Air Force Health Study. An Epidemiologic Investigation of Health Effects in Air Force Personnel Following Exposure to Herbicides. First Followup Examination Results. Volume 1

摘要

This report represents the results of the health assessment of the 1,016 Ranch Hands and the 1,293 Comparisons who participated in the 1985 followup examination of the Air Force Health Study. The purpose of the study is to determine whether long-term health effects exist and can be attributed to occupational exposure to herbicides. The result show a subtle but consistent narrowing of medical differences between the two groups since the Baseline study in 1982; however, the Ranch Hands continue to manifest slightly more minor adverse health conditions than the Comparisons. Continued surveillance of these groups is indicated. The report concludes that there is not sufficient evidence to implicate a causal relationship between herbicide exposure and adverse health in the Ranch Hand group.