Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M S Wolff.
Experience with other halogenated hydrocarbons, animal experiments, and individual complaints indicated that polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) might have an effect on human spermatogenesis. Analysis of semen from 52 PBB-exposed men as compared with analysis of semen from a control group of 52 men not exposed to PBB revealed no differences in the distribution of sperm counts, motility, or morphology.
Michigan dairy farm residents ate farm products containing polybrominated biphenyls (PBB's) after the accidential contamination of animal feed with the chemical in that state in 1973. The circulating blood lymphocytes of these residents show significant changes. Abnormalities include decreases in the numbers and percentages of peripheral blood lymphocytes that form rosettes with either sheep erythrocytes alone or with sheep erythrocytes sensitized with antibody and complement, increases in lymphocytes with no detectable surface markers ("null" cells), and altered responses to tests designed to evaluate functional integrity of the cells. There appears to be no consistent correlation between the concentration of PBB's in the plasma and the altered lymphocytes. Studies showed that in Wisconsin dairy farm residents and healthy individuals in the New York area who were not exposed to PBB's there were no such abnormalities.
Mechanical milling is commonly used to produce short chrysotile asbestos for experimental purposes. Such manipulation also decreases fiber crystallinity, alters Si-O and Mg-O interlayer bonding, induces coordination changes in the brucite layer, diminishes the ability of fiber to reduce specific free radicals and physisorb organic molecules, and decreases hemolytic potency and antagonist sorption capabilities. The degree of alteration is related to the time of milling. Results of biological experimentation with these materials must be interpreted with caution. Interaction mechanisms in the biological setting are suggested for chrysotile fiber.
The results of the analysis of blood and urine samples for styrene and its metabolites in 491 workers in a styrene polymerisation plant in the United States are reported. The levels of exposure to styrene were estimated to be less than 10 ppm, but nevertheless styrene and metabolites were detectable in more than 50% of workers in polymerisation jobs, within 4 h of exposure. Workers involved in the manufacture and purification of styrene from ethyl benzene also had detectable blood styrene and urinary metabolites in 83% of recently exposed subjects. The relationship between styrene in blood and in subcutaneous fat and urinary metabolites as pharmacokinetic variables is discussed.
Results of serum PBB determinations on 524 Michigan diary farm residents and consumers of products from the farms, 55 chemical workers, and 56 Wisconsin farm residents are reported. Mean and median values were highest for the chemical workers, followed by consumers from and residents of quarantined and nonquarantined farms. Serum DDE was higher among chemical workers, but was similar for all other groups. Statistical analysis of serum of PPB and serum DDE levels was done with respect to quarantine status, age, sex, and obesity. The most significant correlate with PBB was quarantine status. Serum DDE, age, sex, or obesity were not consistently correlated with serum PBB. For DDE, age was invariably the most significant correlate. Both serum PBB and DDE were higher in males than females in husband-wife pairs in most cases, although the differences occurred less frequently among older age groups. These results support the hypothesis that PBB exposure was a recent interim exposure whereas DDE exposure has been cumulative throughout a person's lifetime. Higher PBB and DDE mean concentrations in serum of Michigan Chemical workers suggests an occupational exposure to these chemicals.
Clinical findings are reported for a group of 55 employees of the Michigan Chemical Corporation which manufactured FireMaster BP-6 from 1970 to 1974, in addition to a variety of other halogenated fire retardant chemicals. The results are compared with those from a group of male farm residents and consumers from Michigan examined at the same time. An increased prevalence of chest and skin symptoms was observed, compared with farmers. Skin symptoms were more prevalent among former PBB production personnel. Musculosketal symptoms were less prevalent among these workers than among farmers. Serum PBB concentrations are signicantly higher than among farmers. Blood chemistry results were similar for workers and farmers. However, both groups exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of elevated liver function tests (SGOT, SPGT) than a control population of nonexposed farmers. Both farmers and chemical workers showed an association of elevated CEA with serum PBB greater than 10 ppb.
An analysis of findings regarding the prevalence and time course of symptoms and the results of neurobehavioral testing among Michigan and Wisconsin dairy farmers, is reported. Reviewed are: (1) differences in the prevalence of neurological symptoms at the time of examination; (2) differences in the incidence and time course of symptoms for the period 1972--1976; (3) differences among populations and subgroups (sex and age) regarding performance test scores; (4) correlations between performance test scores and neurological symptoms; and (5) correlations between serum PBB levels as indicators of exposure and performance tests and neurological symptoms.
In November, 1976 the Environmental Sciences Laboratory of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, examined 1029 persons in Michigan for the potential health effects of exposure to PBB. Included in this group were 55 persons from Michigan Chemical Corporation and 237 farming families. Blood serum was analyzed for PBB. FireMaster FF-1 contains several bromobiphenyl components, the major constituent being approximately 60% 2,4,4,2'4'4'-hexabromobiphenyl. Other PBB homologs identifiable as peaks by gas chromatography--mass spectrometry include two pentabromobiphenyl peaks, three additional hexabromobiphenyl peaks, and two heptabromobiphenyl peaks. The relative concentrations, with respect to the major hexabromobiphenyl peak, of these minor constituents (1--20%) of PBB were different for persons from Michigan Chemical Corporation and for farmers. Penta-, hexa-, and hepta-bromobiphenyl components in serum samples analyzed from farming families from Michigan Chemical Corporation employees were compared with relative concentrations of these homologs in FireMaster mixture and in tissue and blood samples from rats fed FireMaster FF-1. Varying concentrations of these PBB components are attributed to different routes of exposure and the relative ease of metabolism and excretion of one pentabromobiphenyl component.
Family clustering of varying levels of serum PBB and DDE was evaluated for 62 Michigan families by using the mean and standard deviation for family units, ranked percentile comparison of family members, and correlation by linear regression of family members. The results indicate that levels of serum PBBs cluster within family units and for children within families. Serum DDE clustering within families occurs only for children. These findings are consistent with recent, interim PBB exposure, perhaps from a common dietary source for families. Serum DDE represents a lifetime, low-level exposure to DDT-DDE which has been both less prolonged and less intense for children. Thus similar levels, or clustered serum DDE, was observed for children within families.
The concentrations of mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids, urinary metabolites of styrene, and styrene in blood were determined for 491 styrene polymerization workers. Styrene in subcutaneous fat was determined for 25 workers. The levels of styrene exposure were estimated to be less than 10 ppm, and urinary metabolite and blood styrene concentrations indicated that significant recent exposure (within 4 h) had occurred among workers in areas of styrene polymerization and styrene monomer production. Styrene analysis of subcutaneous fat suggested that the monomer may have been present for as long as 3 d after exposure, a time when urinary metabolites and blood styrene were almost invariably undetectable. All three biological parameters were correlated with recency of exposure and estimated intensity of exposure within job categories.
Styrene monomer is a greatly used chemical, chiefly in the production of polystyrene. A cross-sectional health survey of 493 production workers was undertaken at the oldest and largest monomer production, polymerization, and extrusion facility in the United States. Relative exposure durations and levels were obtained from occupational histories and corroborated by spot air sampling, blood and fat styrene concentrations and levels of urinary mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids. Statistically significant differences between the prevalence of abnormalities in high and low exposure groups were found for the following: history of acute prenarcotic symptoms, history of acute lower respiratory symptoms, peroneal nerve conduction velocities, relative lymphocytosis, and elevated gamma glutamyl transpetsidase. The following showed no distinct pattern in prevalence when analyzed by exposure group: chest radiographic changes; indices or restrictive, obstructive and small airway dysfunction; other hepatic and hematological parameters; carcinoembryonic antigen level; sputum cytopathology; radial nerve conduction velocities; and ophthalmological findings. Clinically significant abnormalities were rare.
Subcutaneous fat samples from 25 workers in a styrene polymerization plant have been analyzed for styrene, ethyl benzene, toluene, benzene, and benzaldehyde by gas chromatography. Styrene was found in samples from 13 of 17 workers who had been heavily exposed within the previous 3 days, 5 of 13 having been exposed 2-3 days earlier. Six workers 4-90 days removed from exposure and two 2-3 days removed from low (less than 5 ppm) exposures had no detectable styrene in fat tissue samples. Toluene and ethyl benzene were found in varying amounts in many samples, and benzene was observed in three samples. Benzaldehyde was observed at levels of 5-53 microng/g in all samples. Although urinary metabolites and breath levels of styrene are reported to be detectable for less than 24 hr following exposure, styrene was found in subcutaneous fat from the subjects of this study for as long as 3 days after the most recent occupational exposure. The combination exposures in such a setting are reflected in the variety of hydrocarbons found in fat samples of workers.
Halothane in tissues of the rat has been measured as a function of time after five successive 3 hr exposures to 670 ppm halothane. In epididymal and perirenal fat, halothane concentrations diminished rapidly from 310 ppm to 1-2 ppm in 24 hr, with trace amounts detectable 5 days later. Brain and liver levels were reduced from 16 and 9 ppm to less than 1 ppm within 3 hr. Blood halothane was reduced from 3 ppm to less than 0.5 ppm in the same time.
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Although exposure to many industrially important monomers is controlled by law, few of these reactive chemicals have been determined in human tissues. Analogy with other fat-soluble organic substances strongly implies that these monomers may be retained in tissue, subject to the usual physiological constraints of metabolism, solubility and volatility. The storage of DDT and PCBs is discussed, as well as tetrachloro-ethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), which are chemically similar to many industrially used monomers. Styrene in blood and breath and its metabolites in urine have been studied in humans. Styrene and vinyl chloride have been measured in fat tissue of polymerization workers.
Environmental contaminants can be stored in the mother's body or can be transiently present from current diet, occupational exposures or personal habits. These chemicals can be transferred prenatally to the developing fetus or postnatally from breast milk to the nursing infant. Exposures through breast milk can be substantial, especially when the mother has significant ongoing exposures or has accumulated an unusually high body burden of persistent chemicals. Several studies demonstrate that organochlorines (OCs) acquired from breast milk elevate a child's body burden for several years. The decline of persistent OC residues in Western countries suggests that these exposures through breast milk will also diminish. Heavy metals such as lead and mercury are also present in milk, but the pharmacokinetics are quite different from OCs. Less persistent environmental agents, including solvents, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, certain pesticides, and nicotine, can also be detected in milk. There is little information on currently used pesticides and other more recently identified environmental agents for which exposures are common today. Epidemiologic research has established that pre- and postnatal exposures to environmental contaminants including lead and OCs are associated with developmental deficits in early childhood. Therefore, characterization of these contaminants in breast milk can add to our knowledge of potential environmental exposures among children.