Liver structure and function in patients poisoned with chlordecone (kepone)

Toxicant-associated Steatohepatitis

“…2-Nitropropane, a high production volume chemical, has been used in numerous applications since 1940, including printing inks and dyes, adhesives, resins, waxes, waterproof coatings, varnish remover, and as a fuel additive (Harrison, Letz, et al 1987; Zimmerman 1999). 2-nitropropane stands out as the most toxic of the nitroaliphatic compounds, leading to severe hepatic injury in humans including fatty change, centrilobular (zone 3) necrosis, bile duct proliferation with accompanying cholestasis, fulminant hepatic failure, and death (Harrison, Letz, et al 1987; Farrell 1994).…”

Atsdr Evaluation of Health Effects of Chemicals

“…In male rabbits exposed dermally to chlordecone in corn oil, an LD50 value of 410 mg/kg was reported (Larson et al, 1979b). All reliable LD50 values for death in rats and rabbits following acute-duration exposure for mirex and chlordecone are recorded in Tables 2-3 Systemic Effects Several studies were presented above under the heading &dquo;Inhalation Exposure&dquo; regarding the systemic effects experienced by workers occupationally exposed to chlordecone (Cannon et al, 1978;Martinez et al, 1978;Guzelian et al, 1980;Taylor, 1982Taylor, , 1985Taylor et al, 1978). Dermal exposure was probably a major route of exposure in the occupational situation described in these studies; however, the results of these studies are not repeated in this section, since the previous section contains a complete description of the systemic effects associated with occupational exposure (route of exposure unspecified; either inhalation, oral, and/or dermal) to chlordecone.…”

“…No data on health effects resulting from inhalation exposure to mirex were located. Health effects data on chlordecone resulting from inhalation exposure are limited to information on a single group of 133 men exposed to chlordecone at a facility in Hopewell, Virginia, where chlordecone was manufactured over a period of 21-22 months (Cannon et al, 1978;Martinez et al, 1978;Taylor et al, 1978;Sanborn et al, 1979;Guzelian et al, 1980;Guzelian, 1982a;Taylor, 1982Taylor, , 1985. Hygiene conditions at the plant were extremely poor, and substantial inhalation, dermal, and even oral exposures could have occurred.…”

Research Needs for Hepatic Injury Due to Environmental Agents

“…This involves reactions carried out largely in the endoplasmic reticulum of the hepatocyte, catalyzed by cytochrome P-450. This group of hemoprotein isoenzymes oxidizes many foreign substances (8,9). In some instances, bio-oxidation of foreign compounds renders them pharmacologically inactive, although most potentially toxic compounds require similar bio-oxidation reactions to be converted into toxic forms (metabolic activation).…”