The toxicology of 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP): a brief review. 1999

D T Teitelbaum
The Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado 80206, USA. toxdoc@ix.netcom.com.

The accumulating data demonstrating the reproductive toxicity of 1, 2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) are reviewed. The sentinel event was the discovery of infertility in male pesticide manufacturing workers. In spite of early evidence of testicular damage, first in laboratory animals and later in humans, DBCP has been widely used as a nematocide in the United States and is still used in other countries. The spermatogenic effects of DBCP are usually irreversible, and there is also evidence of toxicity to the female reproductive system. DBCP is also a CNS depressant, a liver and kidney toxin, and a skin, eye, and respiratory irritant, and is probably carcinogenic. Environmental contamination of air and water may be an additional source of exposure. Materials often used to protect workers from toxic chemicals are not being deployed for use by exposed workers, and in any case are relatively ineffective.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007247 Infertility, Female Diminished or absent ability of a female to achieve conception. Sterility, Female,Sterility, Postpartum,Sub-Fertility, Female,Subfertility, Female,Female Infertility,Female Sterility,Female Sub-Fertility,Female Subfertility,Postpartum Sterility,Sub Fertility, Female
D007306 Insecticides Pesticides designed to control insects that are harmful to man. The insects may be directly harmful, as those acting as disease vectors, or indirectly harmful, as destroyers of crops, food products, or textile fabrics. Insecticide
D008297 Male Males
D009153 Mutagens Chemical agents that increase the rate of genetic mutation by interfering with the function of nucleic acids. A clastogen is a specific mutagen that causes breaks in chromosomes. Clastogen,Clastogens,Genotoxin,Genotoxins,Mutagen
D009845 Oligospermia A condition of suboptimal concentration of SPERMATOZOA in the ejaculated SEMEN to ensure successful FERTILIZATION of an OVUM. In humans, oligospermia is defined as a sperm count below 20 million per milliliter semen. Cryptospermia,Cryptozoospermia,Low Sperm Count,Hypospermatogenesis,Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia,Oligozoospermia,Cryptospermias,Cryptozoospermias,Hypospermatogeneses,Low Sperm Counts,Oligoasthenoteratozoospermias,Sperm Count, Low,Sperm Counts, Low
D011407 Propane A three carbon alkane with the formula H3CCH2CH3.
D002273 Carcinogens Substances that increase the risk of NEOPLASMS in humans or animals. Both genotoxic chemicals, which affect DNA directly, and nongenotoxic chemicals, which induce neoplasms by other mechanism, are included. Carcinogen,Oncogen,Oncogens,Tumor Initiator,Tumor Initiators,Tumor Promoter,Tumor Promoters,Initiator, Tumor,Initiators, Tumor,Promoter, Tumor,Promoters, Tumor
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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