CORRELATION BETWEEN DIOXIN LEVELS IN ADIPOSE-TISSUE AND ESTIMATED EXPOSURE TO AGENT ORANGE IN SOUTH VIETNAMESE RESIDENTS

To permit new epidemiologic studies of the effects of dioxin on humans in Vietnam, we evaluated a model for quantifying exposure to Agent Or ange (exposure index) based on the residential histories of 27 Vietnam ese subjects and on information about spraying from the U.S. Army reco rds (Herbs Tape) and compared this index to the dioxin levels measured in the subjects' adipose tissue. The mean dioxin level was 7.8 ppt, a nd dioxin and furan isomer profiles were similar to those already repo rted in industrialized countries. In addition, there was a highly sign ificant correlation between the levels of almost all the isomers, what ever their degree of chlorination. For the group of 27 subjects, we fo und a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.36 (P = 0.07) between the d ioxin levels and the exposure index after log-transformation of both v ariables. When the analysis was restricted to the 22 subjects with a p ositive exposure index, the Pearson correlation coefficient rose to 0. 50 (P = 0.02). We conclude that despite the limitations and power cond itions of the study, this result is encouraging because it will be use ful for future epidemiologic studies in Vietnam. (C) 1994 Academic Pre ss, Inc.