Hexachlorobenzene Exposure From Contaminated DCPA in Vegetable Spraymen

Abstract

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) blood residues were found in 19 of 20 vegetable spraymen exposed to HCB-contaminated dimethyl-1-2, 3, 5, 6-tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA). The mean level was 40 ± 63 parts per billion (ppb) with a range of 0 to 310 ppb. No definite physical or biochemical effects of this exposure were discovered. Specifically there was no evidence of cutaneous porphyria or abnormalities of uroporphyrin or coproporphyrin excretion. A positive correlation (P<.05) was found for HCB levels and δ-aminolevulinic acid excretion but this was interpreted skeptically.