OBJECTIVES: To propose a feasible, valid and appropriate study designs and epidemiologic methods for evaluating the adverse health effects of Agent Orange-chemical defoliants used in Vietnam- in Korea. METHODS: A literature study was performed on Agent Orange, herbicides, pesticides and dioxins. The study subjects, study design, exposure assessment and health outcomes assessment were examined in each study. The potential data sources for the study subjects, study design, exposure assessment and health outcomes assessment in Korea were investigated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In earlier Korean studies, research subjects for studying the effects of Agent Orange were identified from the patients or persons who claimed to have Agent Orange-related diseases due to the difficulties in identifying the entire population of Vietnam veterans in Korea. In this study, an attempt was made to identify the total number of Vietnam veterans in Korea. As a result, the addresses of 20,000 Vietnam veterans were obtained. It is proposed that a retrospective cohort design on a sample of the total number of Vietnam veterans is a feasible and appropriate study design. Self report questionnaires and military records were proposed to assess the exposure level. It is believed that measuring the plasma or tissue TCDD should be used only for a validation study assessing the level of exposure. For the health outcomes assessment, it is possible to obtain the mortality, cancer frequency, physical examination, screening and medical insurance record data.
Citrus sinensis* ; Cohort Studies ; Data Collection ; Defoliants, Chemical ; Dioxins ; Epidemiologic Methods ; Herbicides ; Humans ; Insurance ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Military Personnel ; Mortality ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Pesticides ; Physical Examination ; Plasma ; Questionnaires ; Research Subjects ; Retrospective Studies ; Self Report ; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin ; Veterans* ; Vietnam*

Glyphosate containing herbicides, such as 'Touchdown' or 'Roundup', have been known relatively safe. They have been introduced as substitute for highly toxic paraquat. Till now few researchers have paid their attention for this material, and few data are available concerning this. Recently we experienced seven cases of glyphosate intoxication during past three years. Most of the cases could be regarded as intentional ingestion and accidental intoxication seemed to be quite less compared to paraquat. As there exist technical difficulties for the clarification of the material quantitatively, some cases were disputable concerning the circumstances in which ingestion of the material or death have occurred. Cases were reviewed and several points about this material were discussed.
Eating ; Herbicides ; Paraquat

Study was conducted on 1048 households with 6068 persons in A Luoi district, Thua Thien Hue province, where herbicides were sprayed heavily in war. The relationship between the quantity of herbicide sprayed in war and the severity of environmental pollution at present was recorded. Epidemiological relationship between the pollution of the enviroment and abnormal reproductivity and congenital defects, which were 1.5-4 times higher after the spray versus before the spray with diverse levels among 3 communes exposed to the spray. The most common abnormal reproductivity was spontaneous abortion, then premature delivery with died infants and congenital defects, the stillbirth and hydratiform mole were with lower rate. Dioxine was transported from the enviroment to human body through the exposed food chain such as chicken, fish, duck
Reproduction ; Dioxins ; Herbicides

Introduction: Acute paraquat (PQ) poisoning is associated with high case fatality rate. Following a report of 108 cases of poisoning from 2011 to 2013, the distribution, sale, and use of PQ was recently prohibited in the Philippines. However, there still is a need to gather additional information on the manifestations of PQ poisoning in the Philippines. Hence, this study aimed to identify the clinical presentation and outcomes of cases of PQ poisoning seen in a hospital at northern Philippines. Case presentation: Nine cases of oral PQ poisoning from 2011 to 2013 were included in this series. All cases were intentional. Majority (88%) of the patients were females. Seven of the nine (77%) cases were from Baggao, Cagayan, a nearby agricultural town. Mean age was 30 (range 21-47). Initial presenting symptoms were vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, abdominal pain and gastrointestinal bleeding. Of the nine cases, four died (44%) in the hospital. Three (33%) survived without complications. Long-term outcomes of the remaining two cases (22%) were unknown. All patients who eventually died developed dyspnea during their hospital stay, and subsequently went into acute respiratory failure. Azotemia and leukocytosis were also recorded among those who died. Discussion: High mortality rate among PQ poisoning patients can be attributed to the absence of antidote and the unsatisfactory outcomes of post-exposure management. Conclusion Mortality rate for this series was 44%, and all died of progressive respiratory failure. Gastrointestinal toxicity was universal in the nine reported cases. Azotemia and leukocytosis were the other significant findings observed among the cases of fatal poisoning
Paraquat ; Herbicides ; Eating ; Poisoning

213 adult subjects, children of veterans exposed to herbicides sprayed during Ranch Hand Operation (in 1961-1971 war period) and 210 non-exposed subjects were investigated by usual lumbar X-ray. The images showed that spina bifida occulta incidence in exposed group was 1.5 times higher than non-exposed group. Among male subjects, in exposed group, the incidence was 1.7 times higher than non-exposed one, while among female subjects, no difference was recorded. Simple single bifida was 51.6% in exposed group and 41.9% in non-exposed. Multiple vertebra of combinated bifida was 7.9% and 2.4% respectively. The common sites of bifida were L5, S1, S2, S3, among them the site of S1 was most common
Spina Bifida Occulta ; Herbicides ; Child

Herbicides ; poisoning ; Humans ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; therapy

Glycine ; analogs & derivatives ; toxicity ; Herbicides ; toxicity

Herbicides ; poisoning ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Poisons

Animals ; Herbicides ; poisoning ; Humans ; Paraquat ; poisoning

Acute Disease ; Herbicides ; poisoning ; Humans ; Paraquat ; poisoning