Thoracic Soft-Tissue Sarcoma in Vietnam Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange

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Abstract
To the Editor: Case–control studies from Sweden report a fivefold to six-fold increased risk of soft-tissue sarcoma in lumberjacks exposed to herbicides containing phenoxyacetates.1 , 2 Long-term follow-up studies in cohorts of industrial workers employed in the manufacture of these chemicals have disclosed seven cases of soft-tissue sarcoma to date.3 4 5 On the basis of studies in laboratory animals,6 it is currently thought that dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin), an impurity present in these chemicals, may be the carcinogen. However, more follow-up and further studies are needed to define the true risk of malignant disease and the actual carcinogenic substance or substances involved.In Vietnam, where . . .