Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Health Status Based on Questionnaire Survey Among Residents Around Camp Carroll, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea

설문조사에 근거한 캠프 캐럴 인근 주민의 건강수준

  • Min, Young-Sun (Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lim, Hyun-Sul (Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Kwan (Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Sun Ae (Department of Nursing, Kyongbuk Science College) ;
  • Lee, Duk-Hee (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Kyungpook National University) ;
  • Ju, Young-Su (Department of occupational and environmental medicine Hallym university sacred heart hospital) ;
  • Yang, Wonho (Department of Occupational Health, Catholic University of Daegu) ;
  • Kim, Geun-Bae (National Institute of Environmental Research, Environmental Health Research Division) ;
  • Yu, Seung Do (National Institute of Environmental Research, Environmental Health Research Division)
  • 민영선 (동국의대 예방의학교실) ;
  • 임현술 (동국의대 예방의학교실) ;
  • 이관 (동국의대 예방의학교실) ;
  • 박선애 (경북과학대학 간호학과) ;
  • 이덕희 (경북의대 예방의학교실) ;
  • 주영수 (한림의대 성심병원 직업환경의학과) ;
  • 양원호 (대구가톨릭대 산업보건학과) ;
  • 김근배 (국립환경과학원 환경보건연구과) ;
  • 유승도 (국립환경과학원 환경보건연구과)
  • Received : 2013.04.26
  • Accepted : 2013.08.07
  • Published : 2013.08.31
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Abstract

Objective: In May 2011, an interview with three United States Forces Korea veterans revealed that chemicals believed to be 'Agent Orange' were buried at Camp Carroll (situated in Waegwan, Chilgok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea) in 1978. Many hazardous chemicals, such as perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and organochlorines were subsequently found in a joint US-ROK environmental investigation, although dioxins or burial evidence related to 'Agent Orange' have been not uncovered. This study was carried out to investigate the relevance of hazardous chemical exposure and health effects of the residents around Camp Carroll. Methods: The authors conducted a health questionnaire survey among residents around Camp Carroll regarding Waegwan groundwater ingestion, length of residence in Waegwan, and physician-diagnosed disease history (such as cancer, hypertension, diabetes and etc.). Logistic regression was performed to identify the associations between hazardous chemical exposure and physician-diagnosed diseases. Results: Among the 5,320 residents, excluding those living outside the Waegwan area, 3,430 subjects age 30 and over were analyzed. Among females, upon correction of age, smoking history and Camp Carroll working history, a higher distribution in the Waegwan groundwater ingestion group was demonstrated for patients with physician-diagnosed cancer and hypertension. The odds ratios have a tendency to increase with increased length of Waegwan groundwater ingestion. Conclusions: This study may be limited by not adopting a cohort study for the evaluation of factors that may confound environmental exposure. Yet it is meaningful that the correlation between Waegwan groundwater ingestion and chronic diseases were found through regression analysis in female; and further, this outcome may be used as a sampling basis for a secondary epidemiologic study.

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