SERUM DIOXIN, TESTOSTERONE, AND GONADOTROPINS IN VETERANS OF OPERATION RANCH HAND

We studied whether exposure to Agent Orange and its contaminant, 2,3,7 ,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (dioxin), during the Vietnam War is rel ated to current testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizin g hormone, or testicular abnormalities, sperm count, sperm abnormaliti es, or testicular volume. The index subjects were veterans of Operatio n Ranch Hand, the unit responsible for aerial herbicide spraying in Vi etnam from 1962 to 1971. The referent cohort comprises Air Force veter ans who served in Southeast Asia during the same period but were not i nvolved with spraying herbicides. Referents were matched to Ranch Hand s on date of birth, race, and military occupation. We found no consist ent or meaningful association between serum dioxin levels and any of t hese outcome variables.