Prostate Cancer Mortality and Herbicide Exposure in Vietnam Veterans
Abstract
The association between exposure to military herbicides and subsequent death from prostate cancer will be investigated in a cohort of approx. 100,000 Vietnam veterans who applied to the Agent Orange Veteran Payment Program {AOVPP), 1985-1994. Exposure opportunity will be assessed via a geographical information system (GIS) and herbicide and troop location databases previously developed by the investigators. Cause of death will be ascertained via National Death Index (NDI) searches. Epidemiological analyses will include comparison of age-specific prostate cancer death rates, proportional mortality ratios (PMR), standardized mortality ratios (SMR), and proportional hazards methods, using unexposed veterans as a reference population. RESULTS. NDI queries yielded causes of death for claimants who had died by 12 December 1999. Overall mortality was elevated for malignancies which the Institute of Medicine deemed%%'sufficient evidence' of association with herbicides. Microfilm record abstraction of military unit histories is complete for prostate cancer cases and controls and in progress for comparison cancers. Exposure assessments in progress are the basis for studies of prostate cancer risk in relation to exposure to dioxin-contaminated phenoxy and other herbicides in Vietnam.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA444055
Entities
People
- Steven D. Stellman
Organizations
- Columbia University