Chemically Induced Diseases

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Chemically Induced Diseases: Synergistic Effects and

Cumulative Injuries caused by Toxic Chemicals --

Understanding the Gulf War Syndrome and Multiple

Chemical Sensitivity [MCS]

By

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A major breakthrough in understanding the

toxicological impact of multiple chemical exposures

has been discovered by researchers at Texas

Southwestern Medical School and the Duke University

Medical Center.

The discoveries may have a profound impact on the

manufacturing, testing and warnings required for all

chemicals sold in the United States.

While U.S. law requires manufacturers report the acute

symptoms and immediate first aid treatment for an

overdose exposure to chemicals used in industry, as

well as household products, the symptoms caused by

chronic or low level, long-term exposures are rarely

mentioned in MSDS and the reports of interactions

caused by other chemicals are non-existent.

For example, in the course of discovery in a lawsuit

arising from an unusual cluster of four leukemia

deaths in a group of 200 Simpson Lumber Mill employees

in Arcata, California, pentacholorphenol manufactured

by Champion International and sold under the name of

Woodlife, was used as a wood preservative and

eventually proven to have high levels of dioxin. See

Dioxin In Pentachlorophenol: A Case Study Of Cancer

Deaths In The Lumber Industry.

Despite the fact that the manufacturer's technical

staff was well aware of the chronic effects of

exposure to this compound, Champion International

never advised purchasers of Woodlife, or their

employees, to be alert for an evidence of acne that

was commonly associated associated with individuals

working in the application of Woodlife, or reports of

rashes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue,

dizziness, excessive perspiration, conjunctivitis or

crusting of the eyes, depression or memory loss,

insomnia or irritability, tingling or numbness in the

extremities, blood in the urine or stool, burning

sensation in the trachea or bronchi, nose bleeds,

asthma-like symptoms, altered liver function, kidney

or bladder infection or complaints, immune complaints,

ongoing infections, children born with abnormalities,

low sperm count, soft tissue sarcomas, unexplained

fevers or night sweats, herpes sores or any skin

disturbances below the eyes, at the temples or at the

back of the neck or ears.

These symptoms are common signs of low level exposure

to pentachlorophenol contaminated with dioxins and

should not be confused with common conditions that

have similar symptoms, such as colds or flu.

In fact these symptoms were commonly reported by

Simpson Lumber Company employees, but no one ever made

the connection between these symptoms and

pentachlorophenol contaminated with dioxin until after

plaintiffs' lawyers uncovered the fact Simpson had

concealed the widespread use of pentachlorophenol from

state department of health authorities.

Rarely can an MSDS be found that discusses harm from

chronic exposures and equally rare is any mention of

the synergistic effect of chemicals. Open any of these

Material Safety Data Sheet sites to confirm that fact:

Material Safety Data Sheets at Oxford University, UK

-- http://physchem.ox.ac.uk:80/MSDS

Material Safety Data Sheets at Case Western Reserve --

http://research.nwfsc.noaa.gov/msds.html

Synergism is the simultaneous action of separate

agencies which, together, have greater total effect

than the sum of their individual effects. The

phenomenon is readily seen in the impact of drugs, but

never mentioned on Material Safety Data Sheets

required for the sale of toxic chemicals in the United

States by the Environmental Protection Agency.

A recent breakthrough in the understanding of Gulf War

Syndrome may be changing scientific thinking and

promoting further research on chemical synergy.

Researchers at the Duke University Medical Center and

the Texas Southwestern Medical School reported in

April, 1996 that the simultaneous exposure to topical

insecticides [DEET and permethrin] and pyrido-stigmine

bromide, a drug taken prophylactically to counteract

toxic gas warfare agents, causes nervous system damage

in chickens. The full written report is scheduled for

publication in the May,1996 issue of the Journal of

Toxicology and Environmental Health.

Both the team led by Haley at Texas

Southwestern and Modhamed Abou-Donia's group of

researchers at Duke found that the many symptoms

experienced by Gulf War veterans, including headaches,

fatigue, aches, decreased attention and rashes, were

similar to the symptoms that presented in exposed

chickens.

Chickens given any two chemicals became lethargic,

unable to fly, lost weight and coordination and

demonstrated tremors. For those administered all three

chemicals, paralysis and death occurred.

This observed impact on nerve functioning is

significant because survivors of the Gulf War who were

exposed to these toxic agents also have demonstrated

abnormal nerve function.

Further studies of Gulf War veterans who were exposed

are being conducted at Texas Southwestern and are

focusing on comparisons between physical findings in

humans and those found in exposed chickens.

The results of that work is awaited by veterans, who

until now, have been unable to show any relationship

between their multiple symptoms and their exposures

during the Gulf War.

More significantly, if these discoveries prove correct

all manufacturers of commercial and household

chemicals will be obligated to begin testing and

instituting warnings of the synergistic effects of

their products with other commonly used chemicals.

It is this new testing that holds promise for a better

understanding of the impact of chemicals on health

that has long been advocated by environmental

activists, occupational health specialists, recipients

of breast implants, those exposed to chlorinated

hydrocarbons and sufferers of multiple chemical

sensitivity.

Addendum July 22, 1996

The research of F. Arnold and others at Tulane

University published in June, 1996 shocked the

scientific community. It proves that

hormone-disrupting chemicals, known to cause mild

effects, when used in combination produce

significantly dramatic hormonal effects " Synergistic

Activation of Estrogen Receptor with Combinations of

Environmental Chemicals, " 272 Science 1489-1492 (June

7, 1996).

Combinations of two or three pesticides, which are

commonly found in the environment at low levels, are

up to 1600 times more powerful than any of the

pesticides individually in their impact on hormones.

Some chemicals, which individually do not disrupt

hormones, tremendously magnifies the ability of other

chemicals to disrupt hormones. That was the finding

with chlordane.

The study focused on endosulfan, chlordane, toxaphene

and dieldrin, all of which impact a gene making

estrogen in animals. Estrogen controls the formation

and development of female organs and is strongly

associated with both breast cancer and causing male

sex organs to be deformed.

This is the beginning of a revolution in scientific

knowledge that will profoundly effect the way

pesticides are screened and tested.

This research should prompt EPA to immediately require

appropriate warnings. Regulations have long been based

on studies of individual chemicals and their

individual effects. Now EPA must take steps to

regulate combinations of chemicals in order to assure

appropriate levels of public safety.

The policy implications of the synergistic effect of

chemicals will cause a top to bottom re-vamping of

chemical regulations. For years, EPA has not tested

pesticide products as sold in containers in

combination with other chemicals.

The example of chlordane is particularly disturbing

because it means that EPA, manufacturers and the

scientific community must now assess and evaluate of

chemicals long believed to have minor hormonal

impacts. Accomplishing such testing will take years

and all the while significant damage to people will

continue unabated.

The prevailing view that chemicals are safe until

proven otherwise is no longer valid and all

manufacturers must be required to prove the safety of

their products when used in conjunction with other

chemicals.

In the meantime, we must reduced the wide variety of

chemicals used today and eliminate the use of

pesticides until proven safe.

Addendum November 27, 2000

A medical research team headed by Dr. Haley of

the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at

Dallas has discovered and reported brain damage in

veterans of the Gulf War.

Doctors believe this brain damage to have been caused

by exposure to combinations of low level nerve gas,

anti-nerve gas tablets and DEET contained in insect

pesticides and repellents. Magnetic Resonance Imaging

has identified specific abnormalities in the basal

ganglia that impact cognitive skills, including

memory, sense of direction, inability to understand

instructions and decision-making, often resulting in

depression.

The findings were presented at the annual meeting of

the Radiological Society of North America at it¹s

November, 2000 meeting in Chicago.

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