ABSTRACT

Chloroorganic compounds, typified by the chlorinated aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, especially biphenyls, naphthalenes, dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofuranes and azo/xy/benzenes are, or were, manufactured as commercial products /the chlorinated biphenyls and naphtalenes/, and occur only as contaminants in commercial products /the chlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and azo/xy/benzenes/. They have all become widespread in the environment. The chemical stability and lipophilicity of these compounds, and their resistance to degradation results in their persistence in the environment and concentration in the food chains. Their chemical structures are similar, i.e. they are approximate isostereomers. They act by the common receptor-mediated mechanism and produce similar toxic responses, although they vary greatly in potency. All classes of chloroorganic compounds have produced incidents of intoxication of industrial workers, the general population, and farm or wild animals. Chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons elicit a numerous toxic effects which include body weight loss, thymic atrophy, immunotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and porphyria, chloracne and another dermal lesions, tissue-specific hypo- and hyperplastic responses, teratogenicity, reproductive toxicity, and carcinogenesis.