On or about August 4, 2014, a long-term study was released on the association between Agent Orange exposure and diseases of the endocrine, nervous, circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems. This study was related to exposure for Republic of Korea (ROK) military personnel who served in Korea during the Vietnam War. In essence, the study assessed the prevalence of certain diseases for ROK veterans with dioxin exposure “low” levels considered versus “high”.
I was able to review the study, however, unfortunately I cannot provide a free access link. I will update if such a link becomes available. A link to the abstract can be found at Agent Orange Exposure and Disease Prevalence in Korean Vietnam Veteran: The Korean Veterans Health Study, Environmental Research, Vol. 133, Pg. 56-65 (August 2014). The study found an increased prevalence for the following diseases/conditions: (1) hypothyroidism (elevated odds ratio [OR]=1.13); (2) autoimmune thyroiditis (OR=1.93); (3) diabetes mellitus (OR=1.04); (4) other endocrine gland disorders including pituitary gland disorders (OR=1.43); (5) amyloidosis (OR=3.02); (6) systemic atrophies affecting the nervous system including spinal muscular atrophy (OR=1.27); (7) Alzheimer disease (OR=1.64); (8) peripheral polyneuropathies (OR=1.09); (9) angina pectoris (OR=1.04); (10) stroke (OR=1.09); (11) chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) including chronic bronchitis (OR=1.05) and bronchiectasis (OR=1.16); (12) asthma (OR=1.04); (13) peptic ulcer (OR=1.03), and (14) liver cirrhosis (OR=1.08).
Congress has authorized the National Academy of Sciences assess the long-term health effects of Agent Orange (predominantly 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)), through September 15, 2015. See 38 U.S.C. § 1116. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) publishes Agent Orange Reports every two years and the above study clearly adds to the body of scientific and medical literature available for the IOM to review.