Veterans and Agent Orange

In 2001, in response to a request by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), the Institute of Medicine (IOM) called together a committee to conduct a review of the scientific evidence regarding the association between exposure to dioxin and other chemical compounds in herbicides used in Vietnam and acute myelogenous leukemia in the offspring of Vietnam veterans. Based on the scientific evidence reviewed in this report, the committee finds there is inadequate or insufficient evidence to determine if an association exists between exposure to the herbicides used in Vietnam or their contaminants and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in the children of Vietnam veterans. This is a change in classification from the recent Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 2000 report, which found limited/suggestive evidence for such an association.


Table of Contents


Front Matter
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
SUMMARIES OF EPIDEMIOLOGIC EVIDENCE
SYNTHESIS
CONCLUSIONS
References
Appendix A Workshop on the Review of Health Effects in Vietnam Veterans of Exposure to Herbicides (Third Biennial Update)
Appendix B Committee and Staff Biographies