Hazardous
Chemicals Warning
Upon the request of
Eric Newton, PIO, 11ACVVC, I have compiled further information relating to occupational
exposure of harmful chemicals known as poisons, toxins and dioxin. The listed references
relate to exposures of herbicides, cleaning solvents, degreasers, tar removers and
refrigerants. Exposure was typically in the form of inhalation or direct skin contact.
These chemicals supplied by all branches of the military were used in the
following
fields: teletype maintenance, auto mechanics, maintenance of weapons, air craft mechanics,
heavy equipment maintenance, electronics, nuclear
weapons and all other fields which required the cleaning of metal parts. Some were also
used at the dry cleaning facilities located on the military facilities and for weed
control . The Government has known for years of the harmful effects and serious if not
fatal consequences of these chemicals. Not only has your health been placed at risk but
also your children and grand children.
Based upon current information, the following chemicals were supplied by all branches of the military: Trichloroethylene, Carbon Tetrachloride also known as (carbon tet), Perchloroethylene, which emits dioxins, it is also known as (Tetrachloroethylene), Trichlorofluoromethane, Trichloromethane also known as (chlroform), Dichlorodifluoromethane, Chlorofluoro carbons, Hydrochlorofluoro carbons, Dichlroromethane or (meth, methlenechloride),Toluene and Xylene. There could be many more I have yet to locate. These are considered to be organic compounds, chlorinated hydrocarbons, halogenated solvents, some are considered volatile and all have harmful side effects.
Officials
would want you to believe that Carbon Tetrachloride was banned. This is simply not true.
Carbon Tet was banned in the 60s for certain uses. At this time the military began
to slow its use down. In 1985 it was banned as a fumigant. Documents will reflect that as of December 1999
the military was still using this deadly chemical as a cleaning solvent. A bill was
submitted to the 107th Congress called: Veterans Carbon Tetrachloride Benefits
Act. Bill number H.R. 514. I have listed the web site for your review. This bill has not passed. It has now been referred
to the Senate Sub Committee where it now sits. The bill will die if we dont take
action. After you review the contents, officials highly
recommend you write you Congressmen and demand that action be take to see
this bill through.
I am
not an expert, doctor or chemist. I am just an informed
Daughter Of A Fallen Vietnam Veteran. In memory of my dad, I hope to
help inform others of possible occupational
exposures they may have been effect by. My dad was a 20 year veteran and of that he worked
with some of the mentioned chemicals for 15 years and was exposed to Agent Orange while
serving in the military. We believe these exposures caused his illnesses and ultimate
demise. Please accept this as my disclaimer as I leave it to you to interpret the documents written by the professionals.
I
began some of my research in the following
areas:
Search google.com for: Military weapons cleaning
solvent, military fire arms cleaning solvent, military use of chlorinated solvents,
military fire arms and chlorinated solvents, chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, halogenated
solvent, hydrocarbon based solvents, chlorine-dioxin, organic compounds and organic
halogen compounds .
There
is an enormous amount of information available. I have chosen a few for your review. Many
of these sites mention all that is listed above.
A
final note: Aside from the possibility that some 201 files may indicate the chemicals you
were required to use, it has been made clear
that VA Regional Offices have manuals that provide their representatives a complete
description which outlines occupational requirements and a chemical reference for each
particular job.
References:
Military
weapons cleaning solvent carbon tetrachloride and more:
Report
to Congress-Ozone-Depleting: search google.com ( This document is under review by Congress. They
still havent passed this. It is a very
long document but well worth peaking at.
NOTE; the chemicals still in use. See paragraph on; Technical Plan V11 General and
Precision Cleaning) Wed address not listed as it appears to be incorrect.
www.on.ec.gc.ca/pollution/fpd/sheets/e-pp-12pdf.
(Pollution
Prevention Fact Sheet #12)
www.dtic.mil/ndia/pollution/hagen.pdf
http://es.epa.gov/studies/cs588.html
www.inlandtech.com/products.htm
(Solvent
Alternatives and Equipment)
www.afcpo.com/archives/Conf_proceed/2000Briefings/ThurPDF/CleaningChemistries.pdf
Chlorinated
Solvents:
www.ncs.net/~hutter/tee/chlorina.html
www.es.epa.gov/prograhm/epaorgs/ord/alt-solv.html
(ATTENTION:)a
book titled "toxicology" Effects of solvents and vapors by Larry S Andrews and
Roberts Snyder. This book will explain why some of you have had positive TB detection.
http://www.theorator.com/bills107th/hr514.html
(ATTENTION)
This site lists the contents of the Carbon Tetrachloride which has not passed. It is in danger of dying if we dont act now. Please contact your congressmen and demand that action be taken to get this bill passed.
http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/c0979.htm
http://www.scorecard.org/chemical-profiles/uses.tcl?edf_substance_id=56%2d23%2d5
http://www.britannica.com/seo/c/carbon-tetrachloride/
http://eco-usa.net/toxics/cc14.html
http://www.crossrosds.nsc.org/ChemicalTemplate.cfm?id=89&chempath=chemicals
http://www.britannica.com/ed/article?eu=75265&tocid=0
http://www.scorecard.org/chemical-profiles/summary.tcl?edf_substance_id=79-01-6+
http://www.pactox.com/trichloroethylene.htm
Note
; this next document has no wed site address pay close attention to the last page as it
refers to military use. Search, Trichloroethylene, University of
California MSD System. This is written by J.
T. Baker Inc. Titled Material Safety Data sheet. Dated 1996. See yahoo.com, msn.com or
google.com
Http://www.britannnica.com/eb/article?eu=84424&tocid=0
http://www.scorecard.org/chemical-profiles/summary.tcl?edf_substance_id=+75-69-4
http://ntp-db.niehs.nih.gov/NTP_Reports/NTP_Chem_H&S/NTP_Chem7/Radian75-69-4.txt
Trichloromethane:
(chloroform )
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=84425&tocid=0
http://www.donane.edu/crete/academic/soial/history/his314/Agent%20Orange/dioxin.htm
http://whyfiles.org/025chem_weap/gulf_war.html
http://www.chemsoc.org/exemplarchem/entries/jhardy/glossary.htm
http://umbbd.ahc.umn.edu:8007/umbbd/servlet/pagrservlet?ptype=c&compID-c0361
Health
Effects:
http://www.scorecard.org/health-effects/
(
This site has all that you need, use Dioxin when referring to Agent Orange or the
individual chemical names you are researching.)
Map
of Vietnam:
Note;
the attached map showing military sites in Vietnam was supplied by Wesley Turner of the
United States Marine Corp.
Petition
Concerning Your Benefits: ( Responses Needed ASAP
)
Click
on: View New Petitions, scroll down to, Retirement Disability Offset.
This
also allows for comments you might have concerning this subject matter.