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KMID : 1156220120380030175
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Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
2012 Volume.38 No. 3 p.175 ~ p.183
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Review of Public Health Aspects of Exposure to Agent Orange
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Yang Won-Ho
Hong Ga-Yeon
Kim Geun-Bae
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Abstract
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Objectives: Controversy regarding the relationship between exposure to Agent Orange and disease has progressed for more than four decades, both at home and abroad. Recently, the allegation by US veteran Steve House of the burial of Agent Orange at the US Army base Camp Carroll located in Waegwan-eup, Korea, has emerged. We reviewed published articles and reports related to Agent Orange.
Methods: Articles and reports were collected online using the keywords ‘agent orange’ and ‘health’ and then reviewed.
Results: A number of epidemiologic studies have reported disease outcomes due to exposure to Agent Orange, while others were unable to establish a link to the injuries of veterans of the Vietnam War. This can be explained by the fact that accurate exposure assessment should be carried out since exposure misclassification in epidemiologic studies can affect estimates of risk. In the case of the burial of Agent Orange at Camp Carroll, an exposure pathway could be through underground water supplies, which differs from the cases of Vietnam and Seveso in Italy.
Conclusion: There still remains a dispute among academics regarding the relationship between exposure to Agent Orange and disease, although Agent Orange is a highly toxic chemical. This dispute indicates that accurate exposure pathway and exposure assessment is needed.
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KEYWORD
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agent orange, health effects, epidemiology
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