Assessment of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Exposure in the Chemical Industry by Biological Monitoring

Somewhat conflicting results about a possible association between specific types of cancer and occupational exposure to phenoxy herbicides, especially 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) have been reported in a number of case reports and epidemiological studies (Anonymous 1986; Lilienfeld and Gallo 1989). A main drawback of almost all of these studies is the lack of individual pesticide exposure data. Such data have been published in some reports for applicators in agriculture and forestry in recent years (Frank et al. 1985; Grover et al. 1986a,b; Knopp and Glass 1991; Kolmodin-Hedman and Erne 1980; Lavy et al. 1982; Libich et al. 1984; Taskar et al. 1982), however data on occupational exposure to 2,4-D in herbicide production plants are very limited (Anonymous 1986; Vural and Burgaz 1984). Related studies have generally only measured herbicide concentrations in the air at the workplace. A proper assessment of the potential hazard to workers during herbicide production requires reliable estimates, however, of the amount of herbicide absorbed under these conditions.