Dioxin exposure levels and health effects in phenoxy herbicide production workers

The Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR) has conducted a historical cohort mortality study in 1025 phenoxy herbicide production workers and we have found an increased risk of cancer for workers in jobs involving likely dioxin exposure. We now propose to conduct a survey of workers who are known to still be alive and to:

(i) measure the dioxin levels and related biomarkers of dioxin toxic effects in their blood;

(ii) use this information to reanalyse the historical cohort study by level of dioxin exposure;

(iii) survey chronic health problems and reproductive outcomes in these workers and relate these to their dioxin exposure;

(iv) study whether elevated dioxin levels are associated with biomarkers of dioxin toxic effects.

RELATED PUBLICATIONS

't Mannetje A, McLean D, Cheng S, Boffetta P, Colin D, Pearce N. Mortality in New Zealand workers exposed to phenoxy herbicides and dioxins. Occup Environ Med, 2005; 62(1): 34-40.
't Mannetje A, McLean D, Cheng S, Boffetta P, Colin D, Pearce N. Mortality in New Zealand workers exposed to phenoxy herbicides and dioxins. Occ Environ Med, 2004; 61(11): e28.
't Mannetje A, Eng A, Walls C, Dryson E, McLean D, Kogevinas M, Fowles J, Borman B, O'Connor P, Cheng S, Brooks C, Smith A, Pearce N. Serum concentrations of chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, furans and PCBs, among former phenoxy herbicide production workers and firefighters in New Zealand. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2016; 89(2): 307-319.
't Mannetje A, Eng A, Walls C, Dryson E, Kogevinas M, Brooks C, McLean D, Cheng S, Smith A, Pearce N. Sex ratio of the offspring of New Zealand phenoxyherbicide producers exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Occup Environ Med, 2017; 74(1): 24-29.