THE AUTHORS REPLY

Frank D. Groves1, John D. Boice , Jr.2,3, Mitchell H. Gail1 and Gilbert W. Beebe1

1 Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-7244.
2 International Epidemiology Institute, 1455 Research Boulevard, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20850.
3 Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203.

We thank Dr. Hocking (1) for pointing out the difficulty of quantifying radar exposures in this cohort. As we mentioned in our report, "The weaknesses of the study include the lack of dosimetry for microwave exposures and other occupational and environmental chemical exposures, misclassification of exposures due to the reliance on job titles, [and] the absence of exposure information after naval duty..." (2, p. 817). We did not generalize about the health effects of specific microwave exposures; we only reported on the health effects observed in the Navy Korean War veteran cohorts. We did conclude, however, that "it appears that radar exposure had very little effect on mortality in this cohort of US Navy veterans" (2, p. 818).

REFERENCES

  1. Hocking B. Re: "Cancer in Korean War Navy technicians: mortality survey after 40 years." (Letter). Am J Epidemiol 2003;157:279.[Free Full Text]
  2. Groves FD, Page WF, Gridley G, et al. Cancer in Korean War Navy technicians: mortality survey after 40 years. Am J Epidemiol 2002;155:810–18.[Abstract/Free Full Text]