Heart disease in workers exposed to dinitrotoluene

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Toxicology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Rodent studies suggested dinitrotoluene (DNT) is carcinogenic.
• Human data was needed to assess DNT's carcinogenic potential and other health effects in occupationally exposed populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the carcinogenicity of dinitrotoluene (DNT) in humans.
• To investigate potential associations between DNT exposure and mortality from specific diseases, particularly ischemic heart disease.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study design was employed, following 457 male workers from two ammunition plants with substantial DNT exposure.
• Mortality data was collected through 1980 and compared to expected deaths based on US white male mortality rates and local county rates.
• Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated to assess mortality risks.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant evidence of increased cancer mortality was found among DNT-exposed workers.
• Excess mortality from ischemic heart disease was observed at both plants (SMRs 131 and 143).
• The excess mortality from ischemic heart disease persisted even when compared to local mortality rates, suggesting a potential exposure-related effect with an estimated 15-year latent period.

Conclusions:

• Dinitrotoluene (DNT) carcinogenicity observed in rodents does not appear to translate to humans.
• A significant association between DNT exposure and increased risk of ischemic heart disease mortality was identified in ammunition workers.
• Further epidemiological research on other DNT-exposed populations is warranted to confirm these findings and elucidate the etiologic significance.