Epidemic Kepone Poisoning in Chemical Workers

Cannon, Shanklin B.; Veazey, James M.; Jackson, Robert S.; Burse, Virlyn W.; Hayes, Carl; Straub, Wesley E.; Landrigan, Philip J.; Liddle, John

doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112572

Cited by 190 publications

(107 citation statements)

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“…Between March 1974 and July 1975 grossly excessive and uncontrolled occupational exposure to this chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide took place at a small chemical plant in Hopewell, Virginia. Of a total of 133 workers exposed, 57% (76 workers) developed acute neurologic illness involving tremor and nervousness (12). Similar illness had previously been observed in laboratory animals (13).…”

Section: Keponesupporting

confidence: 67%

Environmental pollutants and the epidemiology of cancer.

Heath¹

1978

Environ Health Perspect

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Cancer etiology involves the interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Striking geographic differences and changes in cancer incidence over time have led epidemiologists to infer that probably the major etiologic component is environmental. Recent experiences with vinyl chloride, kepone, and polybrominated biphenyl illustrate the problems involved in epidemiologic studies of proven or suspected environmental carcinogens. While epidemiologic studies will continue to be an essential means for monitoring potential human risks, the long latent periods involved in human carcinogenesis severely limit the usefulness of such approaches for disease prevention. While in vitro and animal test systems can never fully supplant human studies, they represent our only means for detecting potential carcinogenicity before human exposure has become widespread or long established.

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Section: Keponesupporting

confidence: 67%

Environmental pollutants and the epidemiology of cancer.

Heath¹

1978

Environ Health Perspect

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“…In humans, chlordecone exposure in occupational circumstances has been associated with a well recognized clinical syndrome involving the nervous system, liver, and testes (Cannon et al, 1978;Cohn et al, 1978;Taylor et al, 1978). Experimental studies in animals confirm all of the toxic effects observed in humans (Faroon et al, 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Pesticide exposure of pregnant women in Guadeloupe: Ability of a food frequency questionnaire to estimate blood concentration of chlordecone

Guldner

Multigner

Héraud

et al. 2010

Environmental Research

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Context: Chlordecone, an environmentally persistent organochlorine insecticide used intensively in banana culture in the French West Indies until 1993, has permanently polluted soils and contaminated foodstuffs. Consumption of contaminated food is the main source of exposure nowadays. We sought to identify main contributors to blood chlordecone concentration (BCC) and to validate an exposure indicator based on food intakes. Material and methods:We used a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) completed by a sample of 194 pregnant women to estimate their dietary exposure to chlordecone and compared it to blood levels. In a first approach, chlordecone daily intake was estimated as the product of daily eaten quantity of 214 foodstuffs, multiplied by their chlordecone content, and summed over all items. We then predicted individual blood chlordecone concentration with empirical weight regression models based on frequency of food consumption, and without contamination data.Results: Among the 191 subjects who had BCC determination, 146 (76%) had detectable values and mean BCC was 0.86 ng/mL (range < LOD-13.2). Mean per capita dietary intake of chlordecone was estimated at 3.3 µg/day (range: 0.1-22.2). Blood chlordecone levels were significantly correlated with food exposure predicted from the empirical weight models (r=0.47, p < 0.0001) and, to a lesser extent, with chlordecone intake estimated from food consumption and food contamination data (r=0.20, p=0.007). Main contributors to chlordecone exposure included seafood, root vegetables, and Cucurbitaceous. Conclusion:These results show that the Timoun FFQ provides valid estimates of chlordecone exposure. Estimates from empirical weight models correlated better with blood levels of chlordecone than did estimates from the dietary intake assessment.

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“…The third pesticide known to cause alterations in semen quality is the chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide chlordecone (Kepone). In a study conducted in 1974, Cannon et al (79) characterized an outbreak of a new disease in 57% of 133 persons working in a Keponeproducing chemical plant with virtually uncontrolled exposure to high doses of chlordecone. Semen samples revealed oligozoospermia with predominating abnormal and nonmotile spermatozoa.…”

Section: Effects Of Pesticides On Semen Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%