My boyfriend recently found and contacted his biological father and was informed that his father had been exposed to Agent Orange and is showing the side effects of it such as Type 2 Diabetes and Glaucoma. He is worried about whether or not Agent Orange is able to be passed onto him.
Is there any research or does anyone know if this chemical can be passed along to offspring?
2007-03-08 03:57:07 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
All of the following are on the premise that your boyfriend's father was exposed prior to the conception of your boyfriend.
The chemical itself would not be passed on, but it may damage the genetic structure in the cells of his father that are responsible for sperm production. This can result in congenital abnormalities. This is known as a teratogen.
From the VA website it looks like there is only one abnormalitiy that is being covered for dependents: spina bifuda (malformation of the spinal cord). Which he would most likely be aware of by now.
From Wikipedia:
Diseases with limited evidence of an association with Agent Orange are respiratory cancers, prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, Porphyria cutanea tarda (a type of skin disease), acute and subacute transient peripheral neuropathy, spina bifida, Type 2 diabetes, and acute myelogenous leukemia found only in the second or third generation.
Diseases with inadequate or insufficient evidence of an association are hepatobiliary cancers, nasal or nasophargyngeal cancers, bone cancer, female reproductive cancers, renal cancer, testicular cancer, leukemia, spontaneous abortion, birth defects, neonatal or infant death and stillbirths, low birth weight, childhood cancers, abnormal sperm parameters, cognitive neuropsychiatric disorders, ataxia, peripheral nervous system disorders, circulatory disorders, respiratory disorders, skin cancers, urinary and bladder cancer.
Diseases with limited or suggestive evidence of no association are gastrointestinal tumors such as stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, and rectal cancer, and brain tumors.
2007-03-08 04:38:33 · answer #1 · answered by tickdhero 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's quite possible. My dad developed type 2 Diabetes after being exposed to Agent Orange in the Vietnam War. From what my dad told me, there is quite a high chance of it being passed on. I know I don't have any documents to prove it, but I've suffered from nerve problems and my doctors are constantly checking for Diabetes in me. My mom also has had a miscarriage. Hope this helps a bit.
2007-03-09 12:08:01 · answer #2 · answered by Emily 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't know a site to look but I would suspect that it doesn't transmit in the genomic transference that is siring a child as it is a chemical effect, so if it did anything it would have been more of a chemical contamination of/to the exposed person.
Could affect reproductive outcome but would probably have already shown that.
Would probably have been more damaging if Mom had been the one exposed.
The two Diseases you mention also occur in some people simply with the ageing process.
2007-03-08 12:12:16 · answer #3 · answered by occluderx 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a good question but I don't know the answer myself. The father of my three sons died a little over a year ago from lung cancer(age 59) and he had also been exposed to agent orange. But he also had abused cigarettes and alcohol so who is to say which one of these actually were the true culprit of his death. My sons are all in the mid to late thirties and are so far healthy.
2007-03-08 12:10:13 · answer #4 · answered by devilgal031948 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All I know is that a friend of mine was dosed with Agent Orange and his son was born with one kidney on one side and and two on the other. His sister was born with 2 uteruses (would that be called "uteri"?). A complete physical would be in order and tell the doc that Agent Orange has played a part in his biological history.
Best of luck to you!
2007-03-08 12:10:40 · answer #5 · answered by Terrigrrl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vietnam veteran in 1969 & 1970. Have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 15 years ago. Is it possible that sub-acute, acute or peripheral neuropathy is in the mix here? Constantly have tingling in limbs, muscle weakness and balance problems
2014-08-14 12:24:01 · answer #6 · answered by Buddy H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, he may be affected..found a few websites for you to look at..
http://www.veterans.state.ny.us/faq/faqagentorange.htm
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_1_3x_Agent_Orange_and_Cancer.asp?sitearea=PED
2007-03-08 12:07:57 · answer #7 · answered by darlin12009 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋