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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Agent Orange Linked to Risk of Parkinson's, Heart Disease

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(Newser) – Exposure to Agent Orange appears to increase the risk of developing heart disease and Parkinson’s, a congressionally mandated report says. The carcinogenic defoliant has not been definitively linked with the illnesses, but a professor who led the report says there is “limited or suggestive evidence of an association." More evidence of a link is likely to emerge as Vietnam veterans exposed to the chemical grow older, HealthDay News reports.

"The chemical exposure did some damage that starts to be expressed as our bodies become more fragile" with age, he explains. Another doc notes that herbicides in general have long been linked to Parkinson’s, but “these specific cast characters, I waffle about how strong that evidence is at this time.”

A wounded US paratrooper grimacing in pain while waiting for medical evacuation at base camp in the A Shau Valley near the Laos border in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
A wounded US paratrooper grimacing in pain while waiting for medical evacuation at base camp in the A Shau Valley near the Laos border in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.   (AP Photo)
A veterans cemetery.
A veterans cemetery.   (AP Photo)
A soldier in the US Army 1st Air Cavalry holds his rifle above his head as he serves as a
A soldier in the US Army 1st Air Cavalry holds his rifle above his head as he serves as a "traffic cop" for helicopters in Vietnam in 1969.   (Getty Images)
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8 comments
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Timinator2K
Jul 24, 09 3:19 PM CDT
And throw in rare but very deadly cancers. The Agent Orange jungle defoliant was a really ill-conceived territory-denial weapon that didn't help defeat the communists one whit. Reply
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+11
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Altoecko
Jul 24, 09 3:24 PM CDT
More posts like this from you please.
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0
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kokuaguy
Jul 24, 09 5:11 PM CDT
Dow made a pile of money off of it.
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+1
Odaecom
Jul 24, 09 3:25 PM CDT
And now the DOD is exposing our brave soldiers to Depleted Uranium... Reply
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+7
IN RESPONSE:
Reader64481089
Jul 24, 09 7:21 PM CDT
The DOD will stifle any evidence of the Depleted Uranium Threat as they did to us who served in Nam, many of my friends came home only to die of wounds they didn't even know they had. The reason it has taken this long to "announce" is that the majority of the ones contaminated and then came home died within the first 15 -20 years, there are only a few who got heavy doses still clinging to life. Had one buddy who served, came home got a job with the post office, then his finger nails and then toe nails turned green, black, and blue and fell off leaving him bleeding for the remainder of his life. Just another little thing to thank the Gov for, the way they misuse and abuse Veterans on a regular basis.
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veterans • heart disease • Parkinson's disease • carcinogens • Vietnam War • Agent Orange • Institute of Medicine • defoliant

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