Acquired porphyria in man and rat due to hexachlorobenzene intoxication

Abstract

SINCE 1956, an outbreak of cutaneous porphyria involving several thousand cases has been noted in three south-eastern provinces of Turkey1. Affected individuals, predominantly children and adolescents, exhibit photosensitivity with hydroa æstivale, marked porphyrinuria and hepatomegaly, but no abdominal or neurological symptoms. Epidemiological studies suggested the possibility that the disease might be related to the ingestion of wheat treated with a fungicide containing hexachlorobenzene1,2. Since direct verification of this possibility by field investigation has not been obtained1, and since the available toxicological information on hexachlorobenzene is conflicting3, an attempt was made to produce hexachlorobenzene porphyria in rats. © 1961 Nature Publishing Group.