The etiology of the disease known as aplastic anemia is unfettered in most idiopathic instances, but controversial regarding myelotoxin agents. Thomas (1990, pp. 117-118) defines the disease aplastic anemia as:
Anemia caused by deficient red cell production due to disorders of bone marrow.
Etiology: Approximately half of the cases are idiopathic; most common in adolescents and young adults. Exposure to chemical and antineoplastic agents, and ionizing radiation can result in aplastic anemia. A congenital form has been described.
There currently exists considerable controversy as to the etiology of aplastic anemia, particularly regarding the role of neoplastic agents. Burger (1989, p. 14) reports that the disease aplastic anemia has been traced to the herbicide 2,4,5-T, a phenoxy compound which is more commonly referred to as Agent Orange, in several cases. Agent Orange, a particular combination of certain species of herbicides, consists of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy-acetic acid as well as several chemically related compounds. Although Agent Orange was first registered with the Department of Agriculture in 1948 by Amchem Products Company for use as a brush and weed control agent, not until early 1962 did the military begin its use. Agent Orange had previously been used for the purposes of controlling brush and weeds on both land and water in the United States, but with the build-up in Southeast Asia, the military demand for defoliation operations during the Viet Nam War increased to the point of limiting domestic supplies.
There have been numerous toxocological investigations of Agent Orange, many of which have been sponsored by the Department of Defense, that revealed conflicting results, particularly that could be applied to the human model. Drill and Hirata (Burger, 1989, p. 33) reported that relatively low toxicity levels were evidenced in their sample. Further research conducted by Dow Chemical Company, the m...