WSU to Study Iraq Toxins' Effect
Spokesman-Review
by Bert Caldwell
Research to examine how exposure might damage offspring of soldiers
Washington State University scientists will use a $1.7 million grant to study what multi-generation genetic damage might be done by toxins U.S. troops could encounter in Iraq.
The research using laboratory rats, not humans, will be the first for the military to examine the epigenetic effects of pesticides, herbicides and other compounds, said lead scientist Michael Skinner, director of the university's Center for Reproductive Biology.
Previous studies have looked at the health effects of other substances, notably the Agent Orange used to defoliate jungles in Vietnam, on the soldiers directly exposed, he said, not on their children or grandchildren.
"The science really had not caught up with the trans-generational stuff," said Skinner, one of several WSU pioneers in the field of epigenetic, or multi-generational, inheritance.
Besides herbicides and pesticides – which and in what combinations has not been determined – the study also will look at the effects of explosives residues, he said.
The four-year study will allow researchers to see how any changes in genetic chemistry that develop are passed along through two subsequent generations of rats, he said, noting that only the first two years of research have been funded.
Among the problems that might develop are kidney disease, or changes in the male and female reproductive organs, he said.
If any genetic markers are identified in rats, Skinner said, follow-up research could look at whether they might show up among members of the military as well.
That would be of particular interest to Dave Holmes, interim chief operating officer of the Institute for Systems Medicine, which was awarded the U.S. Department of Defense grant passed through to Skinner.
Holmes' son, Tim Hammond, did two tours in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps.
"They sprayed all kinds of stuff on them," Holmes said.
Although the grant money, the first awarded ISM, will fund work in Pullman, he said the organization's supporters hope any subsequent clinical studies will be done in Spokane.
"There's a lot of excitement about making it happen," he said.
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AKAKA AND BEGICH URGE PHASED-IN APPROACH TO VA MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT RATE PROPOSAL
Senators support cost control while ensuring that rural area care will not suffer
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Member of the Committee, urged the Department of Veterans Affairs to carefully study potential consequences of its proposal to adopt Medicare physician payment rates and other outpatient facility payment rates for non-VA contracted care, a proposal that would reduce payment to those providers. In a letter sent Friday, Akaka and Begich recommended that VA phase in the proposed rule to avoid unintentionally harming veterans’ access to health care, especially those in rural areas.
“I applaud VA’s intent to control health care costs and replace its inconsistent fee-basis reimbursement system, but the Department must ensure that these changes do not harm the quality of care veterans receive,” said Akaka. “Veterans rely on the Department to reimburse local health care providers for the care they have earned, especially in rural and remote communities where VA has a limited presence. I urge VA to carefully study the potential impact their proposal will have on veterans who rely on contract care, and consider a measured phase-in approach to help community providers make the transition.”
Senator Begich said, “I have very strong concerns about the VA’s move to adopt Medicare payment rates for non-VA health care services. We already are facing a crisis in Alaska with Medicare rates and don’t need to expand that to veterans. The VA needs to slow down this transition and very carefully consider the effect it will have on veterans’ access to care.”
VA runs the largest integrated health care system in the nation, but in certain situations veterans must rely on non-VA entities that are reimbursed by the Department. VA spent $3,407,441,000 on fee-basis care in fiscal year 2009. The Department estimates that by adopting Medicare payment rates, taxpayers would save $1.5 billion over the next five years.
Akaka and Begich’s letter to VA can be viewed here: LINK
VA’s proposed rule is open for public comment, and can be viewed here: LINK
