Document M999nD79amOx7Lagq8JNnJGx

The American Legion For God and Country WASHINGTON OFFICE 1608 "K " STREET, N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006-2847 (202)861-2700 May 18, 1993 Mrs. Carol Van Strum 7493 East Five Rivers Road Tidewater, Oregon 97390 Dear Carol: Thank you for sending us the piece on Dioxin in 2, 4-D. We immediately dispatched copies to The American Legion Science Panel for their information and review. As you know, the Ranch Hand Study exposure index was declared crude at best. During the last open session by the Ranch Hand people it was obvious that all they are doing now is numbers crunching. The peer reviews are all in-house and reports published by the Air Force, not in scientific journals. How can they tell Congress that the study is the best when the NAS said they did not have the statistical power to begin with? As they drop study subjects for whatever reason they replace them with new ones. The pilots and co-pilots did not receive the exposure that the console operators and loaders encountered. Suggest you talk to Dick Albanese for more of an insight. Thanks again for the information. Warm regards to you and Paul. Sincerely, Richard S. Christian Deputy Director for Research and Technology Assessment