Agent Orange/leukemia link discounted

VFW Magazine, May, 2002 by Tim Dyhouse

A scientific panel said last year that a Vietnam veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and the chance his children might develop leukemia were linked. It has now backed off that claim.

The National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine (IOM) said Feb. 27 that there was not enough evidence to establish the connection.

IOM's claim last April (June/July 2001 Washington Wire) was based on three tests, one of which showed higher than expected rates of acute myelogenous leukemia in the children of Australian Vietnam vets. After reviewing additional data, which included reports of errors in the Australian study, IOM found there was "inadequate or insufficient evidence" to determine a link and reversed itself.

VA Secretary Anthony Principi said he would support benefits for afflicted children "if future studies reach the legal threshold" to prove a link between exposure and the disease. P.L. 106-419 already authorizes VA to provide benefits to women Vietnam veterans' children with birth defects.