Alvin L Young | None (original) (raw)
Papers by Alvin L Young
Journal of Soils and Sediments, May 31, 2008
British journal of healthcare and medical research, May 18, 2024
Issue: Approximately 3 million Allied personnel from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, a... more Issue: Approximately 3 million Allied personnel from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea served in the Republic of Vietnam from March 1965 through March 1973 in what became known as the Vietnam-American War. In March 1978, a widely distributed documentary "Agent Orange: Vietnams Deadly Fog", generated fear and anger in Vietnam veterans of that War who became aware that the tactical herbicide Agent Orange, a defoliant, had been deployed in combat operations to improve visibility in enemy controlled jungle and infiltration routes, and around base perimeters. One of the herbicidal components of Agent Orange (2,4,5-T herbicide) contained the contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo p-dioxin (TCDD), a highly toxic chemical associated with industrial accidents and an alleged teratogen in forestry programs where the herbicide was widely sprayed for brush control and conifer release. Following the release of the documentary, thousands of Allied Vietnam Veterans overwhelmed Veterans Administrations claiming Agent Orange and the associated dioxin were responsible for numerous diseases, birth defects, and long-term health issues. Despite the passage of almost 50 years, science has not been able to answer the question of the health impacts of alleged environmental exposures to either the TCDD or the tactical herbicides on Vietnam veterans. Thus, at the heart of the issues the question remains, were Vietnam veterans ever exposed to Agent Orange and TCDD or was it the Vietnam experience that has impacted the long-term health of the Vietnam veteran? Background: From March 1965 through April 1971, the United States Air Force and the US Army Chemical Corps sprayed approximately 74.2 million liters of tactical herbicides on 1.7 million hectares of the inland forests, savannas, and grasslands of South Vietnam. Contained within the 74.2 million L was 43.3 million L of the tactical herbicide known as Agent Orange that was contaminated with 130 kg of TCDD. Numerous research studies have been conducted in Vietnam, all alleging that the TCDD from Agent Orange was responsible for health issues among the Vietnamese. However, a careful assessment of the sources of TCDD in Vietnam indicated that significant quantities of TCDD were in the waterways and atmosphere due to the pollution from industries and open burning of municipal and industrial wastes, and not from Agent Orange. Human Studies: The deployment of in-country medical support in the War by the Allied Forces was instrumental in saving lives. What was unexpected was that more casualties died from insect-transmitted diseases and other health related issues than from enemy bullets and bombs. The more than 50 health studies of Vietnam veterans by the four Allied nations confirmed that with two exceptions (the Air Force Health Study of veterans from Operation RANCH HAND, and health studies of US Army Chemical Corps personnel) Vietnam veterans were never exposed to Agent Orange or TCDD. What the health studies did confirm
Urban studies and public administration, Aug 8, 2020
Jackson Hole Research Station Annual Report, 1963
Abstract : Nine months after the last defoliant-equipment test mission on the one-square-mile gri... more Abstract : Nine months after the last defoliant-equipment test mission on the one-square-mile grid of Test Area C-52A, a vegetative coverage survey was conducted. The percent of vegetative coverage within 169 sections (each 400 by 400 feet) was ranked in one of six possible classes. The average number of dicotyledonous (broadleaf) plants was determined for each coverage class. Seventy-four dicotyledonous species were found on the one-square mile grid and the average number of species within vegetative coverage classes ranged from five in class 0 (0 to 5% cover) to 24 in class V (80 to 100% cover). A control area contained 28 species, all of which were also on the grid except for two species. The existence in class 0 or class 1 areas of dicotyledonous plants that are susceptible to the active ingredients of military defoliants indicates that the amount of defoliant residues in the soil is insignificant. The present vegetative coverage of sections of the grid is due to a combination of soil moisture content, prior mechanical disturbances and prior defoliant spraying. In those areas having a relatively high soil moisture content, considerable vegetation has returned, regardless of whether the vegetation was removed mechanically or by defoliants. (Author)
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Oct 18, 2005
Page 1. Coalbed Methane Commentaries 318 © 2005 ecomed publishers (Verlagsgruppe Hüthig Jehle Reh... more Page 1. Coalbed Methane Commentaries 318 © 2005 ecomed publishers (Verlagsgruppe Hüthig Jehle Rehm GmbH), D-86899 Landsberg and Tokyo Mumbai Seoul Melbourne Paris ESPR Environ Sci & Pollut Res 12 (6) 318 321 (2005) Commentaries ...
Military Medicine, Jul 1, 2011
Rapidly identifying and appropriately reacting to potentially hazardous environmental exposures c... more Rapidly identifying and appropriately reacting to potentially hazardous environmental exposures could result in the mitigation of adverse health effects, accurate documentation of the exposures leading to reliable assessments of the risks associated with the exposures, and records of those actually exposed and the extent and duration of their exposures. As a panel, we addressed the questions of who should be educated, why they should be educated, what their education should consist of, and when the educational activities should occur. Our panel concluded that within the Department of Defense global community, education on potentially hazardous environmental exposures must start with and be grounded in the military Preventive Medicine (PM) professional community. Members of the military PM professional community must develop the skills needed to educate military non-PM medical and non-medical leaders, and they must actively assume their roles as educators. Panel 5 participants identified computer-based education as a means of disseminating teaching materials on environmental risks among military members as they move through the different phases of their careers.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Apr 16, 2011
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Jun 1, 1996
The use of irradation to improve the safety, protect the nutritional benefits, and preserve the q... more The use of irradation to improve the safety, protect the nutritional benefits, and preserve the quality of fresh and processed foods is a well established and proven technology. Over the past 30 years, the United States Government has invested in the science to confirm safety and in the technology to show application. The United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration have approved sources of ionizing radiation for the treatment of foods, and their application to most meats, fruits, vegetables, and spices. Despite the value of this technology to the food industry and to the health and welfare of the public, only minimal application of this technology occurs. This underscorces the importance of increasing the public's understanding of radiation risks relative to other hazards. Accordingly, the Committee on Interagency Radiation Research and Policy Coordination of the Executive Office of the President has made recommendations for the creation of a centralized National Radiation Information Center that would work closely with Federal departments and agencies in responding to public queries about radiation issues and Federal programs.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Mar 1, 2005
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, May 1, 2002
Chemosphere, 1985
Abstract In 1980 the United States Government embarked upon a series of epidemiologic and health ... more Abstract In 1980 the United States Government embarked upon a series of epidemiologic and health surveillance studies designed to elucidate health effects attributable to dioxin exposures associated with the manufacture or use of 2,4,5-T or Agent Orange herbicides. The coordination and oversight of this effort was assigned to the White House Agent Orange Working Group. The health concerns of individuals exposed to 2,3,7,8-TCDD are varied; hence, the approach encompassed studies comparing morbidity, reproduction and mortality patterns between exposed and nonexposed populations. Ten Federal agencies provide the financial and scientific resources required to conduct the 15 ongoing major human studies.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Mar 1, 2004
Pediatric Clinics of North America, Aug 1, 1995
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, May 1, 1986
Journal of Soils and Sediments, May 31, 2008
British journal of healthcare and medical research, May 18, 2024
Issue: Approximately 3 million Allied personnel from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, a... more Issue: Approximately 3 million Allied personnel from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea served in the Republic of Vietnam from March 1965 through March 1973 in what became known as the Vietnam-American War. In March 1978, a widely distributed documentary "Agent Orange: Vietnams Deadly Fog", generated fear and anger in Vietnam veterans of that War who became aware that the tactical herbicide Agent Orange, a defoliant, had been deployed in combat operations to improve visibility in enemy controlled jungle and infiltration routes, and around base perimeters. One of the herbicidal components of Agent Orange (2,4,5-T herbicide) contained the contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo p-dioxin (TCDD), a highly toxic chemical associated with industrial accidents and an alleged teratogen in forestry programs where the herbicide was widely sprayed for brush control and conifer release. Following the release of the documentary, thousands of Allied Vietnam Veterans overwhelmed Veterans Administrations claiming Agent Orange and the associated dioxin were responsible for numerous diseases, birth defects, and long-term health issues. Despite the passage of almost 50 years, science has not been able to answer the question of the health impacts of alleged environmental exposures to either the TCDD or the tactical herbicides on Vietnam veterans. Thus, at the heart of the issues the question remains, were Vietnam veterans ever exposed to Agent Orange and TCDD or was it the Vietnam experience that has impacted the long-term health of the Vietnam veteran? Background: From March 1965 through April 1971, the United States Air Force and the US Army Chemical Corps sprayed approximately 74.2 million liters of tactical herbicides on 1.7 million hectares of the inland forests, savannas, and grasslands of South Vietnam. Contained within the 74.2 million L was 43.3 million L of the tactical herbicide known as Agent Orange that was contaminated with 130 kg of TCDD. Numerous research studies have been conducted in Vietnam, all alleging that the TCDD from Agent Orange was responsible for health issues among the Vietnamese. However, a careful assessment of the sources of TCDD in Vietnam indicated that significant quantities of TCDD were in the waterways and atmosphere due to the pollution from industries and open burning of municipal and industrial wastes, and not from Agent Orange. Human Studies: The deployment of in-country medical support in the War by the Allied Forces was instrumental in saving lives. What was unexpected was that more casualties died from insect-transmitted diseases and other health related issues than from enemy bullets and bombs. The more than 50 health studies of Vietnam veterans by the four Allied nations confirmed that with two exceptions (the Air Force Health Study of veterans from Operation RANCH HAND, and health studies of US Army Chemical Corps personnel) Vietnam veterans were never exposed to Agent Orange or TCDD. What the health studies did confirm
Urban studies and public administration, Aug 8, 2020
Jackson Hole Research Station Annual Report, 1963
Abstract : Nine months after the last defoliant-equipment test mission on the one-square-mile gri... more Abstract : Nine months after the last defoliant-equipment test mission on the one-square-mile grid of Test Area C-52A, a vegetative coverage survey was conducted. The percent of vegetative coverage within 169 sections (each 400 by 400 feet) was ranked in one of six possible classes. The average number of dicotyledonous (broadleaf) plants was determined for each coverage class. Seventy-four dicotyledonous species were found on the one-square mile grid and the average number of species within vegetative coverage classes ranged from five in class 0 (0 to 5% cover) to 24 in class V (80 to 100% cover). A control area contained 28 species, all of which were also on the grid except for two species. The existence in class 0 or class 1 areas of dicotyledonous plants that are susceptible to the active ingredients of military defoliants indicates that the amount of defoliant residues in the soil is insignificant. The present vegetative coverage of sections of the grid is due to a combination of soil moisture content, prior mechanical disturbances and prior defoliant spraying. In those areas having a relatively high soil moisture content, considerable vegetation has returned, regardless of whether the vegetation was removed mechanically or by defoliants. (Author)
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Oct 18, 2005
Page 1. Coalbed Methane Commentaries 318 © 2005 ecomed publishers (Verlagsgruppe Hüthig Jehle Reh... more Page 1. Coalbed Methane Commentaries 318 © 2005 ecomed publishers (Verlagsgruppe Hüthig Jehle Rehm GmbH), D-86899 Landsberg and Tokyo Mumbai Seoul Melbourne Paris ESPR Environ Sci & Pollut Res 12 (6) 318 321 (2005) Commentaries ...
Military Medicine, Jul 1, 2011
Rapidly identifying and appropriately reacting to potentially hazardous environmental exposures c... more Rapidly identifying and appropriately reacting to potentially hazardous environmental exposures could result in the mitigation of adverse health effects, accurate documentation of the exposures leading to reliable assessments of the risks associated with the exposures, and records of those actually exposed and the extent and duration of their exposures. As a panel, we addressed the questions of who should be educated, why they should be educated, what their education should consist of, and when the educational activities should occur. Our panel concluded that within the Department of Defense global community, education on potentially hazardous environmental exposures must start with and be grounded in the military Preventive Medicine (PM) professional community. Members of the military PM professional community must develop the skills needed to educate military non-PM medical and non-medical leaders, and they must actively assume their roles as educators. Panel 5 participants identified computer-based education as a means of disseminating teaching materials on environmental risks among military members as they move through the different phases of their careers.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Apr 16, 2011
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Jun 1, 1996
The use of irradation to improve the safety, protect the nutritional benefits, and preserve the q... more The use of irradation to improve the safety, protect the nutritional benefits, and preserve the quality of fresh and processed foods is a well established and proven technology. Over the past 30 years, the United States Government has invested in the science to confirm safety and in the technology to show application. The United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration have approved sources of ionizing radiation for the treatment of foods, and their application to most meats, fruits, vegetables, and spices. Despite the value of this technology to the food industry and to the health and welfare of the public, only minimal application of this technology occurs. This underscorces the importance of increasing the public's understanding of radiation risks relative to other hazards. Accordingly, the Committee on Interagency Radiation Research and Policy Coordination of the Executive Office of the President has made recommendations for the creation of a centralized National Radiation Information Center that would work closely with Federal departments and agencies in responding to public queries about radiation issues and Federal programs.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Mar 1, 2005
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, May 1, 2002
Chemosphere, 1985
Abstract In 1980 the United States Government embarked upon a series of epidemiologic and health ... more Abstract In 1980 the United States Government embarked upon a series of epidemiologic and health surveillance studies designed to elucidate health effects attributable to dioxin exposures associated with the manufacture or use of 2,4,5-T or Agent Orange herbicides. The coordination and oversight of this effort was assigned to the White House Agent Orange Working Group. The health concerns of individuals exposed to 2,3,7,8-TCDD are varied; hence, the approach encompassed studies comparing morbidity, reproduction and mortality patterns between exposed and nonexposed populations. Ten Federal agencies provide the financial and scientific resources required to conduct the 15 ongoing major human studies.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Mar 1, 2004
Pediatric Clinics of North America, Aug 1, 1995
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, May 1, 1986
Agent Orange: The Failure of Science, Policy and Common Sense, 2022
This book tells the story of Agent Orange, its usage and the policies that surround it. Agent Ora... more This book tells the story of Agent Orange, its usage and the policies that surround it. Agent Orange Contained a contaminant known as TCDD. It Was the most widely used defoliant from 1965 - 1970 and became one of the three major tactical herbicides used in Vietnam. More than 45 major health studies were conducted with Vietnam veterans from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Korea seeking a relationship between veterans' health and TCDD. Allegations of birth defects in the families of Vietnam veterans and the Vietnamese represented a case study in propaganda and deliberate misinformation by the government of Vietnam. The Policies of the US Government implemented by Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) identified 17 recognized associated presumptive diseases that failed the tests of "cause and effect" and common sense. This book tells the story of Agent Orange, its usage, the health studies and those policies from a diverse range of perspectives, delving into science, history, policy and ethics. It is of interest to scholars engaged in history, political and social philosophy and ethics.