Agent Orange - #2

As mentioned in a previous post, a couple of years ago I wrote a report that was presented to a parliamentary inquiry into Agent Orange and birth defects in the children of New Zealand Vietnam veterans.

In the latest follow-up to that inquiry, a report has been released by Louise Edwards, of the Institute of Molecular Biosciences at Massey University. The title of the report is Genetic Damage In New Zealand Vietnam War Veterans. The report finds:

The SCE assay conducted on a small sample of New Zealand Vietnam veterans in this study would suggest that these men have been exposed to a harmful clastogenic agent as a result of service in Vietnam. Within the strictures in interpreting the biological significance of this particular assay, there is an indication that these men may have incurred genetic damage.

It recommends further study on a larger group of veterans and, most importantly, on their children. The report suggests that detrimental health effects may be passed on through “many generations to come.”

On a personal note, I could not help noticing that my own report is cited many times throughout this new report.

It seems that progress is being made in New Zealand, and I am proud to have played a part.