TABLE ES-1 Summary of Findings in Occupational, Environmental, and Veterans’ Studies Regarding the Association Between Specific Health Outcomes and Exposure to Herbicides

Sufficient Evidence of an Association

Evidence is sufficient to conclude that there is a positive association. That is, a positive association has been observed between herbicides and the outcome in studies in which chance, bias, and confounding could be ruled out with reasonable confidence. For example, if several small studies that are free from bias and confounding show an association that is consistent in magnitude and direction, there may be sufficient evidence of an association. There is sufficient evidence of an association between exposure to herbicides and the following health outcomes:

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

Soft-tissue sarcoma

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Hodgkin’s disease

Chloracne

Limited or Suggestive Evidence of an Association

Evidence is suggestive of an association between herbicides and the outcome but is limited because chance, bias, and confounding could not be ruled out with confidence. For example, at least one high-quality study shows a positive association, but the results of other studies are inconsistent. There is limited or suggestive evidence of an association between exposure to herbicides and the following health outcomes:

Respiratory cancer (lung and bronchus, larynx, and trachea)

Prostate cancer

Multiple myeloma

Early-onset transient peripheral neuropathy

Porphyria cutanea tarda

Type 2 diabetes (mellitus)

Spina bifida in offspring of exposed individuals

Inadequate or Insufficient Evidence to Determine Whether an Association Exists

The available studies are of insufficient quality, consistency, or statistical power to permit a conclusion regarding the presence or absence of an association. For example, studies fail to control for confounding, have inadequate exposure assessment, or fail to address latency. There is inadequate or insufficient evidence to determine whether an association exists between exposure to herbicides and the following health outcomes:

Hepatobiliary cancer

Oral, nasal, and pharyngeal cancer

Bone and joint cancer

Skin cancers (melanoma, basal cell, and squamous cell)

Breast cancer

Female reproductive cancer (cervix, uterus, ovary)

Testicular cancer

Urinary bladder cancer

Renal cancer

Leukemia (other than CLL)

Abnormal sperm characteristics and infertility

Spontaneous abortion

Neonatal or infant death and stillbirth in offspring of exposed individuals

Low birthweight in offspring of exposed individuals

Birth defects (other than spina bifida) in offspring of exposed individuals

Childhood cancer (including acute myelogenous leukemia) in offspring of exposed individuals

Neurobehavioral disorders (cognitive and neuropsychiatric)

Movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Chronic peripheral nervous system disorders

Respiratory disorders

Gastrointestinal, metabolic, and digestive disorders (changes in liver enzymes, lipid abnormalities, ulcers)

Immune system disorders (immune suppression, autoimmunity)

Circulatory disorders

AL amyloidosis

Endometriosis

Effects on thyroid homeostasis

Limited or Suggestive Evidence of No Association

Several adequate studies, covering the full range of levels of exposure that human beings are known to encounter, are consistent in not showing a positive association between any magnitude of exposure to herbicides and the outcome. A conclusion of “no association” is inevitably limited to the conditions, exposure, and length of observation covered by the available studies. In addition, the possibility of a very small increase in risk at the exposure studied can never be excluded. There is limited or suggestive evidence of no association between exposure to herbicides and the following health outcomes:

Gastrointestinal tumors (esophagus, stomach, pancreas, colon, rectum)

Brain tumors

a Herbicides indicates the following chemicals of interest: 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) and its contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, or dioxin), cacodylic acid, and picloram. The evidence regarding association was drawn from occupational, environmental, and veterans studies in which individuals were exposed to the herbicides used in Vietnam, to their components, or to their contaminants.


As you see parkinson's disease has NOT been ruled out. It is time to get to work!

Repeat:

Inadequate or Insufficient Evidence to Determine Whether an Association Exists

The available studies are of insufficient quality, consistency, or statistical power to permit a conclusion regarding the presence or absence of an association. For example, studies fail to control for confounding, have inadequate exposure assessment, or fail to address latency. There is inadequate or insufficient evidence to determine whether an association exists between exposure to herbicides and the following health outcomes:
This one in particular
Movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

It is time for a big push!