A review of human and sub-human primate toxicity of hexachlorobenzene*
John Jarrell1** and Ayhan Gocmen2
1Department of Obstetrics
and Gynecology, University of Calgary, 1403 29th St. N.W.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 2T9;
2Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
Abstract: The inadvertent exposure of a large cohort
of individuals to hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in the mid-1950s in southeastern
Turkey remains an environmental disaster that continues to fascinate
and provide interesting observations concerning this ubiquitous chemical.
A brief history of the exposure is presented with particular reference
to the initial presentation of Pembe Yara and Porphyria Cutanea
Tarda and later to reproductive performance in humans and sub-human
primates. Differential toxicity is present in the oocytes of monkeys,
with more severe damage identified in primordial germ cells rather than
in growing oocytes. However, this observation did not express itself
in women, as there was no increased incidence of premature menopause
among those exposed. Germ cell toxicity remains a possible outcome of
exposure, however. The serum HCB levels measured in exposed individuals
predicted the lifetime risk of spontaneous abortion, not only in exposed
individuals but also in the control populations, indicating that a possible
population effect is present.
*Lectures presented
at the 4th Congress of Toxicology in Developing Countries (4th CTOX-DC),
Antalya, Turkey, 6-10 November 1999
**Corresponding author
Back to Contents for access to full
text
