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HUMAN POPULATION EXPOSURES TO MIREX AND KEPONE
Citation:
Suta, B. HUMAN POPULATION EXPOSURES TO MIREX AND KEPONE. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/1-78/045.
Description:
Human exposures to mirex and kepone are assessed in this study. Three major paths of exposure are examined: ingestion through the food chain, inhalation of atmospheric mirex and kepone, and exposure through drinking water. Exposure through the food chain appears to be the most pressing current problem. Various species of commercially caught fish in certain areas of the country have been found to contain slight amounts of the compounds. It is difficult to obtain estimates of the human exposure from sport fish, but evidence seems to suggest that sportsmen and their families may be exposed through fish. Also, game captured in the southeastern U.S. has been found to contain the compounds. Kepone has been found in mothers' milk in some areas of the country. Atmospheric exposures are not considered terribly great now, since the compounds are no longer produced and the major atmospheric exposures are believed to be occupational exposure at the producing factory and exposure to workers' families from clothing, etc. Human exposure to mirex and kepone from drinking water supplies does not appear to be a problem, since both compounds are very insoluble in water. Exposure through tobacco was also considered.