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Executive Summary
Pages 1-8

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From page 1...
... The Committee on Toxicology (NRC, 1979) concluded that it "could noe determine a level of exposure to chlordane below which there would be no biologic effect under conditions of prolonged exposure of families in military housing." However, it did suggest an interim airborne concentration of 5 ~g/m3, which was pragmatically determined on the basis of "own concentratione of chlordane in the military housing, a review of reported health complaints of residents of contaminated housing, and a comparison with the acceptable daily intake derived from long~term animal feeding studies.
From page 2...
... Specifically, the Committee was asked to evaluate the key information on the toxic effects of the pesticides; make a comparative assesament of the human~health risks associated with exposure to the pesticides; review the previously recommended exposure limit for airborne chlordane; and, if there are sufficient data, suggest airborne exposure 1 imits for the other pestic ides .
From page 3...
... In humans, 1 indane exerts its toxic action on the central nervous system. Signs of poisoning include tremors, ataxia, convulsions, and prostration.
From page 4...
... CONCLUSIONS AND RECO - ENDATIONS To evaluate the risks associated with exposure to the seven pesticides that are available for controlling subsurface termites and to assess which of them, if any, are most appropriate for use in military housing from the standpoint of health risks, the Committee has considered several factors. These include heal th effects themselves and environmental end points that influence potential airborne concentrations, such as vapor pressure, persistence in the environment, and amount of material that needs to be applied for optimal effectiveness.
From page 5...
... The four cyclodiene eermiticides are 8 imilar in overal heal th risks; each exerts toxic effects on the central nervous system. Al though the data on aldrin, dieldrin, and heptachlor suggest a greater carcinogenic risk than that of chlordane, the Committee toes not believe that these differences alone are sufficient to make one cyclodiene more desirable than another.
From page 6...
... Given the available data and the fact that under conditions of prolonged exposure of families in military housing there may be persons, such as young children, who in general are more susceptible to environmental insults, the Committee concluded thee it could not determine a level of exposure to any of the termiticides below which there would be no biologic effects. The exposure limits were derived on the basis of health considerations and ref lees the combined judgment of the Committee members; the feasibility of achieving the suggested airborne concentrations was not taken into account.
From page 7...
... Because the population in military housing is more heterogeneous than that in submarines, the Co ~ ittee suggests an interim guideline of 10 ~g/m3 for exposures no t exceeding 3 yr. Research Recommendations The Committee s trongly recommends that more def initive human-heal th data be developed for a fuller assessment of the risks of exposure to these termiticides.
From page 8...
... It is recommended teat, at a minimum, a biologic monitoring program be undertaken as a first step in a comprehensive analysis of the human health ef fects of culordane. Concentrations of chlortane and its metabolites in fat, blood, and urine of persons who lived in military housing where chlordane was applied should be measured.


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