Frequently Asked Questions

The Use of Herbicides at CFB Gagetown from 1952 to Present Day

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What are dioxins?

Dioxins encompass a large family of about 200 chemicals. Certain types of dioxins (2,3,7,8-TCDD) are much more toxic than others and are classified as "dioxins of
concern."

In the past, some herbicides were contaminated with dioxins. In light of emerging knowledge and concerns regarding dioxins, the manufacturing processes of
herbicides have been improved to reduce or eliminate such contamination. In the case of 2,4-D for example, manufacturing processes were modified in the early 1980s
to essentially eliminate contamination with dioxins of concern.

Is Agent Orange the same as any 50:50 mixture of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T?

No. Agent Orange and other "Agent" chemicals were never registered for use in either Canada or the U.S. These "Agent" chemicals were manufactured specifically for
the U.S. military. Some of the manufacturing processes of these military "Agent" chemicals were different than the manufacturing processes of registered herbicides.
Production was accelerated to supply the U.S. military with the large quantities needed for use in Vietnam. There are reports that the accelerated manufacturing
processes sometimes resulted in higher dioxin levels for Agents Orange and Purple than for registered herbicides of similar formulation.

Why are the dioxin levels in soil samples from Ripon Road and the Clones and Murphy Bivouacs not a concern if levels are much
higher than the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) guidelines?

The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) soil quality guideline for dioxins of 4 parts per trillion is based on the average or background level of
dioxins typically found in Canadian soils. The risks associated with background levels of dioxin in soil is considered to be minimal.

It is not uncommon to find levels across the country that are higher than the background levels. These higher levels can be from numerous sources, including forest
fires and natural geological anomalies. However, when dioxin levels in soil are higher than average, it does not automatically mean that there would be a risk of
adverse health effects. The key to determining whether there is any risk is to look at the combination of the dioxin level in the soil, how people might have been
exposed and for how long they may have been exposed.

In the case of CFB Gagetown, a site-specific risk assessment was conducted to estimate the exposures that people could receive from the levels of dioxins measured in
the soil. The independent contractor concluded that there is no increased risk of dioxin-related illness from living or working at CFB Gagetown today.

In the task 3A-2 report, it confirms that dioxins were detected in every single soil sample that was taken. Does this mean that the
whole base is contaminated with dioxins?

As explained above, dioxins naturally occur in the environment and are released from many sources, including forest fires. They are often found in soils across Canada.

Date Modified: 2010-06-14