Respiratory involvement in polychlorinated biphenyls poisoning

BIOACCUMULATION OF POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBs) AND DICHLORODIPHENYLETHANE (DDE) METHYL SULFONES IN TISSUES OF SEAL AND DOLPHIN MORBILLIVIRUS EPIZOOTIC VICTIMS

“…Pathological examination of epizootic victims demonstrated a high incidence of pneumonia, alveolar atelectasis, alveolar collapse, and emphysema (Schumacher et al, 1990). Interestingly, similar observations were found in humans poisoned with PCB in the "Yusho disaster" (Shigematsu et al, 1978), and PCB MSFs levels in exposed humans correlated with severity of pulmonary effects (Haraguchi et al, 1986). It is therefore likely, not only that immune function in epizootic victims was compromised by immunotoxic PCBs (de Swart et al, 1994;Lahvis et al, 1995), but also that MSF metabolites bioaccumulated in lung tissue in association with CCSP may be involved in the toxicological phenomena.…”

Methylsulfonyl Metabolites of PCBs and DDE in Human Milk in Sweden, 1972-1992

“…On the other hand, certain 4-MeSO2-CBs are strongly retained in lung bronchial mucosa due to their binding to uteroglobinlike macromolecules in the Clara cells (9). It is also supposed that the chronic lung dysfunction symptoms in Yusho patients may have been caused by MeSO2-PCB (46). It may thus be emphasized that the MeSO2-CBs are also of potential toxicological importance and the presence of these PCB metabolites in human milk cannot be neglected.…”

Respiratory Involvement and Immune Status in Yusho Patients

“…As a result, it has been observed that the incidence of respiratory symptoms correlated well with the concentration of PCBs in the blood and the definite PCB peaks were always detected in the sputa (4). Respiratory distress was often exacerbated by viral or bacterial infection, persisting for more than a half year in about half of the patients examined (4).…”