Prostate Cancer Mortality and Herbicide Exposure in Vietnam Veterans
Abstract
AIMS. The association between exposure to military herbicides and subsequent death from prostate cancer was investigated in a cohort of approx. 100,000 Vietnam veterans who applied to the Agent Orange Veteran Payment Program (AOVPP), 1985-1994. Exposure opportunity was assessed via a geographical information system (GIS) and herbicide and troop location databases previously developed by the investigators. Cause of death was ascertained via National Death Index (NDI) searches. Epidemiological analyses include comparison of age-specific prostate cancer death rates, proportional mortality ratios (PMR), standardized mortality ratios (SMR), and logistic regression 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 was completed for prostate cancer cases and controls. Exposure assessment for veterans serving in stable Army and Air Force units was completed. Preliminary risk estimates do not show a significant relationship between death from prostate cancer and exposure to dioxin-contaminated phenoxy or other herbicides in Vietnam.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA572371
Entities
People
- Steven D. Spellman
Organizations
- Columbia University