Chlorinated pesticides carcinogens

A number of environmental contaminants (e.g., some organo-chlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) cause cancer in laboratory animals. The committee found no epidemiological evidence to suggest that these compounds individually make a major contribution to the risk of cancer in humans. However, the possibility that they may act synergistically and may thereby create a greater carcinogenic risk cannot be excluded. 

Current concerns with estrogenic compounds and their influence on a broad range of reproductive disorders, along with possible carcinogenic effects, have renewed interest in chlorinated pesticides. The need for ongoing scientific research to assess the potential risk posed by these compounds seems inevitable. 

The consistent lack of genotoxicity of organo-chlorine pesticides in liver derived tests strongly supports the negative data obtained in other tests. Thus, it appears that these chemicals are not geno-toxic carcinogens. 

Dr. Williams dwelt on the polychlorinated compounds that elicit tumors in rodents, mouse liver being the particular target and, occasionally, the thyroid. It seemed clear that these were epigenetic carcinogens that did not form covalent adducts with DNA nor damage DNA. Various tests for unscheduled DMA synthesis, point mutations and neoplastic transformation were all negative. Tests for promotional effect, in systems that revealed phenobar-bital to be a prototype promoter, served to establish that the chlorinated pesticides acted in the same way. Possible mechanisms of promoting action were reviewed. 

I ARC I ARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Man, Vol. 5, Some Organo-chlorine Pesticides, Lyon, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 1974... 

Pesticides include the broad categories of insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, and herbicides. Insecticides in common use fall into three categories. The chloroinsec-ticides have chlorine in their structure. They are less soluble than the other insecticide forms and much less biodegradable (i.e., more persistent). While they are less acutely toxic, several have been identified as potential carcinogens. Carbamatea are a relatively new form of pesticide. They are less persistent and less... 

Letterman RD (ed) (1999) Water quality and treatment A handbook of community water supplies, 5th ed., Amer. Water Works Assoc., McGraw-Hill, New York Lijinsky W, Epstein SS (1970) Nitrosamines as environmental carcinogens. Nature 225 21-23 Lin S, Marshall EG, Davidson GK (1994) Potential parental exposure to pesticides and hmb reduction defects. Scand J Work Environ Health 20 166-179 Linak, E, Lutz, HJ, Nakamura E (1990) Chlorinated Solvents. In Linak E, Lutz HJ, Nakamura E, C2 chlorinated solvents, chemical economics handbook, Stanford Research Institute, Menlo Park, CA, pp. 632.30000a-632.3001z Lindsay WL (1979) Chemical equilibria in soils. John Wiley, New York... 

These properties are not unique to synthetic chemicals. Many thousands of chlorinated chemicals are produced in nature,21 and natural pesticides can bio concentrate if they are fat-soluble. Potatoes, for example, contain solanine and chaconine, which are fat-soluble, neurotoxic, natural pesticides that can be detected in the blood of all potato eaters. High levels of these potato neurotoxins have been shown to cause birth defects in rodents,22 though they have not been tested for carcinogenicity. 

Questionable carcinogen with experimental carcinogenic and tumorigenic data. Experimental teratogenic and reproductive effects. Mutation data reported. A pesticide. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of Cl. See also CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS, ALIPHATIC. 

Chlorinated organics (DDT, BHC, etc.) Pesticides/fumigants Depression of central rtervous system/ possiUy carcinogenic... 

Small quantities of PCDDs are produced as by-products of the industrial manufacture of chlorinated phenolic chemicals and pesticides. They are especially hazardous environmental pollutants, since they have carcinogenic and teratogenic properties. Their release in 1976 in an industrial explosion at Seveso, Italy was implicated in the widespread poisoning of livestock and contamination of the local population. 

---