Mortality study of persons exposed to dioxin in a trichlorophenol-process accident that occurred in the BASF AG on November 17, 1953

Abstract

Twenty-seven years after an accident which occurred in the BASF, Ludwigshafen plan in 1953, a mortality study of persons exposed to dioxin in an uncontrolled reaction during a trichlorophenol process was undertaken. The follow-up was 100% successful and involved 74 persons. Overall mortality (21 deaths) did not differ in this group from the rate expected in three external reference populations or from that observed in two internal comparison groups, where 18-20 deaths were observed. Of the 21 deceased persons, 7 had cancer, compared with 4.1 expected. In addition, two other cases of cancer (one bronchial carcinoma, and one carcinoma of the prostate) are still alive. Three deaths due to stomach cancer, at ages 64, 66, and 69 years, were found, compared with 0.6 expected from regional mortality data. One stomach cancer occurred among 148 individuals in the two comparison cohorts.