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Carcinogenic activity of hexacholorobenzene in hamsters

Nature volume 269, pages 510–511 (1977)Cite this article

Abstract

HEXACHLOROBENZENE (HCB), has been widely used as a fungicide, is a contaminant of various pesticides including DACTHAL and pentachloronitrobenzene, and is also a byproduct in the manufacture of many chlorinated hydrocarbons (in the United States probably more than 2 × 106 pounds of HCB are produced annually1). In Turkey, HCB was the causative agent in a severe outbreak of porphyria cutanea tarda symptomatica involving several thousand people between 1955 and 1959 (refs 2–4). In spite of the ban of HCB in 1959, symptoms of disease due to this toxic porphyria have persisted for a long time5,6. The aim of present studies was to determine the chronic toxicity of HCB after prolonged oral administration and we report here that HCB is carcinogenic in hamsters.

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Author notes

  1. J. R. P. CABRAL

    Present address: MRC Toxicology Unit, Woodmansterne Road Carshalton, Surrey, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 42nd Street and Dewey Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska, 68105

    J. R. P. CABRAL, P. SHUBIK, T. MOLLNER & F. RAITANO

Authors
  1. J. R. P. CABRAL
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  2. P. SHUBIK
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  3. T. MOLLNER
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  4. F. RAITANO
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CABRAL, J., SHUBIK, P., MOLLNER, T. et al. Carcinogenic activity of hexacholorobenzene in hamsters. Nature 269, 510–511 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/269510a0

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