EPIDEMIC KEPONE POISONING IN CHEMICAL WORKERS

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Abstract
From March 1974 through July 1975, 76 (57%) of 133 persons who had worked at a pesticide plant that produced Kepone, a chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide, contracted a previously unrecognized clinical Illness characterized by nervousness, tremor, weight loss, opsoclonus, pleuritic and Joint pain, and oligospermia. Illness Incidence rates for production-workers (64%) were significantly higher than for nonproduction personnel (16%). The mean blood Kepone level for workers with Illness was 2.53 ppm and for those without disease 0.60 ppm (p<0.001). Blood Kepone levels In current workers (mean, 3.12 ppm) were higher than those In former employees (1.22 ppm). Blood Kepone levels for workers In nearby businesses and for residents of a community within 1.6 km of the plant ranged from undetectable to 32.5 ppb. Illness attributable to Kepone was found In two wives of Kepone workers; there was no apparent association between frequency of symptoms and proximity to the plant In the survey of the community population.

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