Hexachlorobenzene and Other Organochloride Pesticides in Human Blood

This survey deals with the concentration of organochlorine compounds with pesticidal activity in whole blood of 237 people. One hundred and eighty-five people had some occupational exposure to these compounds in their working conditions, and 52 people had no known exposure. All people showed no apparent signs of intoxication. Nearly all blood specimens examined had DDT, HCB and other commonly-found pesticides in amounts comparable to the levels reported in other overseas surveys. However, the majority of specimens contained the fungicide hexachlorobenzene, the presence of which in blood had not previously been reported.