[GA_Beach_Bum]

Hi all.  I have a quick question for you, if I may.  I am, in no way, involved in chemistry.   I unashamedly admit that I have no knowledge of this field.  This is why I am here.

I am the wife of a disabled Vietnam-era vet.  I am researching how some toxins may have affected his health. 

I was just wondering if, from time to time, I could ask questions here to find out about specific chemicals, agents, etc.  Like for instance, I was wondering about chlordane.   I saw chlordane as a toxic agent, and then found alpha chlordane at one of the bases he was stationed at.  The type of question I might ask would be if the two are one and the same. 

Is this OK to ask these types of questions here?  If so, would it be better if I asked the questions in a different area?   Am I totally off base, and need a different type of professional to answer these questions?

Thanks so much in advance. 

[Arkcon]

Sure, we'd welcome questions on this sort of topic.  We'd like it more if you started with common online sources first.  For example, Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlordane#Health_effects  Also try to see if various veterans associations have good resources for you.  In this case, the difference between alpha and beta chlordane is that beta is more  bioactive