Summary
Vital status and cause of death were assessed for 232 of a group of 233 workers engaged in the manufacturing and formulation of aldrin, dieldrin, endrin and (for a limited period) Telodrin. This group is part of the total exposed population of more than 1000 workers and was selected for follow up on account of the high exposures in the initial years of manufacturing and formulation and of the long exposure (mean 11 years) and observation (mean 24 years) periods. Total observed mortality was 25 versus 38 expected on the basis of the death statistics of the male Dutch population. Of the 9 cancer deaths, 3 were caused by lung cancer, while the remaining 6 were each of a different nature. Although in this group exposures have been high and exposure, as well as observation periods, were long enough for meaningful evaluation, this study revealed no indication of a specific carcinogenic activity of aldrin, dieldrin or endrin in manufacturing plant workers exposed to these products.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cabral JRP, Hall RK, Bronczyk SA, Shubik P (1979) A carcinogenicity study of the pesticide dieldrin in hamsters. Cancer Lett 6:241–246
Deichmann WB, MacDonald WE, Radomski J, Blum EB, Bevilucgua M, Keplinger M, Balkus M (1970) Tumorigenicity of aldrin, dieldrin and endrin in the albino rat. Ind Med 39:426–434
Deichmann WB, MacDonald WE (1971) Organochlorine pesticides and human health. Fd Cosmet Toxicol 9:91–103
Ditraglia D, Brown DP, Namekata T, Iverson N (1981) Mortality study of workers employed at organochlorine pesticide manufacturing plants. Scand J Work Environ Health [Suppl 4] 7:140–146
EPA, Environmental Protection Agency (1983) Analysis of the risks and benefits of seven chemicals used for subterranean termite control. Office of pesticides and toxic substances, Washington
FAO, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (1978) Pesticides Res. in food: 1977 evaluations, the monographs, data and recommendations of the Joint Meeting of the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues and the Environment and the WHO Expert Group on Pesticide Residues, Geneva, 6–15 Dec 1977, Rome
Fredrickson DS (1978) Report on bioassay of endrin for possible carcinogenicity. Federal Register 43: No 225: 54298, Nov. 21st
Jager KW (1970) Aldrin, dieldrin, endrin and Telodrin. An epidemiological study of long-term occupational exposure. Elsevier, Amsterdam
NCI, National Cancer Institute (1978a) Bioassay of aldrin and dieldrin for possible carcinogenicity. Tech Rep Ser No 21
NCI, National Cancer Institute (1978b) Bioassay of dieldrin for possible carcinogenicity. Tech Rep Ser No 22
, National Cancer Institute (1978c) Bioassay of endrin for possible carcinogenicity testing program. Bethesda, MD, 1978, US Dept. of Commerce, Nat Techn Inf Service PB-288461
Raalte HGS van (1977) Human experience with dieldrin in perspective. Ecotoxicol Environ Safety I:203–210
Treon JF, Cleveland FP, Cappel J (1955) Toxicity of endrin for laboratory animals. J Agric Fd Chem 3, 10:842
Versteeg JPJ, Jager KW (1973) Long-term exposure to the insecticides Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin and Telodrin. Br J Ind Med 30:201–202
Walker AIT, Thorpe E, Robinson J, Baldwin MK (1972) The toxicology of Dieldrin. I. Longterm oral toxicity studies in mice. Fd Cosmet Toxic 11:415–432
Witherup S, Stemmer K, Taylor P, Bietsch P (1970) The incidence of neoplasms in two strains of mice, sustained on diets containing endrin. Report from the Kettering Laboratory. University of Cincinnati, dated June 17
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ribbens, P.H. Mortality study of industrial workers exposed to aldrin, dieldrin and endrin. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 56, 75–79 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379378
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379378