Health effects of aldrin/dieldrin

Aldrin and dieldrin affect your health in similar ways. Symptoms of aldrin and dieldrin poisoning have been seen in people who were exposed to very large amounts of these pesticides during their manufacture. Symptoms of poisoning have also been seen in people who intentionally or accidentally ate or drank large amounts of aldrin or dieldrin. Most of these people experienced convulsions or other nervous system effects, and some had kidney damage. Some people who intentionally ate or drank large amounts of aldrin or dieldrin died. Health effects in people exposed to smaller amounts of aldrin or dieldrin occur because levels of the chemicals build up in the body over time. Exposure to moderate levels of aldrin or dieldrin for a long time causes headaches, dizziness, irritability, vomiting, or uncontrollable muscle movements. Some sensitive people seem to develop a condition in which aldrin or dieldrin causes the body to destroy its own blood cells. We do not know whether aldrin or dieldrin affects the ability of people to fight diseases. Also, we do not know whether aldrin or dieldrin affects the ability of men to father children, or causes birth defects or cancer in people. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has determined that aldrin and dieldrin are not classifiable as to their carcinogenicity to humans. Based on studies in animals, the EPA has determined that aldrin and dieldrin are probable human carcinogens.

You should know that one way to learn whether a chemical will harm people is to determine how the body absorbs, uses, and releases the chemical. For some chemicals, animal testing may be necessary. Animal testing may also help identify such health effects as cancer or birth defects. Without laboratory animals, scientists would lose a basic method for getting information needed to make wise decisions that protect public health. Scientists have the responsibility to treat research animals with care and compassion. Scientists must comply with strict animal care guidelines because laws today protect the welfare of research animals.

Additionally, there are vigorous national and international efforts to develop alternatives to animal testing. The efforts focus on both in vitro and in silico approaches and methods. For example, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) created the NTP Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM) in 1998. The role of NICEATM is to serve the needs of high quality, credible science by facilitating development and validation—and regulatory and public acceptance—of innovative, revised test methods that reduce, refine, and replace the use of animals in testing while strengthening protection of human health, animal health and welfare, and the environment. In Europe, similar efforts at developing alternatives to animal based testing are taking place under the aegis of the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM).

Results from animal studies show that high levels of aldrin and dieldrin cause effects on the nervous system and on the kidneys similar to those seen in people. Results from animal studies also show additional effects of aldrin and dieldrin after exposure to lower levels for longer periods. We do not know whether these effects also occur in people. These other health effects of aldrin and dieldrin in animals include changes in the liver and reduced ability to fight infections. In addition, animals born to mothers who have eaten large amounts of aldrin or dieldrin do not live very long. This results, in part, from the newly born animals being poisoned by aldrin or dieldrin in the mother's milk. Studies in animals give conflicting information about whether aldrin and dieldrin cause birth defects. Studies in animals also give conflicting information about whether aldrin and dieldrin make it more difficult for male animals to reproduce. Some studies show that aldrin and dieldrin may damage sperm. Aldrin and dieldrin have been shown to cause liver cancer in mice, but not in other species of animals.

Health effects on children

this section discusses potential health effects from exposures during the period from conception to maturity at 18 years of age in humans. Potential effects on children resulting from exposures of the parents are also considered.

Children can be exposed to aldrin or dieldrin in the same ways as adults, mainly by eating food contaminated with aldrin or dieldrin, or by exposure in homes treated for termites using aldrin or dieldrin. Children can also be exposed by coming into contact with aldrin- or dieldrin-contaminated water, air, or soil near hazardous waste sites. There are no known unique exposure pathways for children. We do not know if children's intake of aldrin or dieldrin per kilogram of body weight is different than that of adults.

Adults and children who swallowed (either by accident or on purpose) amounts of aldrin or dieldrin that were much greater than those found in the environment suffered convulsions, and some died. We do not know whether children differ from adults in their susceptibility to health effects from aldrin or dieldrin exposure.

We do not know whether aldrin or dieldrin affect the ability of people to have children or whether they cause birth defects in children. Some studies in animals show that females given aldrin or dieldrin by mouth have smaller numbers of babies. Some other studies show that large amounts of aldrin damage the testes, but it is unknown whether such large amounts affect the ability of animals to reproduce. Pregnant animals given aldrin or dieldrin by mouth had some babies with low birth weights and some with skeletal variations. Because these effects occurred in animals, they might also occur in humans. Aldrin and dieldrin can cross the placenta. Dieldrin has been found in human breast milk.

Reducing risk of exposure to aldrin/dieldrin

If your doctor finds that you have been exposed to significant amounts of aldrin or dieldrin, ask whether your children might also be exposed. Your doctor might need to ask your state health department to investigate.

Since aldrin and dieldrin are no longer produced or used, exposure to these compounds will occur from past usage. Families with the greatest risk of exposure to aldrin and dieldrin are those living in homes that were once treated with either chemical for termite protection. Aldrin and dieldrin were usually applied to the basement level of homes to protect the foundation from termites. Studies indicate that detectable levels of both chemicals can exist in a home for up to 10 years after the first application. Before buying a home, families should investigate what, if any, pesticides have been used within the home.

Medical tests for exposure to aldrin/dieldrin

Aldrin is quickly changed to dieldrin in the body, and dieldrin can be measured in your blood, urine, and body tissues if you have been exposed to a large amount. Tests to measure aldrin or dieldrin in such bodily tissues or fluids are not usually available at a doctor's office because special equipment is needed. However, a sample taken in the doctor's office can be properly packed and shipped to a special laboratory, if necessary. Because aldrin changes to dieldrin fairly quickly in the body, these methods are useful for finding aldrin only within a few days after you are exposed to aldrin. Since dieldrin can stay in the body for months, measurements of dieldrin can be made for much longer after you are exposed to either aldrin or dieldrin. The test results cannot be used to predict if you will have any adverse health effects. Exposure to other chemicals at the same time as exposure to aldrin and/or dieldrin could cause some confusion in understanding test results for aldrin and/or dieldrin.

Health effects of aldrin/dieldrin

Contents

Introduction

Pathways of aldrin/dieldrin in the environment

Exposure to aldrin/dieldrin

Pathways for aldrin/dieldrin in the body