Mortality experience of employees exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)

This study describes the mortality experience of a cohort of 61 males involved in a 1964 chloracne incident. Presumably as a result of skin absorption of the process contaminant, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD or dioxin), 49 of these trichlorophenol production workers developed the skin condition. Within the limitations posed by cohort size and length of follow-up, TCDD does not appear to have adversely affected mortality experience. Overall, four deaths occurred and 7.8 were expected. Of these, one death was due to cardiovascular disease (3.8 expected) and three deaths were attributed to cancer (1.6 expected). None of the findings were statistically significant at alpha = 0.05. Further follow-up is contemplated.