CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS IN HUMAN BONE-MARROW OF HEALTHY-INDIVIDUALS AND LEUKEMIA PATIENTS

In this pilot study, concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons in bon e marrow were determined by capillary-column gas chromatography. Bone marrow was obtained from a total of 29 healthy adults and from patient s with leukemia or lymphoma. The chlorinated hydrocarbons in adults th at occurred in the highest concentrations were dichlorodiphenyltrichlo roethane and its derivatives (mean = 129 mg/g DNA). Hexachlorobenzene, the hexachlorohexane isomers, and deldrin were also found, but in red uced concentrations (i.e., mean concentrations: 49.5 mg/g DNA, 14.9 mg /g DNA, and 5.9 mg/g DNA, respectively). Patients who had leukemia and lymphoma did not have significantly increased concentrations of chlor inated hydrocarbons.