Hair and its associated lipids as an excretory pathway for chlorinated hydrocarbons

1. Chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides and other halogenated compounds, probably biphenyls, were found to be associated with human hair at concentrations less than 1 p.p.m. 2. In experiments with rats, chlorinated 14C-hydrocarbon insecticides and polychlorinated biphenyls were excreted in hair in all instances, but excretion was less with the more labile compounds. 3. Excretion via hair may be a significant factor in eliminating chlorinated hydrocarbons which resist metabolism.