EFFECT OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO ALDRIN ON URINARY D-GLUCARIC ACID,PLASMA DIELDRIN, AND LYMPHOCYTE SISTER-CHROMATID EXCHANGE

The effects of exposure to the chlorinated cyclodiene termiticide aldr in was evaluated in pest control workers potentially exposed to this m aterial. Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies were not elevated in workers handling aldrin. This is consistent with the fact that chl orinated cyclodienes are not genotoxic. Plasma dieldrin concentrations (up to 250 ng/ml) confirmed exposure in workers actively performing t ermiticide treatments and in maintenance and store workers, when compa red with unexposed control workers (median concentration, 4.8 ng/ml). Urinary D-glucaric acid (DGA), an index of hepatic enzyme activity, wa s elevated in pesticide-exposed groups but urinary DGA was poorly corr elated with plasma dieldrin level. This indicates that concurrent expo sures of these groups to other pesticides may have influenced mixed-fu nction oxidase metabolic activity.