Agent Orange, dioxins, and other chemicals of concern in Vietnam: update 2006.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to find sites in Vietnam where there was human exposure from Agent Orange herbicide sprayed between 1962 and 1971, as determined by congener-specific measurement of dioxins, including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD), the dioxin that contaminated Agent Orange, in blood.


METHODS
Blood was collected from residents of eight heavily sprayed regions in the south of Vietnam and analyzed for TCDD and in some cases the dioxin-like dibenzofurans and dioxin-like PCBs.


RESULTS
Six of the eight newly studied sites did not show substantial or any elevated TCDD in blood. Marked elevation of TCDD in Vietnamese blood was found in one new location with a suggestion of slightly elevated TCDD in a second location.


CONCLUSIONS
In newly studied locations in Vietnam, we found some persons with elevation of TCDD consistent with exposure to dioxin from Agent Orange. In our previous studies, we found PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs as well as pesticides in human milk, blood, or in food. Health effects from Agent Orange need to be differentiated from effects caused by chemicals other than TCDD from Agent Orange.
Schecter
Arnold
A
University of Texas School of Public Health, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA. arnold.schecter@utsouthwestern.edu
Quynh
Hoang Trong
HT
Päpke
Olaf
O
Tung
K C
KC
Constable
John D
JD
D015085:2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000097:blood* / Q000266:history; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000097:blood* / Q000266:history; D000075182:Agent Orange; D003678:Defoliants, Chemical / Q000097:blood* / Q000266:history; D004147:Dioxins / Q000097:blood*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000266:history; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood* / Q000266:history; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood* / Q000266:history; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology; D047829:Vietnam Conflict
D003678:Defoliants, Chemical; D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid; D000075182:Agent Orange; D015085:2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid