'Children of Agent Orange veterans risk cancer'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The children of Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the war in south-east Asia may well be at greater risk of contracting leukaemia, a new study has suggested
The children of Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the war in south-east Asia may well be at greater risk of contracting leukaemia, a new study has suggested.
While Agent Orange has long been associated with the increased incidence of various conditions and birth defects, this research is the first to make a link between the defoliant and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Children who contract AML have an average life expectancy of just two years.
Last night, Anthony Principi, the US secretary for veterans affairs, called the report "very serious". He said: "I am deeply concerned about the implications for the children of veterans exposed to Agent Orange."
The research, commissioned by Congress from the Institute of Medicine, stopped short of establishing a direct link between the defoliant and AML, describing its findings instead as "limited or suggestive". But Irva Hertz-Picciotto, professor of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina and chair of the committee which carried out the research, said it had found a 70 per cent higher risk of AML for children whose parents served in Vietnam or Cambodia.
"We think the evidence is suggestive," she said, adding more research was required.
Rick Weidman, of the Vietnam Veterans of America group, said he was "pleased that they had recognised one additional birth defect in children born to Vietnam veterans".
Three million Americans served in Vietnam and Washington estimates about 100,000 were exposed to Agent Orange.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments