Assessment of the Carcinogenicity of Dicofol (Kelthane (Trade Name)), Ddt, Dde, and Ddd (Tde)

Abstract

The carcinogenic activity of the pesticides dicofol and associated pesticide compounds DDT, DDE, and DDD are reviewed. All of these compounds exhibit carcinogenic activity in surrogate test animals. DDT is judged on the bases of these biotests, positive mutagenicity in vivo, two-stage chemical carcinogenesis tests, and the lack of relevant epidemiological tests to be probably carcinogenic to man. Dicofol, DDT, DDE, DDD animal test data, when analyzed by the linearized multistage model for low-dose extrapolation, show similar cancer potencies: q*1 = 0.44, 0.34, 0.34, 0.25, respectively,/(mg/kg/day). Such similiarity in cancer potency values suggests that either a common carcinogenic metabolite is generated from these compounds, or each compound has intrinsic carcinogenic activity and need not be metabolized to any other compound in order to cause cancer.

Citation

Holder, J. Assessment of the Carcinogenicity of Dicofol (Kelthane (Trade Name)), Ddt, Dde, and Ddd (Tde). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/6-86/001 (NTIS PB87110904), 1986.

• ASSESSMENT OF THE CARCINOGENICITY OF DICOFOL (KELTHANE (TRADE NAME)), DDT, DDE, AND DDD (TDE)