r m a t i o n s in c h i l d r e n born a f t e r the period of the v e t e r a n s ' service in Vietnam . Mr Speaker, the Government has been acutely aware of that concern. Since the m a t t e r f i r s t came to notice we have moved w i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n and w i t h all speed to attempt to resolve the issues t h a t have a r i s e n . In my statement to the House on 21 February of this y e a r , 1 set out in v e r y comprehensive terms the n a t u r e of the d i s a b i l i t i e s fJLom which some v e t e r a n s had reported they w e r e s u f f e r i n g , the m a n n e r in w h i c h out: g e n e r o u s R e p a t r i a t i o n system - w h i c h has been developed, t r i e d and proven over many years - was able to assist and, in a d d i t i o n , l mentioned the i n i t i a t i v e s we had t a k e n , w i t h o u t d e l a y , in s e e k i n g to f i n d a responsible r e s o l u t i o n of the problems r a i s e d by the v e t e r a n s . One of the d i f f i c u l t i e s w i t h which we are faced arid w h i c h we s h a r e w i t h the U n i t e d States a u t h o r i t i e s , Mr Speaker, is to establish s c i e n t i f i c a l l y t h a t the symptoms and medical problems being e x p e r i e n c e d by veterans and t h e i r f a m i l i e s are due to exposure of the v e t e r a n to h e r b i c i d e s , of which Agent Orange is the most n o t o r i o u s , d u r i n g the v e t e r a n s ' service in V i e t n a m . I hasten to a d d , Mr Speaker, t h a t i n s o f a r as the d i s a b i l i t i e s of the v e t e r a n himself are concerned, our R e p a t r i a t i o n system does not r e q u i r e t h a t cause be proven - it enough t h a t a r e l a t i o n s h i p , a l i n k , be f o u n d between his d i s a b i l i t y and his service for us to accept his d i s a b i l i t y as s e r v i c e - r e l a t e d and to a d m i t the v e t e r a n to the pension an-J t r e a t m e n t b e n e f i t s t h a t would then f l o w . is �2. Bu!; i.'c rvsnnot , cvcr.i g i v e n the g e n e r o s i t y of our R e p a t r i a t i o n r y n l - i . :i, :!cac;y.: '.vitiioi.it. q u e s t i o n t h a t e x p o s u r e to h e r b i c i d e s in V i O v . n . » : r ; nv,i3L i n e v i t a b l y be the cause of the delayed long-term heal t'.i pro hie.:?,:: -which a r e the? s u b j e c t of c u r r e n t c l a i m s . It was bo cause of. the real need to resolve this question of whether or not exposure to herbicides would result in health problems, that the Government acted immediately the possibility was brought to notice, in a positive way. / We arranged that a Repatriation Commissioner should visit the United States of America to study at first hand the various endeavours that are being made in that country to resolve like problems. Mr Speaker, the problems may be alike but the magnitudes differ enormously. We had about 41,000 servicemen in Vietnam, the United States had two and a half million; but that wide difference- is no more than a statistical fact - our concern is as deep as we believe to be that of the United States authorities . We also asked the scientific body most appropriate to the task, the Commonwealth Institute of Health (formerly known as the School of: Public Health and Tropical Medicine) at the University of Sydney to inform the Government whether it was possible to establish, as a matter of scientific fact, whether exposure to herbicides in Vietnam could have an influence on the health of veterans or produce an unusual incidence of abnormalities at birth of veteran's children. My statement to the House on 21 February set out the nature of the study suggested by the Institute and explained that its feasibility had to be tested, as the data necessary to guarantee a valid result are both comprehensive and could be difficult to obtai n. Mr Speaker, subject to the availability of certain data which appears at this stage to be forthcoming, the Government is now j:?.tl<sCi«Dd that this :;ia;;or study is not only legible but essential if a satisfactory scientific resolution to the question is to be reached. �—3— It ...ay bo help:, a 1. to the House, Mr Speaker, if I give some rii1.'. ••.;•.••.:•! ; of: the nature and a copy of the .study that has been po.;-...; .'. , t.iie Co.-.i.r.onwealth Institute ol: Health. The U-;~.Lo design of the study will be a comparison of three groups of voter. "ins. These are Australian veterans who were in Vietnam and were exposed to herbicides and other chemicals of significance; f Australian veterans who were in Vietnam but were not judged to be exposed to herbicides but perhaps exposed to other environmental hazards; and A matched and comparable group of Australian veterans who did not go to Vietnam and have not been exposed to the herbicides and other chemicals used there. These groups will be compared to see whether there are 1. Differences in the incidence of defined illnesses in the veterans themselves; 2. Differences in the incidence of certain genetic defects in their offspring compared with the control group; and 3. Differences in the incidence of birth defects in their offspring and the incidence of abortion in their wives. This is known as a Cohort Study. There are basic criteria that have to be met before the study is feasible such as:information on the names and units of veterans and their geographical locations in time in Vietnam at least 90% and preferably more of those veterans must be able to be traced in Australia �—4— the: iiotiyc; of her bicidr.:: by g e o g r a p h i c a l arc-an and l:i:.\c uusi: I-.t u i i t a h l i 3hed mocHcal records before service and at. enlistment, if any record:;, of birt.hr; and deaths in Australia, maintained by tho State Registrars-General f and other records such as those of the Department of Social Security and of; the Australian Bureau of Statistics. f Tho study would progress by means of an assessment of every veteran in the cohort and his children by means of interview by a specially trained team and, in addition, the assessment would utilize existing hospital records and records of mortality and morbidity. Data would be collected on potential confounding variables such as s-.noking, occupational hazards and the use of drugs and me die in o.c> . Any suggestions of positive findings which appeared would be studied in greater depth, involving comprehensive interviews by specially trained field workers. The task of statistical collection, analysis and interpretation would be enormous, Mr Speaker. Some 60,000 veterans whose families would be expected to include approximately 100,000 children, will be interviewed and a questionnaire will have to be completed about each. We estimate that a full time specially trained work force would be engaged for about a year on this task. We have decided to ask the Commonwealth Institute of Health to press on with the study as quickly as possible. �— 5— Mr E ' J O i i K o r , T a:;i a w a r e t h a t t h i s decision w i l l not bo u n i v e r s a l l y nc..'clai:\i(.'d. For i n s t a n c e , we know as a r e s u l t of the v i s i t of Mr i'loclbucy, a member of the R e p a t r i a t i o n C o m m i s s i o n , t h a t the U n i t e d .Stater, of A m e r i c a is engaged in a very large research e f f o r t . There; are two m a j o r opiderniological s t u d i e s of veterans and several waller studies of workers who have been exposed to components of Agent O r a n g e under way in that c o u n t r y . There are also l a b o r a t o r y studies designed to establish w h e t h e r any of the components of Agent O r a n g e may produce genetic damage or i n d u c e a l t e r a t i o n s in males that may r e s u l t in their- f a t h e r i n g m a l f o r m e d o f f s p r i n g . It m i g h t be suggested t h a t we await the r e s u l t of such r e s e a r c h w o r k , r a t h e r t h a n e m b a r k on our own. W e l l , Mr Speaker, the G o v e r n m e n t does not accept t h a t "sit back, w a i t and see" a t t i t u d e ! We are aware t h a t even the i n i t i a l , far f r o m f i n a l r e s u l t s of these American s u r v e y s appear to bo at least two years away, that even these major studies may not produce c o n c l u s i v e r e s u l t s and t h a t , in the eyes of the A u s t r a l i a n v e t e r a n com:aunity - by w h i c h we are prepared to be j u d g e d on our r e c o r d - the U n i t e d S t a t e s s t u d i e s of U n i t e d States v e t e r a n s may not be r e l e v a n t to our A u s t r a l i a n e x p e r i e n c e . It has also been s u g g e s t e d , Mr S p e a k e r , t h a t we may be ablo to speed up the r e s u l t s and reduce the very heavy costs, by sample s u r v e y s of say 2 , 0 0 0 or 3 , 0 0 0 of the 41,000 veterans who w e r e in V i e t n a m . My v e r y best a d v i c e , Mr S p e a k e r , is t h a t t h e r e would be very real problems w i t h the v a l i d i t y of any conclusion d r a w n f r o m such a sample survey. The comparative r a r i t y of occurrence of the diseases in the c o m m u n i t y as a whole is such that no less than the e n t i r e Vietna.ii v e t e r a n population, compared w i t h a control group of s i m i l a r composition t h a t did not go to V i e t n a m , of about 2 0 , 0 0 0 , m u s t be covered by the s u r v e y . Mr Speaker, I hope t h a t every V i e t n a m v e t e r a n , irrespectivr, 1 of any doubt he may have about any possible e f f e c t s of exposure to h e r b i c i d e s , w i l l come f o r w a r d at the a p p r o p r i a t e time to p a r t i c i p a t e in the survey. �-6A !c:!'.;c:it- has bof.-n ir.ddo, Mr S p e a k e r , t h a t i n s t e a d of t h i s iitajoi- • • ; _ • ' . ;:ii.o.l o g i f n l .'.itudy, a forrc of: j u d i c i a l i n q u i r y bo sot up. U '•'"•• •''.'on s u g g e s t e d t h - i t t h i s i n q u i r y should have, ;is a ba 5:.;. o ;.;. v : • • : : • I; i o n , 1-};e pr es;in\ pi. i on t h a t a vast range of sy,nptom : • covorir.-;; vi i: t u a l l y all. medical c o n d i t i o n s are caused by exposure t o her U c : . < • : : • ; i n V i o t n c u T i . I t is envisaged t h a t , L n t h i s i n q u i r y , thJ:", p::r-.vr,;.;.-r..i.op. should be r e b u t t e d by the Commonwealth. Mr Spoa!;.;:r , i t cannot- be proved t h a t a causal r e l a t i o n s h i p between each an.:! e v e r y c o n d i t i o n w i t h i n t h a t vast r a n g e does not e x i s t proof ol: :-\>::h n e g a t i v e - a s s o c i a t i o n is not possible in the circiun.-'.UKicos. in a d d i t i o n , t'no a v a i l a b l e s c i e n t i f i c l i t e r a t u r e on w h i c h such an i n q u i r y must largely depend,was studied as r e c e n t l y as 1977 by an agency of the World Health O r g a n i s a t i o n . It concluded t h a t f u r t h e r s t u d i e s i n c l u d i n g those of an epidemiologies! n a t u r e , such as will be done in A u s t r a l i a , w e r e needed to resolve the q u e s t i o n . In c o n s i d e r i n g the n a t u r e of t h i s f o r m of i n q u i r y , the Govoi.TmionL was not able to see how it would help resolve the most di 55 t r e e si rig of the problems f a c e d by some V i e t n a m v e t e r a n s . It would not a s s i s t , Mr S p e a k e r , in assessing the medical c o n d i t i o n of the members of the v e t e r a n s ' f a m i l y , in e s t a b l i s h i n g what t r e a t m e n t and d i s a b i l i t y pension payments would be a p p r o p r i a t e , and in helping him to make decisions as to w h e t h e r or not he and his w i f e should have more c h i l d r e n . There would be n o t h i n g personal or i m m e d i a t e l y h e l p f u l to the v e t e r a n in such an i n q u i r y . For all these reasons, Mr Speaker, the Government has decided t h a t the r e q u e s t for t h i s f o r m of i n q u i r y must be r e f u s e d . In this r e j e c t i o n , Mr Speaker, and in the decision to press on w i t h the major epidemiologies! study of which I f i r s t i n f o r m e d the House in F e b r u a r y , the Government is most evidently not seeking to avoid any i s s u e , but r a t h e r uuir.t be seen as i n t e n t on seeking answers to questions t h a t so u n d e r s t a n d a b l y are d i s t r e s s i n g to A u s t r a l i a n v e t e r a n s and t h e i r f a m i l i e s . The e x p e n d i t u r e on the s u r v e y will exceed two million dollars and it will e x t e n d , in its major phase, over some two years. H o w e v e r , it is expected to provide s c i e n t i f i c a l l y v a l i d r e s u l t s t h a t will give a basis for u n d e r s t a n d i n g w h i c h w i l l be i n v a l u a b l e not only to enable the G o v e r n m e n t to move to w h a t e v e r f u r t h e r m e a s u r e s are a p p r o p r i a t e but as a s i g n i f i c a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n to medical s c i e n t i f i c knowledge t h r o u g h o u t the world. ../7 �-7V?o i.'0l3-.jvo i t i.-: l i k e l y to prove the only, way that the . ! • • ! •"*'•: e r an a of s e r v i c e in V i e t n a m can be given the a s s u r e ' . - ; :. :.-.i',;it t h e y r;o un J e r r . t a n d a b l y need. To c.n'.vincc w o r l d - w i d e as well as loca] acceptance of the s t u d y , i ': in i n t e n d e d tha 1 : a small g r o u p of: s c i e n t i s t s , indooon:"!"iiL and w i t h world-wide c r e d i b i l i t y as epidemiologists, be er.taixli:;:: r od to assess and endorse the methodology of the s t u d y and to co:n::>.ont on any a l t e r a t i o n s which may become necessary in the s t u d y d . i / i n g i t s course. I propose to announce the composition of that s e l e c t y r o u p to the House as soon as practicable b u t , f Mr Speaker, the continuing progress of the study will not be held up aw a i. i: i ng these appo i n tm en t s . I continue to say, as I said when the first complaints were made, that those veterans who feel they have been affected by herbicides during their service in Vietnam should lodge a claim with ray Department GO that medical examinations can be carried out to establish a diagnosis and to make recommendations on whether any disabilities found could be linked with their service in Vietnam, to the independent authorities which make the determinations. Mr Speaker: , I have said on earlier occasions that the Government has acted with all speed and understanding in this matter. I have kept the House informed of developments as they have occurred. I am pleased, Mr Speaker, to inform Honourable Members now of this very significant further step that the Government has decided to take to resolve the uncertainties underlying the question of whether exposure to herbicides, during the Vietnam conflict, has had or may in future be likely to have, an impact on the health of Australian Vietnam veterans and their children. � 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. 070 Folder The folder containing the original item. 1878 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/. Title A name given to the resource Statement on Herbicides and Chemicals and Vietnam Veterans Made by The minister for Veterans' Affairs, The Hon. A. E. Adermann, M. P. in the House of Representatives, 31 March 1980. Subject The topic of the resource Australian Parliamentary Hearing compensation study protocol 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. 028 Folder The folder containing the original item. 0430 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/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Science Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource January 4 1980 Title A name given to the resource Agent Orange Again Subject The topic of the resource dioxin adipose tissue testing VA compensation 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. 028 Folder The folder containing the original item. 0429 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/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Journal of the American Medical Association Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource January 11 1980 Title A name given to the resource Air Force Will Study Men Who Sprayed Agent Orange Subject The topic of the resource Air Force Health Study compensation VA congressional hearings ao_seriesIII