Chemical Pollutants in the Pacific Basin

Chemical Pollutants in the Pacific Basin

David O. Carpenter, MDDirector

Institute for Health and the Environment

Possible Human Health Effects of Environmental Contaminants

CancerBirth DefectsImmune System DefectsReduced IQBehavioral AbnormalitiesDecreased FertilityAltered Sex Hormone

BalanceAltered MetabolismSpecific Organ Dysfunctions

The Stockholm Convention (“the POPs treaty”) was adopted and opened for signature on 22 May 2001. This treaty calls for international action to eliminate manufacture and use of 12 persistent organic pollutants, including chlorinated pesticides, industrial chemicals, such as PCBs and hexachlorobenzene, and unintended by-products such as dioxins and furans. Over 150 countries have signed the treaty.

Mean total DDT in Breast Milk by Region

Immunological Effects of PCBs in ChildrenDutch Environmental Exposure Study

• Compromised immunological markers during infancy and at 3.5 years

• Increased frequency of chicken pox, middle ear infection, coughing at 3.5 years

• Lower antibody response to measles and mumps vaccines

• Decreased allergic reaction at 3.5 years

Weisglas-Kuperus et al., 2000, 1995

Immunological Effects of PCBs in ChildrenPoisoning Episode in Taiwan

• High frequency of bronchitis in infancy

• High frequencies of respiratory tract and ear infection, influenza at 6 years

• Higher frequency of influenza at 16 years

• Changes in serum immunological markers early in life

Yu et al., 1998; Wu et al., 1984; Chang et al., 1982

Neurotoxic Effects of Developmental PCB Exposure• Decreased IQ

• Impulsivity

• Attention problems

• Poor school performance/ language processing

• Deficient social behavior

• Blurring of gender-specific behavior

PCBs Affect Play Behavior at School AgeDutch Study

• Prenatal PCB exposure associated with less masculinized play behavior in boys, more masculinized in girls

• Prenatal dioxin exposure associated with more feminized play behavior in boys and girls

Vreugdenhil et al., Environ. Health Perspect. 110: A593, 2002.

2 4

D is e a s e R R 9 5 % C l

A ll C i r c u la to r y D i s e a s e I s c h e m i c H e a r t D is e a s e H y p e r te n s io n C h r o n i c I s c h e m ic H D O th e r H e a r t D is e a s e

1 .61 .52 .33 .01 .8

1 .1 - 2 .50 .8 - 2 .8

0 .3 - 1 6 .21 .2 - 7 .30 .6 - 5 .5

C e r e b r a l V a s c u la r D is e a s e 1 .5 0 .6 - 3 .7

R e s p ir a to r y D is e a s e C h r o n i c O b s t r u c t i v e P D

2 .43 .7

1 .0 - 5 .71 .4 - 9 .8

O T H E R D IS E A S E S E L E V A T E D IN H IG H E X P O S E D S E V E S O R E S ID E N T S

Bertazzi et al., 1998

Longnecker et al., 2001

Adjusted* Odds Ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Relation with Maternal Frequency of Use† of Pesticides in the Garden, the Yard, and on Interior Plants

*Adjusted for maternal age and maternal level of schooling; Cases and controls are matched for age, sex, and geographical region.†Exposure of the mother from 1 month before pregnancy to the end of pregnancy.

Geschwind, SA., et al., Am. J. Epidemiol. 135: 1197-1207, 1992.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Cancer Causing

Vinyl Chloride

Benzene

Chloroform

Methyl chloride

Styrene (?)

Tetrachloroethylene (?)

Trichloroethylene (?)

Neurotoxicity

Xylene

Toluene

Ethylbenzene

Tetrachloroethylene

Acute Liver Toxicity

Carbon tetrachloride

Large doses can be fatal Fever, anorexia Peripheral neuropathy GI, cardiovascular and

hematopoietic

Toxic Effects of Acute Exposure to Arsenic

Nordstrom, Science 296: 2143-2145, 2002.

The Significance of Small Effects: EFFECTS OF A SMALL SHIFT IN IQ

DISTRIBUTION IN A POPULATION OF 260 MILLION

160140120100806040

70 130I.Q.

mean 100

6.0 million "gifted"

6.0 million"mentally retarded"

5 Point Decrease in Mean IQ

160140120100806040

mean 95

70 130

2.4 million"gifted"

9.4 million"mentally retarded"

57% INCREASEIN

"MentallyRetarded”Population

I.Q.

Schwartz, Environ Health Perspect 78: 15-22, 1998.

Sokol et al., Biology of Reproduction 33: 722-728, 1985.

Environmental pollutants alter human intelligence and behavior and increase the risk of many human diseases, including the common chronic diseases of old age. We must find ways to reduce human exposure to dangerous environmental chemicals.