Effects of exposure of parents to toxic gases in Bhopal on the offspring

Abstract

Exposure of pregnant women to toxic gases in Bhopal in 1984 resulted in high pregnancy loss, increased first 5-year mortality and delayed development of male progeny.

A retrospective review of cytogenetic studies on methyl isocyanate with special reference to the Bhopal gas tragedy: Is the next generation also at risk?

“…Results also suggest a post-puberty effect on head circumference of females exposed to gases in utero [57] A high incidence spontaneous abortions and still-births in gas-exposed pregnant women and significantly higher perinatal and neonatal mortalities in the affected areas were reported response of cultured human colon epithelial-FHC cells to methyl isocyanate has been previously investigated with regard to genomic instability in colonocytes [61]. According to Raghuram et al [62], ovarian epithelial cells manifest a persistent DNA damage response upon treatment with methyl isocyanate.…”

“…The non-targeted effects of toxic exposure such as bystander responses, genomic instability, gene induction, adaptive responses and low hypersensitivity may also be mirrored as trans-generational health effects. Sarangi et al [57] report that exposure of pregnant workers have demonstrated that exposure to MIC by inhalation results in bone marrow damage, indicating that MIC or its reactive metabolites possess systemic genotoxic/cytotoxic activity [48][49][50]. MIC exposure was found to lead to inhibition of bone marrow cell proliferation by evaluation of the mutagenic and cytotoxic effects of MIC with a mouse micronucleus test [51].…”

“…Increased sister chromatid exchanges and chromosomal breaks have been reported in exposed persons [12,[23][24][25] Illustrated chromosomal profile of 154 persons studied during 1986-1988 [26] Chromosomal abnormalities even 1114 days after exposure to the gas is suggestive of residual effect on T-cell precursors and possibility of higher susceptibility to chromosome damage of persons exposed to MIC [27] Established a genetic link of cancer patterns among victims of gas tragedy with MIC exposure [18] High pregnancy loss, increased first 5-year mortality and delayed development of male progeny [57] The mean percentage of acrocentric associations in exposed population was significantly higher [52,53] IJOMEH 2013;26 (3) 328 that the population is more vulnerable to genetic disorders and cancer.…”

Susceptibility of the Bhopal–methyl isocyanate (MIC)–gas–tragedy survivors and their offspring to COVID-19: What we know, what we don’t and what we should?

“…long-term effects in the BMAP Following exposure to the toxic MIC-gas, many succumbed to death instantly, and those who survived yet suffer from agonizing prolonged health issues. Since then, the long-term effects of the exposed survivors and transgenerational repercussions in their offspring born post-exposure remain contentious [11][12][13] . For the past three decades, the government and non-government organizations have been striving to understand the MIC-induced late effects in the BMAP.…”

Bhopal Methyl Isocyanate Affected Population and Cancer Susceptibility: Where Do We Stand Now?

“…While there is an uncertainty and debate since 1994 regarding the long-term health effects in the MIC affected population. Increased cancer morbidity , genetic instability (Malla et al, 2011), pregnancy loss and delayed development in male progenies (Sarangi et al, 2010) were recently reported exposure-effects in the MIC affected population after 27 years.…”