M. Fingerhut, W. Halperin
Jun 17, 1983
Citations
0
Influential Citations
4
Citations
Journal
JAMA
Abstract
To the Editor.— The recent report of the Council on Scientific Affairs entitled "Health Effects of Agent Orange and Dioxin Contaminants" (1982; 248:1895) does not present evidence linking dioxin exposure to soft-tissue sarcoma in workers. We believe this research deserves presentation, and we summarize it herein. Dioxins are generated as unintended contaminants during the chemical manufacture of phenoxy acids such as 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) and chlorophenols such as trichlorophenol. Industrial workers who produce phenoxy acids and chlorophenols and herbicide applicators who spray these products are exposed both to the products and to their dioxin contaminants. In 1977, seven cases of soft-tissue sarcoma were reported among Swedish lumberjacks who had heavy previous exposure to phenoxy acid herbicides. This clinical observation led researchers in Sweden to conduct two separate epidemiologic case-control studies. 1-2 Both studies found that persons with occupational exposure to phenoxy acids or chlorophenols had a fivefold increased risk of