Liver Function in Workers Having High Tissue Stores of Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Pesticides

Abstract

Five serum enzyme activities and urinary d-glucaric acid excretion were measured in 56 controls and 71 pesticide-exposed subjects to determine whether workers with large tissue stores of DDT and dieldrin show signs of liver cell injury or induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes.

Although serum concentrations of these chlorinated hydrocarbons in many workers exceeded by far those found in persons not occupationally exposed to pesticides, only small, equivocal differences in serum enzyme activities were observed. Urinary excretion of d-glucaric acid was unrelated to serum concentrations of either DDT, DDE, or dieldrin.