04-931? I Author Watt! Author Memorandum: From Major James W. Tremblay, USAF regarding Press Inquiry, Military Personnel Exposed to Herbicide Orange. with attached Memo for Record, dated January 1978 and Proposed Letter for Gen. Unger's Signature, dated February 1 amt/mum? 1978 February 1 con- 17 Marathon: 7 Friday, February 22. 2002 Page 4931 of 5115 I, 1 f' STAFF SUMMARY SHEET m1 _h To ACTION 31a NATUHI {sung-m um' 1 statute; cam a 2 nawa- teetet? We 7 ?We were non?ctian - 1 4? 10 0' Acne? mums" AND GRADE: IYHQOL nmn'Tf?. IUIPINII on?: a- V'Ollilgh {inept-Gin Emp . - IUBJICT - 4-0157: Personnel Eiposed to Herbicide Orange Feb 78 l. Personnel of the Veterans Administration are collecting interviews, health records and pertinent scientific literature on military personnel allegedly exposed to Herbicide Orange in Southeast Asia. These actions have come to the attention of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and more recently to a Chicago TV News Station Inquiries by both the EPA and NBBM-TV to USAF OEHL personnel make it imperative that HQ AFSC be aware of the situation (ntch no documented cases of human intoxication Orange in Southeast Asia (Operation RANCH HAND) To our knowledge there have been Iresulting from the use of Herbicide or during the disposal operation?for Herbicide Orange in l977 (Project PACER HO). 3. Previous information provided to the Veterans Administration.is outlined and a record of telecon with HBBM-TV is provided in Atch l. RECOMMENUKTION: 4. That the proposed letter (Atch 2) be signed. ED JAMES w. TREMBLAY, Major, USAF, BSC 2 Atch Consultant Services Division l. USAF Memo for Record, USAF OEHL 27 Jan 78, Atch 2. Proposed for Ben Unger's Signature i i i u: l768 MEMO FOR THE RECORD 27 Jan 78 SUBJ: VA Interest in Herbicide Orange 1. The Chicago Office of the Veterans' Administration (VA) reportedly reviewing some 28 medical records of veterans allegedly having medical problems related to their exposure to Herbicide Orange in Southeast Asia. A Ms Maude DeVictor, Special Claims Office, of the Chicago VA contacted the USAF OEHL (Capt Young) on 13 Oct 77 wanting some informa- tion on Herbicides Blue and Orange and on the contaminant TCDD. On that date. Capt Young answered questions related to herbicides and TCDD and per request, forwarded to Ms DeVictor literature of potential health effects (see Atch - 2. In early January 1978. Ms OeVictor contacted the U.S. EPA: Dioxin Project Manager, Hs Caroline Offutt, and expressed concern over human health effects of TCDD. Ms Offutt contacted Capt Young on 20 Jan 78 and alerted him of continued VA interest in this matternewsperson from HBBM-TV. Chicago contacted Capt Young at his home to inquire about what the USAF had done and was now doing to medically follow military personnel who had been involved in the use of Herbicide Orange in SEA and the disposal Operations (see Atch 2. memo dated 25 Jan 78). This newsman was referred to 4. On 26 Jan 78. the USAF Surgeon General's Office received an inquiry from the same Chicago newsman wanting to know if medical records were available for personnel involved with Herbicide Orange in SEA, and whether the USAF had ever conducted any special investigation of health problems among these personnel. The newsman was told that such medical records are available and no special investigations had been conducted. a. Operation Ranch Hand (1) To our knowledge there were no extraordinary medical surveil? lance programs specifically conducted on USAF military personnel involved in Operation Ranch Hand either during or after suspension of the defolia- tion operations in SEA. (2) During Ranch Hand operations (1965-l970) approximately 11.3 million gallons of Herbicide Orange were sprayed during defoliation operations. A National Academy of Science study completed in late 1973 estimated that between 220 and 360 pounds of TCDO were released. TCDO has been shown to be teratogenic to laboratory mice and rats. has an oral L050 in male guinea pigs of 0.6 ug/kg and has caused human chloracne in laboratory and industrial incidents. To our knowledge there have been no documented cases of human intoxication resulting from the use?of Herbicide Orange during Ranch Hand operations. b. Operation PACER H0 (1) The 2.3 million gallons of Herbicide Orange held by USAF since suspension of its use in SEA were destroyed by incineration at sea between May and September 1977. The stocks at a US Navy installation at GUlfport HS. approximately 0.9 million gallons. were transferred in May/ June 1977 from 55-gallon drums to a specially designed incineration ship by approximately 110 USAF personnel from AFLC Combat Lo istics Support Squadron (CLSS) from the five Air Logistics Centers. A CLSS personnel received pre-operational and post-operational physical examinations. During the Gulfport transfer operations, safety and industrial hygiene and environmentallnonitoring programs were conducted by USAF OEHL. Jhere were no incidents of medical problems resulting from these transfer opera- tions. To date. there have been no reported medical problems among these CLSS personnel; however. there has been no deliberate effort made to centrally review the results of the pre- and post?operational physical examinations. (2) The Herbicide Orange stocks stored at Johnston Island. approxi? mately 1.4 million gallons. were transferred in August/September 1977 from 55-gallon drums to the incinerator ship by approximately 100 civilian con- tractor employees. These personnel also received pre- and post?operational physical examinations. Industrial hygiene and environmental monitoring and safety programs were accomplished by contract under the supervision of USAF OEHL personnel. There were no incidents of medical problems resulting from these transfer Operations. Ho deliberate efforts have been made to centrally review the results of these pre- and post-operational physical examinations. JAMES H. TREHBLAY. Major. USAF, BSC 2 Atch Chief. Environmental Quality Branch 1. Trans to Ms DeVictor 2. HFR (Capt Young) 13 October 1977 H5 Maude DeVictor (27B?l2l) Veterans Administration Regional Office 536 South Clark Street an Chicago IL 60605 Dear Ms DeVictor Per your telecon of this date, the following reports are attached for gour1cese study of the potentiel health effects of chlorodibenzo?p- ox ns: Kimbrough. R.D. 1974. The toxicity of compounds and related chemicals. Critical Reviews of Toxicology 2: Oliver. R.M. 1975. Toxic effects of 2.3.7.8-tetrachlorodibenzo-l, 4-dioxin in laboratory workers. British Journal of Industrial Medicine 32: . Tong, l97l. Clinical effects of massive and continuous ggigization Of defolients on civilians. Vietnamese Studies 29: a if I can supply edditional reports or answer questions relative to use, ecological fate or health effects of Orange or Blue Herbicides, please contact me. As of 1 November 1977. my address and phone number will be: Dr. Alvin L. Young. Captain, USAF Occupational and Environnental Health Laboratory - Brooks AFB TX 78235 Phone: 512-536-2001 Sincerely Atch Kimbrough Report Oliver Report Tung Report ALVIN L. YOUNG, Capt, USAF. p53 Pesticide Consultant - - (AN-db) I MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD 25 Jan 78 SUBJ: Press inquiry - Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange l. On 2? Jan 78, 1930 hrs, I received a telephone call fromr Mr. Bill Kurtis HUGH-TV Chicago lL Phore: (3l2) Shh-6000, Ext 635 Address: 630 N. HcClurg Court Chicago IL 606ll The following items were discussed during the ten minute conversation: a. Mr Kurtis was following?up on a lead SUpplied by ?someone? from the Veterans' Administration (presumably in Chicago) concerning potential health problems of veterans that were exposed (assumed) to ?Agent? Orange in South Vietnam. b. He had contacted the Dioxin Project Officer with EPA, Ms Caroline OFFutt (phone: 202-755-9336), and had been given my name. c. He asked me if 1 were familiar with reports of heaith effects to Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange in the l9605. I indicated that Ms Offutt had so informed me on 20 Jan 78; however, i was unaware of other such accusations. a d. He asked me if i thought chloracne was probable in men exposed to Herbicide Orange in Vietnam. indicated that was in no position to make such a judgement. i did emphasize that the diagnosis of chloracne should be by a qualified physician and the incidence of dermatitis need not be associated with only pesticide exposure. c. He asked me about my association with Herbicide Orange and dioxins. indicated that I had conducted extensive studies on the Fate of Orange and TCDD in the environment. I offered to share our published technical reports with him. f. He asked me if i had participated in the diSposal operations for rbicide Orange this past summer. I indicated that I had. He then asked if we had received medical examinations following the project and if any health incidences had been reported. I said that project personnel had received ?before and after? physicals, but since i was not the indus- trial hygienist nor the project physician, i could not honestly answer the latter part of his question. 9. He asked me if I had ever been exposed directly to Herbicide Orange and subsequently to TCDD. indicated that I had worked intimately with both materiais for eight years and that neither myself nor my associ~ ates had experienced any medical problems. a /r?F a .A "#mt'lwn h. He asked me to comment on my trip to Seveso, ltaly (apparently having been informed by Ms Offutt that i had recently returned from there). I stated that a Professor from the University of Milan had invited me to see Seveso and to discuss my research on the environmentai fate of TCDD with ltaiian scientists. i. He then asked me to comment on the work of Dr Allen and Dr Tung. The former scientist had continually exposed, via the diet, i8 monkeys to TCDD (500 parts per for 2h months. The effects noted by Dr Allen were significant, but hardly in my opinion, applicable to what would be a realistic exposure of TCDD Following the application of herbicide. The latter scientist, Dr Tung, a North Vietnamese scientist, had published accounts of liver cancer and chioracne in*~ Vietnamese exposed to Agent Orange during the SEA confiict. i stated that at Dr Tung's own admission there was no supporting data to confirm either time nor level of exposure to TCDD. j. The last question asked by Mr Kurtis was whether an epidemio- logical survey had been made of military personnel involved in handling Herbicide Orange in Vietnam and if their medical records were available. suggested (as I did at the beginning of the conversation) that he contact the Air Force Office of Infermation in Washington. He asked for a name of an individuai in that office. Since i was unable to furnish one, i did give him the name of Major Charles Bullock, as one who might be able to direct him to the appropriate individual. 2. Mr Kurtis was very courteous over the accusations being made by his ?informant? appeared to iack sufficient Supportive data. However, he feit that it was important that the matter be appropriately investigated. He thanked me for my cooperation and said that he would contact Di and the phone andxindicated to me that my converation with Mr Kurtis i contacted Col Taylor and briefly reviewed my conversation. in addition, since i was to be TDY from 25-27 Jan 78, i called Maj Thaiken and gave him an outline of my conversation with Mr Kurtis in case additional questions regarding the conversat?pn were asked during my absence from the office. I aim-2.4.. f: DUN 0s ALVIN L. YOUNE, Captain, Environmental Consultant USAF Brooks AFB TX 3. Immediately after USAF, 9""m . . cc. Press Personnel Exposed to Herbicide Orange HQ Andrews AFB MD 20334 1. The Air Force was tasked with the for the disposition of 2.3 gaiions of Herbicide Orange in mid?1972 subsequent to the discovery that the herbicide contained a contaminant, dioxin or TCDD. which is extremely toxic, is teratogenic (capabie of causing birth defects) and which can cause a severe form of dermatitis known as chioracne. Between May and September 1977, the 2.3 gaiions of herbicide were disposed of by incineration at sea. 2. To our knowiedge there have been no documented cases of human intoxication resuiting from the use of Herbicide Orange in Southeast Asia (Operation RANCH HAND) or during the disposai operation for the Herbicide Orange in 1977 (Project PACER HO). 3. Recently personnei of the Veterans Administration have been coiiecting information on personnei aiiegediy exposed to Herbicide Orange in Southeast Asia. These actions have come to the attention of the U.S. EPA and more recently to a Chicago TV news station. HQ has received inquiries and we understand that the Deputy for Environment and Safety has been informed. 4. Because of the potentiai controversy which couid be generated by these inquiries and potentiai future involvement of this headquarters. the attached is provided fer your information. HOHARD R. UNGER, Brigadier General, USAF, MC 1 Atch Commander USAF Memo for Record