BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- During much of the Vietnam War, the U.S. military sprayed herbicides including the mixture known as Agent Orange over Vietnam. Agent Orange was later found to contain a toxic element.

Since that time, researchers have identified associations between exposure and increased risks for certain kinds of cancers.

Now, new evidence has suggested evidence of an association between Agent Orange and heart disease.

In a study conducted by the Institute of Medicine, a committee reviewed many studies that showed higher exposure correlated with greater risk of disease.

The committee also reviewed data on Parkinson's disease and Agent Orange, but found that there was no data directly linking exposure to the chemical to an increased risk to veterans.

Instead they looked at research on people exposed to similar herbicides who developed Parkinson's disease.

Because this data was compelling, the committee strongly recommended that studies examining the relationship between Parkinson's and veteran exposure be undertaken.