US EPA

2826027 

Journal Article 

DDT, dieldrin, and heptachlor epoxide in humans with liver cirrhosis 

Oloffs, PC; Hardwick, DF; Szeto, SY; Moerman, DG 

1974 

Yes 

Clinical Biochemistry
ISSN: 0009-9120
EISSN: 1873-2933 

PESTAB/75/1543 

7 

3 

297-306 

English 

4138989 

PESTAB. Gas-liquid chromatography was used to determine the DDT, dieldrin, and heptachlor epoxide concentrations in liver, brain, and adipose tissue specimens taken at autopsy from patients with hepatic cirrhosis and from controls. Sections of liver were prepared for histopathological examination and the lipid content determined. The liver specimens from the cirrhotics contained significantly higher concentrations of DDT, but significantly lower concentrations of heptachlor epoxide than the control specimens: the dieldrin concentrations did not vary significantly between the two groups. The groups did not differ in terms of the pesticide residue levels in the brain or adipose tissue samples. None of the specimens contained detectable amounts of aldrin, heptachlor, lindane, or the alpha or gamma isomers of chlordane. The cirrhotic livers with severe fatty infiltration contained significantly higher amounts of DDT and heptachlor epoxide than did those with minimal or no fatty changes. On the other hand, livers with marked fibrosis or bile stasis contained significantly lower concentrations of DDT than those with minimal or no such changes.