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My Battalion people from my second tour are in trouble with Agent Orange. On my own, I took on re-initiating a survey of problems with miscarriage, handicapped children, cancer, etc. In order to better understand what I was doing, I did a lot of work on the Internet. I have talked to Bill Lewis; and his assistance, along with a copy of his Pointman Study, were key elements in my direction or focus.
I found out something that has bothered me for some time. Most studies on the net refer to Agent Orange as the catch all herbicide. Well, we know there were others, with Agent Orange, Agent White, and Agent Blue being the dominant three. White, I had been told was supposed to be the worst, but I couldn't find out why.
While peeking and poking, I found a pesticide permit action. Most of it talked about Tordon 22K. The ingredient in question was Picloram. Seems that Picloram had a contaminant. DOWElanco has been working for the last ten years to reduce its contaminant level and is continuing to reduce it further. This was a 1994 action. Contaminant was Hexachlorobenzene (HCB). Evidence fully supported this disclosure.
I went back to the Web; and with my new knowledge, I relooked at my Picloram stuff. Picloram, for starters, is a chlorobenzoic acid; and yes, the contaminant did and does exist. HCB is a known carcinogen and is banned in the US and most of the world.
Let's go back a little in history. The herbicides used in Vietnam were not the quality stuff we see today. The manufacturing process was cheap and accelerated to the point that Contaminants' levels were high.
Agent White was a mixture of 2,4-D, and Picloram. What I also found was that the chemical companies routinely determine what will be active and what will be inert ingredients for their chemicals. Once they are registered with EPA, only the active ingredients are identified; and EPA and other government agencies are forbidden by law from revealing the inert ingredients. Sort of patent or trade secret.
Tordon 101, AKA Agent White, was registered in 1965 with EPA. Picloram and 2,4-D only are listed as comprising less then 50 per cent of the chemical. The rest is inerts, understanding that it could be just water and other non-toxic chemicals. But, and it's a big but, HCB was in the solution.
HCB is considered persistent and enters water aquifier systems easily and is more persistent there. In Hydrosoil, however, a strange thing happens -- HCB degrades and gives off a chloride ion. It becomes Pentachlorophenol, another dangerous dioxin compound. Penta, as it is also called, is dangerous by skin absorption.
I point all this out, as the Agent Orange court action and its results is a win but a big loss for all of us. Was Agent White an issue in the case? It has a whole new set of things it attacks, like liver, lungs, blood, gastro-intestinal, and the list goes on. Is this the smoking gun or has this been addressed?
Yes, I have an article written discussing a wide range of issues on Agent Orange and herbicides. It is with my Cancer researcher for technical review and at the University of Oklahoma for scholarly review. I used 54 reference documents which I will attach. I have many more.
Hope this helps,
DOC
2. H. Lindsey Arison III, Executive Summary, The Herbicidal Warfare Program in Vietnam, 1961-1971, Operations Trail Dust/Ranch hand, July 12, 1995, [email protected]
3. Herbicide Exposure Assessment, Pointman II Project, New Jersey Agent Orange Commission, William W. Lewis, Executive Director, New Jersey Agent Orange Commission.
4. "An Unwanted Agent," Chemical Reaction, The Why Files, National Institute for Science Education (NISE), University of Wisconsin-Madison, in partnership with the National Center for Improving Science Education, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF is an independent agency of the U.S. Government. The project is sponsored by the Directorate of Education and Human Resources.
5. "2,4-D," Extension Toxicology Network (EXTOXNET), a Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices at Cornell University, Michigan State University, Oregon State University and University of California at Davis. Major support and funding was provided by the USDA/Extension Service/National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program, Revised 9/93.
6. Anna Maria Evangelista de Duffard and Ricardo Duffard, "Behavioral Toxicology, Risk Assessment, and Chlorinated hydrocarbons," Laboratorio de Toxicologia Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias, Bioquimicas y Farmaceuticas, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. This paper was prepared as background for the Workshop on Risk Assessment Methodologies for the Safety Evaluation of Chemicals (SGOMSEC) held 12-17 June 1994 in Rochester, New York. Manuscript received : 22 February 1995; Manuscript accepted 17 December 1995.
7. Arthur L. Craigmill, PhD, Extension Toxicologist Environmental Toxicology and Veterinary Extension, University of California Davis, CA 95616, Newsletter, "2,4-D, Cooperative Extension, University of California, Environmental Toxicology Newsletter, Vol. 1 No. 1, November 14, 1980.
8. "Occupational Risk of Cancer from Pesticides: Farmer Studies," CancerNet from the National Cancer Institute, Copyright 1996, [email protected].
9. Manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), for "(2,4- Dichlorophenoxy) Acetic Acid," effective date: 08/29/86, CAS No.: 00094-75-7.
10. "In Answer to Your Questions About Agent Orange," CancerNet from the National Cancer Institute, CancerWEB, Copyright 1996, [email protected].
11. "Nationwide Dioxin Campaign," Rachel's Environment & Health Weekly # 479, Environmental Research Foundation, INTERNET: [email protected], February 1, 1996.
12. Gary Lee, Washington Post Staff Writer, "EPA Study Links Dioxin to Cancer Report Stops Short of Calling Chemical a Known Carcinogen," (C) 1994 The Washington Post (LEGI-Slate Article No. 212033).
13. Vincent F Garry and Jack Griffith, University of Minnesota Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Pathology, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA; Dina Schreinemachers and Mary E. Harkins, U.S. Environmental Protection agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 USA, "Pesticide Appliers, Biocides and Birth Defects in Rural Minnesota," manuscript received 31 August 1995; accepted 1 December 1995.
14. Congressional Testimony, "Public Health Implications of Dioxins," by Barry L. Johnson, Ph.D., Assistant Surgeon General, Vice Chairman, Public Health Service, Committee to coordinate Environmental Health and Related Programs; Before the Subcommittee on Human Resources and Intergovernmental Relations committee on government Operations House of Representatives, June 10.1992, ATSDR Science Corner, November 9, 1993.
15. "005102 - PICLORAM, TRIIOSOPROPANOLAM - 070193," CAS number: 26952-20-5, EPA registration data on Tordon 101.
16. "TORDON 101 MIXTURE WEED AND BRUSH KILLER," Registration number: 000464-00306, Company: DOW CHEMICAL CO, THE, Approval date: 19630614, Cancel date: 19891204. Old registration of Tordon 101.
17. "TORDON 101 MIXTURE," Registration Number: 062719- 00005, Company: DOWELANCO, Approval date: 19891204. New registration, still Tordon 101.
18. PC Code: 030035, CAS Reg. No. 32341-80-3. Specific chemical registration for the Chemical 2,4-D.
19. PC Code: 005102, CAS Reg. No. 6753-47-5. Specific chemical registration for the chemical Picloram, Triisopropanolamine Salt.
20. Joel Dyer, "Keep Off the Tordon," This Just In Home Page, June 11,1996.
21. "PICLORAM," Record Number: 29-110991, CAS Registry Number: 1918-02-1, Environmental Health Data Search, Deervale Rd via Dorrigo NSW 2453, Tel & FAX Aust 066 573262.
22. "APPEAL NO. 94/04 PESTICIDE," In the matter of appeal under Section 15 of the Pesticide Control Act, RS Chap. 322, 1979, on Pesticide Use Permit 116-015-94/96, issued by the Deputy Administrator, Pesticide Control Act to the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, Christina Mayall, Panel Chair, Environmental Appeal board, November 18,1994. Appeal concerned Pesticide Use Permit for Herbicides Tordon 22K and Roundup.
23. "Many Pesticides, Little Knowledge," Rachel's Environment Health Weekly #475, November 23, 1995, Environmental Research Foundation, INTERNET: [email protected].
24. "Hexachlorobenzene," Extension Toxicology Network (EXTOXNET), a Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices at Cornell University, Michigan State University, Oregon State University and University of California at Davis. Major support and funding was provided by the USDA/Extension Service/National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program, Revised 9/93.
25. "Pentachlorophenol," Extension Toxicology Network (EXTOXNET), a Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices at Cornell University, Michigan State University, Oregon State University and University of California at Davis. Major support and funding was provided by the USDA/Extension Service/National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program, revised 9/93.
26. Richard Alexander, Esq., San Jose California Attorney, National Honor Scholar at the Law School, University of Chicago, "A Developing Toxic Tort: Lumber Mills Log Cabins, Leukemia, Lymphomas and Soft Tissue Sarcomas: The Case Against Pentachlorophenol," The Consumer Law Page, Articles:, The Alexander Law Firm, [email protected], Copyright 1994- 96, THE ALEXANDER LAW FIRM.
27. "Hexachlorobenzene," ATSDR, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Department of Health & Human Services, Public Health Statement, December 1990.
28. "Pentachlorophenol", ToxFAQs, ATSDR, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Department of Health & Human Services, September 1995.
29. "Picloram," Extension Toxicology Network (EXTOXNET), a Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices at Cornell University, Michigan State University, Oregon State University and University of California at Davis. Major support and funding was provided by the USDA/Extension Service/National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program, revised 9/93.
30. Manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), for "Cacodylic Acid, Sodium Salt, Trihydrate," Effective date: 11/20/85, CAS No.: 00124-65-2.
31. "Cacodylic Acid," Extension Toxicology Network (EXTOXNET), a Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices at Cornell University, Michigan State University, Oregon State University and University of California at Davis. Major support and funding was provided by the USDA/Extension Service/National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program, revised 9/93.
32. "Herbicides Used in Vietnam," Copyright 1997, The American War Library, http://members.aol.com/warlibrary/vwhr1.htm. Special thanks to Richard Raine, Special Projects, Dept of Vet Services, Div of Vet Affairs, 1227 O Street, Po Box 942895, Sacramento, CA 94295-0001.
33. William "Bill" Lewis, Executive Director, New Jersey Agent Orange Commission, New Jersey Agent Orange Commission, "Some Facts about Agent Orange/Dioxin," copyright 1996, New Jersey Agent Orange Commission, Copyright 1996, New Jersey Agent Orange Commission, Revised -- 9/15/96.
34. "Dangers of Chemical Combinations," Rachel's Environment Health Weekly #498, June 13, 1996, Environmental Research Foundation, INTERNET: [email protected]
35. "Agent Orange and Related Issues," VA Fact Sheet, Department of Veterans Affairs, Embargoed for Release at 1 P.M. May 28.
36. "HERBS TAPE," Department of Defense, AD A090956, Listing of Air Force Herbicide Spray Missions by Province, coordinates, date, gallon amount, and agent type.
37. "Bad Science? Our Government's Approach to Agent Orange," American Legion Magazine, February 1990, page 38.
38. "Air Force Health Study: An Epidemiologic Investigation of Health Effects in Air Force Personnel Following Exposure to Herbicides." Extract, 1992 Followup Examination Results, Executive Summary, 2 May 1995, Contract Number F41624-91-C- 1006.
39. Senator Thomas Daschle, "Agent Orange, Ten Years of Struggle," American Legion Magazine, February 1990, Page 16, Remarks were delivered in the U.S. Senate on November 21, 1989, and were excerpted from the "Congressional Record.
40. Richard Alexander, Esq, San Jose California Attorney, National Honor Scholar at the Law School, University of Chicago, "Dioxin Proven to Cause Cancer and Heart Disease," The Consumer Law Page, Articles:, The Alexander Law Firm, [email protected], Copyright 1994-96, THE ALEXANDER LAW FIRM.
41. Abstract, Dioxin study in American Journal of Epidemiology, "Exposure to Polycholorinated Dioxins and Furans (PCDD/F) and Mortality in a Cohort of Workers From a Herbicide-Producing Plant in Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany, Dieter Flesh-Janys, Jurgen Berger, Petra Gurn, Alfred Manz, Sibylle Nagel, Hiltraud, Waltsgott and James H. Dwyer, American Journal of Epidemiology, 1995; 142:1165-75, [email protected].
42. "Vietnam Veteran Fact Sheet, The War," Vietnam Veterans Institute, J. Eldon Yates, Chairman, P.O. Box 169, Hunt Valley, MD 21031.
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44. "Dapsone," Gold Standard Multimedia Inc., [Resources], Dapsone by Jacobus, Copyright 1996, Gold Standard Multimedia Inc.
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47. "The Story of Agent Orange Staff Report U.S. Veteran News and Report," This article was downloaded from AOL, Part of a series on Agent Orange.
48. Harold P. Green, Professor Emeritus of Law, The George Washington University National Law Center, "The Role of Law in Determining Acceptability of Risk," Management of Assessed Risk for Carcinogens, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. 363, 1981, Pages 1-12.
49. "3. Issues in Human Health Risk Assessment," NCERQA, National Center for Environmental Research and Quality Assurance, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Last Updated: October 23, 1996.
50. "Parts Per Trillion Couldn't Hurt, Could They?," Chemical Reaction, The Why Files, National Institute for Science Education (NISE), University of Wisconsin-Madison, in partnership with the National Center for Improving Science Education, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF is an independent agency of the U.S. Government. The project is sponsored by the Directorate of Education and Human Resources.
51. Rory Conolly, "U.S. EPA Reassessment of the Health Risks of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)(1), CIIT Activities (Vol. 14, no.12), Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology (CIIT), 1994, All Rights Reserved.
52. Dr. Christopher J. Portier (LQCB), Dr. Michael Kohn (LQCB), Dr. George Lucier (Environmental Toxicology Program, NIEHS), Dr. George Clark (Laboratory of Biochemical Risk Assessment, NIEHS), Dr. Michael Gallo (Rutgers University), Dr. Lutz Edler (German Cancer Research Center), "2. Dioxin and Related Compounds, Last updated January, 25, 1995, [email protected].
53. Stephen U. Lester, Science Director of Citizens Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste, "Industry's 'True Lies,' The Politics Behind the Scientific Debate on Dioxin," The Consumer Law Page, Articles:, The Alexander Law Firm, [email protected], Copyright 1994-96, THE ALEXANDER LAW FIRM.
54. Linda R. Cohen, Department of Economics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92717 and Roger G. Noll, Department of Economics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, "The Future of the National Laboratories," PNAS, Proc.Natl. Acad.Sci. USA, Vol 93, PP. 12678-12685, November 1996, Colloquium Paper, Copyright 1996 by the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
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