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Increased Lymphocyte Replicative Index Following 2,4–Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Herbicide Exposure

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Abstract

Objective: Evaluate peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation (replicative index:RI) and micronuclei frequency (MF) among 2,4–D herbicide applicators.

Methods: Twelve applicators spraying only 2,4–D provided a blood and urine specimen upon enrollment, several urine samples during the spraying season, and a blood specimen at the study's end. Nine controls provided blood and urine specimens upon enrollment and at the study's end. Gas chromatography/tandem mass spectroscopy determined urinary 2,4–D levels and standard in-vitro assays determined RI and MF scores. Applicator RI and MF were compared before and after spraying and with controls.

Results: Applicators contributed 45 urine specimens with concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 1700 (μg 2,4–D/g creatinine/L urine) that logarithmically (ln) increased as spraying time increased. Applicator RI increased after spraying (p = 0.016), independent of tobacco and alcohol use, and demonstrated a weak dose-response with increasing urinary 2,4–D levels (p = 0.15). Among 2,4–D applicators, pre-exposure complete blood counts and lymphocyte immunophenotypes were not significantly different from post-exposure measurements.

Conclusion: Urinary 2,4–D concentration, an exposure biomarker, may be associated with lymphocyte replicative index, a cell proliferation biomarker.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, St Louis University, 3663 Lindell Blvd, St Louis, MO, 63108–3342

    Larry W. Figgs

  2. University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720

    Nina Titenko Holland & Martyn T. Smith

  3. National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892

    Nathanial Rothman, Shelia Hoar Zahm, Robert E. Tarone & Aaron Blair

  4. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30341

    Robert Hill & Robert F. Vogt

  5. Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160

    Cathy D. Boysen & Frederick F. Holmes

  6. Battelle/Survey Research Associates, Baltimore, MD, 21209

    Karen VanDyck

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  1. Larry W. Figgs
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Figgs, L.W., Holland, N.T., Rothman, N. et al. Increased Lymphocyte Replicative Index Following 2,4–Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Herbicide Exposure. Cancer Causes Control 11, 373–380 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008925824242

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