title: Exposure to TCDD from base perimeter application of Agent Orange in Vietnam.
abstract: Using recognized methods routinely employed by pesticide regulatory agencies, the exposures of military personnel that were mixer/loader/applicators (M/L/A) of Agent Orange (AO) for perimeter foliage at bases during the Vietnam War were estimated. From the fraction of TCDD in AO, absorbed dosage of the manufacturing contaminant was estimated. Dermal exposure estimated from spray drift to residents of the bases was calculated using internationally recognized software that accounted for proximity, foliar density of application site, droplet size and wind speed among other factors, and produced estimates of deposition. Those that directly handled AO generally had much higher exposures than those further from the areas of use. The differences in exposure potential varied by M/L/A activity, but were typically orders of magnitude greater than bystanders. However, even the most-exposed M/L/A involved in perimeter application had lifetime exposures comparable to persons living in the U.S. at the time, i.e., ~1.3 to 5 pg TCDD/kg bodyweight.
authors.affiliation: LLC, 5150 Fair Oaks Blvd. #101-370, Carmichael, CA 95608, United States. Electronic address: jhross@surewest.net.
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Centre for Pesticide Application and Safety, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia; Lincoln University, Christchurch 7640, New Zealand; The University of Nebraska, North Platte, NE, United States.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hewitt
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Armitage
authors.affiliation: Centre for Toxicology, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.affiliation: M.E. Ginevan & Associates, 307 Hamilton Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20901, United States.
authors.forename: Deborah K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.affiliation: M.E. Ginevan & Associates, 307 Hamilton Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20901, United States.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ginevan
mesh_terms: D015085:2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D000075182:Agent Orange; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D008889:Military Personnel; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000032:analysis*; D047829:Vietnam Conflict
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid; D000075182:Agent Orange; D015085:2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid
keywords: Agent Orange; Base perimeter; TCDD; Veteran's exposure; Vietnam