Missouri chlordane exposure study: A report on persons who consumed chlordane-contaminated fish. Final report

Since 1985, the Missouri Department of Health (MDOH) has issued fish consumption advisories based on pesticide contaminants in fish. To determine whether there was a relationship between consumption of fish from Missouri waters under consumption advisories and indicators of chlordane in human serum, MDOH conducted an exposure study from August 1989 through October 1990. Findings of the study showed that consumers of fish from contaminated areas were 4.72 times more likely to have elevated serum levels of trans-nonachlor, an indicator of chlordane, than the control group. Findings also indicated fish consumption advisories based on fish contaminant data were not valid predictors of human exposures. The levels measured were many times lower than those reported in the literature as being associated with adverse health effects.