Dioxins and Dibenzofurans in Adipose Tissue of U.S. Vietnam Veterans and Controls

摘要

Concern about the adverse effects of exposure to Agent Orange is for the mostpart attributable to its toxic contaminant, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). A total of 40 Vietnam veterans, 80 non-Vietnam veterans and 80 civilian men were selected from males born between 1936 and 1954 and their adipose tissues were analyzed for 17 2,3,7,8-substituted dioxins and dibenzofurans. TCDD levels were log normally distributed and the mean level of 2,3,7,8-TCDD in adipose tissue of the Vietnam veterans (13.4 ppt) was not significantly different from that of the non-Vietnam veterans (12.5 ppt) or civilian men (15.8 ppt). Adjusting for demographic variables did not change the conclusions. The study results suggest that heavy exposure to Agent Orange for most Vietnam veterans was very unlikely and that there is no readily available and reliable indirect method of assessing exposure to Agent Orange for Vietnam veterans.