Lymphocyte Function of Michigan Dairy Farmers Exposed to Polybrominated Biphenyls

Bekesi, J. George; Holland, James F.; Anderson, Henry A.; Fischbein, Alf; Rom, William N.; Wolff, Mary S.; Selikoff, Irving J.

doi:10.1126/science.204005

Cited by 128 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Some older data are available (Bekesi et al 1978) on farmers with very high accidental exposure to polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs). Although it is questionable whether this polybrominated substance produces immunological effects identical to those caused by TCDD (and the exposure was against a mixture of several congeners) and although the methods used were different, the decrease in the percentage of peripheral blood lymphocytes that form rosettes with sheep erythrocytes, as well as the increase in lymphocytes with no detectable surface marker ("null" cells) observed by these authors might indicate some similarity with our data.…”

Section: Possible Significance Of the Data Possible Mode Of Action Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and the immune system. 1. Effects on peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations of a non-human primate (Callithrix jacchus) after treatment with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)

et al. 1990

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Monoclonal antibodies were used to analyse the effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on peripheral lymphocytes from marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) following injections of single low doses of TCDD. A reduction of the percentage and the total number of lymphocytes among the white blood cells was seen 3 weeks after a single administration of 300 ng TCDD/kg body wt, but not following 167 ng TCDD/kg or less. After treatment of marmosets with the single subcutaneous dose of 10 ng TCDD/kg body wt. we observed an average decrease of about 20% in the percentage of CD4+ cells in the venous blood of treated animals. This change was not seen at the time of maximum absorption (2 weeks after the injection), but was demonstrable after 4 weeks and reached its maximum 15 weeks after the injection. The time course of the changes suggests an indirect effect (possibly via the thymus). Due to the considerable inter- and intra-individual variability in the number of peripheral lymphocytes the effect was less convincing on the basis of the total CD4+ cells per microliter blood. There was a significant concomitant increase in the percentage of cells with the CD8+ marker. A closer analysis of the lymphocyte subpopulation involved revealed a predominant effect on the cells with the CD4CDw29 ("leu 3a+4B4+") surface marker ("helper-inducer cells"). Subsequent to a dose of 10 ng TCDD/kg body wt the percentage of these cells was reduced by 50% or more when compared with the (24) controls. On an absolute basis (number of cell/microliter blood) these CD4+CDw29+ cells were clearly reduced in only two out of four marmosets. There was no significant effect on the percentage of the CD4+CD45R+ ("leu3a+2H4+") subpopulation ("suppressor-inducer cells"). The ratios: CD4+CDw29+/CD4+CD45R+, or CD4+CDw29+/CD8+ appear to be convenient measures for monitoring the effect described. Since the difference between the percentage of CD2+ cells minus the sum of CD4+ plus CD8+ cells was found to be increased following rather high doses (167 ng TCDD/kg body wt or more), this suggests that immature cells (CD2+ CD4-CD8-) are released into the periphery as a result of the exposure to TCDD. Furthermore, a decrease in the percentage of CD20+ (B1+) cells (about 50% when compared with controls) was observed in the treated animals following a single dose of 10 ng TCDD/kg body wt or higher. Subsequent to a dose of 10 ng TCDD/kg body wt the percentage of CD56+ (NKH1+) cells seemed to be slightly increased. The dose-response for the effects observed was rather poor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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Section: Possible Significance Of the Data Possible Mode Of Action Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and the immune system. 1. Effects on peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations of a non-human primate (Callithrix jacchus) after treatment with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)

et al. 1990

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“…In 1978, the immunotoxic potential of PBBs was identified in humans, in a follow-up study to the Michigan accident (Bekesi et al 1978). A 1979 hazard assessment of PBBs done by the US Environmental Protection Agency showed that they were teratogenic, embryotoxic, and immunosuppressive in mice and rats, and carcinogenic in rats (OECD 1994).…”

Section: Brominated Flame Retardantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

All talk, little action: precaution and European chemicals regulation

Eckley

Selin

2004

Journal of European Public Policy

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The European Union has chosen the precautionary principle as a key guiding principle to achieve more effective policy-making on risks, by moving away from preventive regulation towards more precautionary regulation. Precautionary language has been a part of European Community law for over a decade; however, whether its establishment has had any real effect on European policymaking and regulations is more unclear. This article examines whether the introduction of precautionary language in Community texts has had an effect on the process by which potential risks associated with hazardous chemicals are managed. The article focuses on the two cases of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and covers the time before, during, and after the Community introduction of the precautionary principle. The article finds that there has been a marked change in the way environmental risks are conceptualized and discussed, but a clear effect in regulatory practice has yet to be seen. Current proposals to revise Community chemicals management, however, contain elements that could enhance precautionary regulation.

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“…In none of the three studies were serum PBB or PCB levels associated with overt adverse health effects. However, immunologic studies on a subset of the exposed population in Michigan were conflicting, with an early study showing decreases in T-cell function, as measured by E-rosette formation, and increases in number of null cells (269), but a subsequent study failed to confirm this result (268).…”

Section: Contamination Of Water Suppliesmentioning

confidence: 92%

Possibilities of detecting health effects by studies of populations exposed to chemicals from waste disposal sites.

Buffler¹,

Crane²,

Key³

1985

Environ Health Perspect

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Factors affecting the design of an epidemiologic study assessing possible health effects from chemical waste disposal sites are reviewed. Such epidemiologic studies will most likely be prompted either by a known release of chemicals into the environment around the site, or by an unusual disease cluster in a population near the site. In the latter situation, a method for evaluating the health effects is needed, and one possible approach is discussed. In the former situation, it may not be obvious what health outcomes are relevant.Reported associations between health effects and chemicals in humans were reviewed. Studies from the occupational and environmental literature were classified by chemical and target organ affected and presented in tabular form. No attempt was made to critically evaluate the quality of evidence for each health effect, although bibliographic documentation was provided where possible. Episodes of chemical contamination of food, drinking water and other media were also reviewed and presented in a separate table.The organ sites likely to be affected by toxic chemicals from waste disposal sites depend heavily on the route of exposure and the dose that is received. Ingestion is the most frequently reported route of exposure in episodes of environmental contamination. These have affected the hepatic, renal, hematopoietic, reproductive, and central nervous systems. The type and severity of effects were dose-dependent. Direct skin contact is important in the occupational environment where dermal and central nervous system effects have been reported but seems less likely as a route of exposure for populations around waste disposal sites. Inhalation, unless at relative high concentrations or as a result of fire, is unlikely to be important, although hematopoietic, reproductive, and central nervous system effects have been reported in occupational studies. General ConsiderationsConsideration of the potential human biologic or health effects that might be detected among populations residing near chemical waste disposal sites requires information on the toxicity of the materials disposed and the conditions of exposure of human populations. The issues related to consideration of the potential human health effects will be briefly reviewed.The design and conduct of an appropriate epidemiologic study requires documentation of the number, type, and volume of chemicals disposed, the time period of operation, and the particular chemicals and quantities currently present. In the absence of such information it is nearly impossible to determine either the necessity for an epidemiologic study or the specific type of health effects to be assessed.Assuming that information on the type and amounts of toxic materials is assembled, it is then important to consider the potential for human exposure. What are the most likely environmental pathways, e.g, surface water, ground water, air, direct contact? The assessment will depend on several factors, including the structure and integrity of the chemical waste disposal site...

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Lymphocyte Function of Michigan Dairy Farmers Exposed to Polybrominated Biphenyls

Cited by 128 publications

References 4 publications

Polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and the immune system. 1. Effects on peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations of a non-human primate (Callithrix jacchus) after treatment with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)

Polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and the immune system. 1. Effects on peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations of a non-human primate (Callithrix jacchus) after treatment with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)

All talk, little action: precaution and European chemicals regulation

Possibilities of detecting health effects by studies of populations exposed to chemicals from waste disposal sites.

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