Acute human exposure to TCDD in Seveso, Italy.

The children and adults who suffered injuries after exposure to chemicals that escaped in July 1976 from a reactor during the production of trichlorophenol is Seveso, Italy, have been repeatedly examined by a medical commission appointed by the judge holding the legal inquest. All patients suffered burnlike skin lesions and all but two recovered without residual effects. Chloracne occurred in 12 of these cases; it was mild in almost all and has now disappeared. Systemic functions were repeatedly evaluated in all cases and no evidence of visceral lesions was obtained. Immunocapability was normal and chromosome aberrations were within the normal range.