A COHORT STUDY ON PERSONS EXPOSED TO PHENOXY ACID HERBICIDES AND THEIR CONTAMINANTS IN GERMANY - DESIGN AND 1ST RESULTS

The long-term low-dose exposure to phenoxy acid herbicides and their contaminants was addressed in a cohort study on workers from four herbicide producing companies in Germany, Commercial preparations of phenoxy acid herbicides and chlorophenols have been known to be contaminated with dioxins and furans including 2,3,7,8-TCDD. The cohort consists of some 3000 individuals who worked in the factories in synthesis, formulation or packing or who were otherwise exposed. The study is based on the protocol of an international registry of persons with exposure to phenoxy acid herbicides and their contaminants coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France (Saracci et al, 1991). Workers from one of the German companies have been under investigation separately by Manz et al. (1991). Exposure conditions were assessed by a detailed company questionnaire and by personal visits at the plants by an industrial hygienist (Dr. Kauppinen, Helsinki, Finland). In the company questionnaires information of substances, production times and amounts as well as contaminations were asked for. Mortality follow-up started in autumn 1990. While the vital status is almost completely known, restrictions from German data protection laws made investigations on causes of death difficult. The investigations are still in progress.