Liver cancer deaths in the continental USA from 1930 to 1972.

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Abstract
Since 1944 the general USA population has been absorbing organochlorine pesticides, which recently were largely banned because of a concern that they would cause or contribute to the production of liver cancer. The quantities of tehse pesticides used and the incidence of liver cancer deaths in the USA from 1930 to 1972 were surveyed. For the general USA population, the total death rates for cancer of the liver and its biliary passages indicate a significant, almost constant decrease in the total rate of liver cancer deaths, from 8.8 in 1930 to 8.4 in 1944 (when DDT was introduced) to 5.6 in 1972. This almost constant decline in total liver cancer death rates for the past 42 yr fails to support the evidence of any increase in liver cancer deaths since the introduction of the 1st organochlorine pesticide into the USA environment. This decrease in liver cancer deaths is even more significant in light of the increasing life span of the people of the USA, which resulted in an increasing percentage of the population at risk to liver cancer over these years. If any organochlorine pesticides possess very low potential for causing liver cancer in man, general population studies probably would not uncover this fact. Population groups engaged in the manufacture, formulation and extensive use of these compounds should be studied. Adverse effects of chemicals are generally observed first in those who are occupationally exposed. There is no evidence whatsoever that DDT is carcinogenic in man.

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