Review of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) biomonitoring and epidemiology

A qualitative review of the epidemiological literature on the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and health after 2001 is presented. In order to compare the exposure of the general population, bystanders and occupational groups, their urinary levels were also reviewed. In the general p...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Critical reviews in toxicology 2012-10, Vol.42 (9), p.768-786
Main Authors: Burns, Carol J., Swaen, Gerard M. H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
2,4-D
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid - toxicity
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid - urine
Biological and medical sciences
biomonitoring
cancer
Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens
Chemical agents
DNA Damage - drug effects
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Epidemiologic Studies
Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases
herbicide
Herbicides - toxicity
Herbicides - urine
Humans
Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis
Medical sciences
Neoplasms - etiology
Neoplasms - physiopathology
non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Occupational Exposure - analysis
Pesticides, fertilizers and other agrochemicals toxicology
Reproduction - drug effects
Review
Toxicology
Tumors
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A qualitative review of the epidemiological literature on the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and health after 2001 is presented. In order to compare the exposure of the general population, bystanders and occupational groups, their urinary levels were also reviewed. In the general population, 2,4-D exposure is at or near the level of detection (LOD). Among individuals with indirect exposure, i.e. bystanders, the urinary 2,4-D levels were also very low except in individuals with opportunity for direct contact with the herbicide. Occupational exposure, where exposure was highest, was positively correlated with behaviors related to the mixing, loading and applying process and use of personal protection. Information from biomonitoring studies increases our understanding of the validity of the exposure estimates used in epidemiology studies. The 2,4-D epidemiology literature after 2001 is broad and includes studies of cancer, reproductive toxicity, genotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. In general, a few publications have reported statistically significant associations. However, most lack precision and the results are not replicated in other independent studies. In the context of biomonitoring, the epidemiology data give no convincing or consistent evidence for any chronic adverse effect of 2,4-D in humans.
ISSN:1040-8444
1547-6898
DOI:10.3109/10408444.2012.710576