Soft Tissue Sarcomas, Phenoxy Herbicides, and Chlorinated Phenols

A follow-up study of cancer incidence among workers in manufacture of phenoxy herbicides in Denmark

“…Additionally, one live cohort member was reported to suffer from STS (Cook, 1981). Later 3 cases of STS were reported among workers in 2,4,5-T manufacturing plants (Moses & Selikoff 1981;Johnson et al, 1981). A review of employment records and tissue specimens for the 7 cases suggested that only 2 of the 4 cases identified on studied cohorts were STS; whereas the 3 cases outside cohorts were all confirmed as STS, but for these patients company records showed no specific assignment to 2,4,5-trichlorophenol or 2,4,5-T departments (Fingerhut et al, 1983).…”

“…Subsequently, an additional four cases of STS were identified among employees from 2,4,5-T manufacturing plants (Cook, 1981; Moses & Selikoff, 1981;Johnson et al, 1981). In combination these Swedish and US studies indicated a carcinogenic effect in humans of components in the T phenoxy herbicide (e.g.…”

Phenoxy acid herbicides cause peroxisome proliferation in Chinese hamsters.

“…Increased risk of soft tissue sarcomas has been reported among workers exposed to phenoxy acid herbicides (3,4,5,7). The mutagenic activity of phenoxy herbicides has been, however, low or nonexisting in the studies performed (11).…”

Mortality of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicide applicators in Finland: first report of an ongoing prospective cohort study.

“…Neither did our observations support the finding that a markedly increased risk of lymphoma is associated with exposures to chlorinated phenoxy acids (Il). The association between an increased risk of soft tissue sarcoma and exposures to chlorinated phenoxy acids, chlorinated phenols, and their chlorinated dibenzodioxin (TCDD in particular) and dibenzofuran impurities has been 'strengthened by recent epidemiologic (6,10) and clinical (3,13,17) ob·servations. Unfortunately, no certain conclusions on the risk of soft tissue sarcoma can be drawn in the present study because the material is small.…”