H. W. Klemmer

Clinical findings in workers exposed to pentachlorophenol

Comparative findings are presented on the health and exposure status of groups of individuals in Hawaii with and without occupational exposure to pentachlorophenol (PCP). Occupational exposure to PCP occurred through employment at firms engaged in the treatment of wood with either PCP alone or PCP plus other compounds as preservative chemicals. Mean serum levels were 0.32 ppm for 32 control individuals, 1.72 ppm for 24 workers exposed to PCP and other wood preservative chemicals, and 3.78 ppm for 22 workers exposed to PCP as the sole preservative chemical.Age-standardized prevalence rates were significantly higher among the PCP-exposed than among the controls for low-grade infections or inflammations of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, protective membrane of the eyes and the mucosa membrane of the upper respiratory tract. Strong to moderate statistical associations were observed between PCP exposure and increased occurrence of bands (immature leucocytes) and basophils, increased plasma cholinesterase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma globulin and uric acid, and decreased serum calcium. Despite these statistical associations, laboratory values considered to be clinically abnormal were few and not significantly greater in occurrence among the PCP-exposed individuals.

Association between Renal Function Tests and Pentachlorophenol Exposure

Data are presented and renal function tests and Pcp measurements on consecutive blood and urine samples collected from 18 workers at a wood treatment plant before, during, and after a 20-day vacation. Pcp concentrations in blood averaging 5.1 ppm before vacation fell to 2.2 ppm during vacation but with a temporary rise early in this nonexposure period, suggesting a body tissues store of Pcp which was mobilized in response to a negative Pcp balance. Urine Pcp concentrations showed similar but less marked variations. Creatinine clearance and phosphorus reabsorption values were depressed before vacation but showed significant improvement during vacation, suggesting that Pcp exposure reduced both glomerular filtration rate and tubular function, with recovery following a nonexposure period.

A note on the effects of a temporary exposure of an individual to pentachlorophenol

The climate of Hawaii is favorable for termite propagation and, therefore, many households of the State include containers of pentachlorophenel formulations in their collection of insecticides for home use, for local spot control of occasional outbreaks of the pest. In spite of the intensive educational campaign that has been conducted recently to acquaint the public on the potential hazards of pesticides usage, needless accidents still occur. Such an incident is discussed below, and describes the misuse of an organic solvent material containing pentachloropbenol as a brush cleaner.

Five cases of intentional ingestion of 25 percent diazinon with treatment and recovery.

The use of atropine to block the effects of acetylcholine and pralidoxime chloride to restore cholinesterase in the blood, along with supportative therapy, intravenous fluids, and oxygen, prevented death in five cases of intentional ingestion of 25% diazinon. Treatment of such cases must be tailored to the condition of the patient, and all residual poison in the stomach must be removed as rapidly as possible with gastric lavage to prevent absorption of the poison.

Human tissue distribution of cyclodiene pesticides-Hawaii 1964-1973.

Data have been presented covering symptoms of acute exposure to cyclodiene pesticides in adults and infants in Hawaii. Varying concentrations of heptachlor epoxide, dieldrin, DDT, DDE, and DDD were found in human autopsy material, with the highest levels of heptachlor epoxide in bone marrow and liver and those of dieldrin in kidney and gonad. Maximum concentration of dieldrin in human milk was 0.25 ppm on an extracted lipid basis; in fetal tissues, 1.46 ppm; and in maternal tissues, 2.04 ppm. There was correlation between dieldrin concentration in household dust and human blood serum. The general baseline levels of cyclodiene pesticides were lower in Hawaii than the rest of the United States.

Human health and pesticides-Community Pesticide Studies

The subject of pesticides and their influence upon human health has two important aspects: 1) the economic benefits that are gained from using pesticides and their value in controlling epidemics of malaria, plague, and many other diseases of man spread by vectors, and 2) the potential hazards from using pesticides and what is being done to assure their safety. I will confine my remarks to a discussion of the federally sponsored Community Pesticides Studies as they relate to this latter aspect of pesticides and human health.