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Health status of Army Chemical Corps Vietnam veterans who sprayed defoliant in Vietnam

2006; Wiley; Volume: 49; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/ajim.20385

1097-0274

Han K. Kang, Nancy A. Dalager, Larry L. Needham, Donald G. Patterson, Peter S. J. Lees, Katherine P. Yates, Genevieve M. Matanoski,

Pesticide Exposure and Toxicity

American Journal of Industrial MedicineVolume 49, Issue 11 p. 875-884 Article Health status of Army Chemical Corps Vietnam veterans who sprayed defoliant in Vietnam† Correction(s) for this article Corrigendum Volume 61Issue 4American Journal of Industrial Medicine pages: 358-358 First Published online: February 26, 2018 Han K. Kang DrPH, Corresponding Author Han K. Kang DrPH [email protected] Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, District of ColumbiaDirector, Environmental Epidemiology Service (135), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave.NW, Washington, DC 20420.Search for more papers by this authorNancy A. Dalager MS, Nancy A. Dalager MS Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, District of ColumbiaSearch for more papers by this authorLarry L. Needham PhD, Larry L. Needham PhD National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GeorgiaSearch for more papers by this authorDonald G. Patterson Jr. PhD, Donald G. Patterson Jr. PhD National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GeorgiaSearch for more papers by this authorPeter S.J. Lees PhD, Peter S.J. Lees PhD Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MarylandSearch for more papers by this authorKatherine Yates MS, Katherine Yates MS Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MarylandSearch for more papers by this authorGenevieve M. Matanoski MD, DrPH, Genevieve M. Matanoski MD, DrPH Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MarylandSearch for more papers by this author Han K. Kang DrPH, Corresponding Author Han K. Kang DrPH [email protected] Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, District of ColumbiaDirector, Environmental Epidemiology Service (135), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave.NW, Washington, DC 20420.Search for more papers by this authorNancy A. Dalager MS, Nancy A. Dalager MS Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, District of ColumbiaSearch for more papers by this authorLarry L. Needham PhD, Larry L. Needham PhD National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GeorgiaSearch for more papers by this authorDonald G. Patterson Jr. PhD, Donald G. Patterson Jr. PhD National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GeorgiaSearch for more papers by this authorPeter S.J. Lees PhD, Peter S.J. Lees PhD Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MarylandSearch for more papers by this authorKatherine Yates MS, Katherine Yates MS Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MarylandSearch for more papers by this authorGenevieve M. Matanoski MD, DrPH, Genevieve M. Matanoski MD, DrPH Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MarylandSearch for more papers by this author First published: 27 September 2006 https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.20385Citations: 96 † This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America. AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Abstract Background U.S. Army Chemical Corps veterans handled and sprayed herbicides in Vietnam resulting in exposure to Agent Orange and its contaminant 2,3,7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD or dioxin). This study examined the long-term health effects associated with herbicide exposure among these Vietnam veterans. Methods A health survey of these 1,499 Vietnam veterans and a group of 1,428 non-Vietnam veterans assigned to chemical operations jobs was conducted using a computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) system. Exposure to herbicides was assessed by analyzing serum specimens from a sample of 897 veterans for dioxin. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the risk of selected medical outcomes associated with herbicide exposure. Results Odds ratios for diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and chronic respiratory disease were elevated, but not significantly (P > 0.05) for those who served in Vietnam. However, they were significantly elevated among those Vietnam veterans who sprayed herbicides: diabetes, odds ratio (OR) = 1.50 (95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 1.15–1.95); heart disease, OR = 1.52 (1.18–1.94); hypertension, OR = 1.32 (1.08–1.61); and chronic respiratory condition, OR = 1.62 (1.28–2.05). Hepatitis was associated with Vietnam service, but not with herbicide application. Conclusions Vietnam veterans who were occupationally exposed to herbicide experienced a higher risk of several chronic medical conditions relative to other non-Vietnam veterans. 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