Abstract
The consequences of exposure of people to highly chlorinated polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) are much less known than those of TCDD. We report on levels of PCDDs (and PCDFs) in 13 members of two families poisoned by contaminated cooking oil. Originally, all persons displayed chloracne as an early symptom. Persisting hexa- and higher chlorinated PCDDs could be analysed many years after exposure. Highest values found in blood lipids were: OCDD 660,000 pg/g; HpCDD 58,000 pg/g; HxCDDs: 3500 pg/g. None of the participants exhibited increased TCDD levels at the time of study. During a period of 6 years, HpCDD and OCDD disappeared from the blood lipids much faster in persons exposed as children or young adults, than from lipids of their parents. Surface receptors on blood lymphocytes of the members of the two families and the proliferative capacity of these blood cells in the presence of typical stimulants were analysed. Even in family members with the highest body burdens of hexa- to octachlorinated PCDDs we could not detect pronounced changes from a reference population with respect to the immunological markers. Minor deviations of levels of some receptors in a few, but not all, highly exposed persons suggested a similar trend to those reported in previous studies of persons with body burdens of ≥3000 pg TCDD/g blood lipids. An increase in the number of total blood lymphocytes in some subjects exposed as children may have similarity with highly TCDD-exposed children in Seveso.
Highlights
The persistence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in the environment, food and people (Geyer et al, 2002; Kahn et al, 1988; Needham et al, 1994; Needham et al, 1999; Neuberger et al, 1999; Neubert et al, 1990; Tohyama, 2002) continues to be of concern, but it has proven difficult to ascertain the true risks for human health with respect to the various congeners and mixtures of these contaminants, especially at a low dose range (Neubert, 1997/98)
Further analysis of the oil showed the presence of considerable quantities of hepta- and octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (HpCDDs and OCDD) together with lesser amounts of the dibenzofuran analogues (Rodriguez-Pichardo et al, 1991) as summarized in Fig. 1A and 1B
The data suggest (Rappe et al, 1998; Rodriguez-Pichardo et al, 1991) that higher chlorinated congeners of PCDDs and PCDFs are capable of inducing chloracne
Summary
The persistence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in the environment, food and people (Geyer et al, 2002; Kahn et al, 1988; Needham et al, 1994; Needham et al, 1999; Neuberger et al, 1999; Neubert et al, 1990; Tohyama, 2002) continues to be of concern, but it has proven difficult to ascertain the true risks for human health with respect to the various congeners and mixtures of these contaminants (called here collectively, dioxins), especially at a low dose range (Neubert, 1997/98). Most of the concern was based on experimental evidence showing an excessive toxicity, including some carcinogenicity, of the most potent chemical, 2,3,7,8tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), in the liver of rodents, and in humans on the induction of chloracne (Baccarelli et al, 2005), skin lesions for which a special mouse strain may be a model (Panteleyev et al, 1997). Both experimental as well as human data were from relatively high exposures (Pohjanvirta and Tuomisto, 1994). Exposed human subpopulations have become rare, due to considerable reduction of emissions in many countries
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
