Studies in animals indicate that aldrin or dieldrin may reduce the body's ability to resist infection. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has determined that aldrin and dieldrin are not classifiable as to their carcinogenicity to humans. There is no direct evidence that aldrin or dieldrin causes cancer in humans. Studies on workers generally show no increase in cancer or deaths due to cancer. Mice given high amounts of dieldrin, however, did develop liver cancers.
Test are available that measure the amount of dieldrin in blood, fat, breast milk, and body tissues.
The blood test is most often used. The amount of dieldrin in the body indicates how much dieldrin you were exposed to, but not when, since dieldrin stays in the body for a long time. The blood test is simple, but not routinely performed at your doctor's office. In 1974, EPA banned all uses of aldrin or dieldrin except as a termite killer. By 1987, EPA banned all uses.