Dermal Route of Dioxin Exposure Confirmed

To better prevent qualified C-123 veterans' Agent Orange exposure claims, the VA's Public Health unit suggests that the skin of aviators is a near-perfect barrier to dioxin exposure. Thus, because the VA (but not science) suggests skin keeps dioxin from exposing us, we veterans were not exposed.

This is a concept new to science, and one valid only in the instance of the VA denying service our connection. Elsewhere in toxicology, dioxin exposure occurs via inhalation, ingestion...and dermal routes! Elsewhere in science, medicine, law and logic, and in the opinions of other federal agencies such as the NIH, CDC, EPA and DOD, C-123 veterans were exposed. But not according to the VA, because their mission is to prevent, not approve, Agent Orange exposure claims.

This article from the scientific publication "Organohalogen Compounds" was found in my own "C' file at the VA Regional Office, with a notation made "spraying in Vietnam resulted in absorbed TCDD on dust" which suggests somebody in the VA decided crews were exposed via inhalation, as well as dermal, routes.

The key part of the article is a simple sentence.."The available literature suggests that dermal uptake of dioxin in the workplace may be the primary source of occupational exposure."

The sentence directly refutes the VA's pretense that we were not exposed via skin contact with dioxin contaminated surfaces. But then, science is not a part of the VA's toolkit for preventing VA claims, is it?