A Possible Military Related Cancer
Potential VA Medical Inquiry
The National Instute of Health has not released much information concerning the degreasers and solvents used by many old timers. Many solvents and degreasers were approved by the United States Government and we used them for years believing the solvent/degreasers were safe to use, particularly in a well ventilated area such as a Power House or Engine Build-up Section. Today these cleansers are known to contribute to cancer.
Many of these solvents and degreasers were removed from government use in the early 1960’s after several individuals died from using approved solvents in a well ventilated communications cable man hole.
Medical research on solvents/degreasers has been mostly on mice and very little information receives wide publication. Assisting my brother in establishing a Veterans Affairs claim for mulltiple myeloma cancer which killed him, my family has first hand knowledge concerning this travestry of justice. After my brothers death the VA approved his wife for DIC. My brothers VA claim required over five years to resolve. Hopefully other users of solvents/degreasers will find information in the NIEH reference that will assist them.
For what it is worth, one test on mice found triclo in the fatty tissue, eighteen months into the test. Triclo like many chemicals transforms itself into another substance and for this instance the substance is a killer form of chloroform.
Charlie Adams