A therapeutic regimen for purging dieldrin from adulterated individuals
SummaryIn four feedlots 1013 steers had become contaminated by being fed over 50% of their diet as cull seed potatoes containing 0.1 to 0.2 ppm dieldrin (dry weight basis), developing residues of up to 0.76 ppm (rendered fat). These residues were in excess of federal guidelines (0.30 ppm, rendered fat), but considered non-pathological and without physiological effect. Application of a therapeutic regimen, consisting of an initial injection of testosterone propionate and vitamins A, D and E and of daily oral doses of phenobarbital (first 20 days only) and activated charcoal in a finishing ration, resulted in marked reductions in dieldrin residues within 30 days. The rate of dieldrin loss was increased six-fold and the residual half-life reduced from a reported 150 to 250 days to about 25 to 80 days. The effectiveness of individual components or combinations was not evaluated, but the rate of charcoal feeding appeared most important.
Removal of pesticide residues from dairy cattle.
Abstract The contamination of livestock with chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide is a serious problem in animal agriculture. Once animals become contaminated with these pesticides elimination from the body is a slow process. The research on methods to intentionally increase the elimination of pesticides from cattle was reviewed. Several compounds have been fed to animals contaminated with heptachlor, dieldrin, or DDT. These compounds were mineral oil, animal and vegetable fat, calcium salts, bentonite, ethoxyquin, thyroprotein and vitamins A, D and E. In addition, the effects of high energy or low energy rations on pesticide excretion have been studied. Some of these materials helped to remove pesticides but the effects were not dramatic. The method that is effective as an antidote for pesticide poisoning in cattle is a combination of activated carbon and phenobarbital feeding. This method proved successful in a large scale field trial involving 105 lactating Holstein cows that had been contaminated with aldrin.
Effect of anticonvulsant drugs on dicophane (D.D.T.) residues in man.
Abstract A study of blood-levels of p,p -D.D.E. (the principal metabolite of D.D.T.) in a group of White patients taking anticonvulsant drugs for more than three months has revealed strikingly lower D.D.E. levels than have been found in the general population. Phenytoin (diphenylhydantoin) appeared to have more potent action in reducing D.D.E. blood-levels. Phenobarbitone also appeared to be a moderately active pharmacological agent for this purpose. A study of samples of adipose tissue and blood from inpatients taking and not taking these drugs helped to confirm the finding that in this group the burden of D.D.T.-derived materials can be reduced or even eliminated.