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Pesticides and Chronic Diseases
Published in William J. Rea, Kalpana D. Patel, Reversibility of Chronic Disease and Hypersensitivity, Volume 4, 2017
William J. Rea, Kalpana D. Patel
A disaster occurred in Turkey when 3000 people sustained damage following ingestion of wheat contaminated by HCB. The survivors of this exposure were left with chemical sensitivity. Several other episodes of mass contamination of food have occurred.106,107 HCB has been found in German schoolchildren,108 New Zealand adults,109 and the U.S. adults.110–112 The primary toxic effect is cutaneous porpheria which involves blistering and epidermolysis of the skin of the face and hands.113–117 HCB is stored in the fat. In rats, 7% comes out in urine, and 27% in feces. Known metabolites, including PCP, pentachlorobenzene, tetrachlorohydroquinone, tetrachlorophenol, and trichlorophenol (TCP), are toxic115–118 and can exacerbate chemical sensitivity (Table 7.9).
p, p′-DDE and HCB: Mechanisms of Toxicity to Fetal and Embryonic Mammalian Cells
Published in Rajesh K. Naz, Endocrine Disruptors, 2004
Michael A. Edelbrock, Martha J. Fernstrom, Kandace J. Williams
HCB appears to undergo oxidative transformation to a pentachloro-epoxide intermediate, which subsequently becomes hydroxylated to form pentachlorophenol (PCP).60,61 The reactive epoxide intermediate may spontaneously convert to PCP or alternatively conjugate with glutathione. Studies to determine the storage, metabolism, and elimination of HCB have been conducted that suggest that PCP and pentachlorobenzenethiol (PCBT) are the major metabolites of HCB processing by hepatic cytochrome p450 pathways in humans. In one study, high levels of HCB (as high as 3025 ng/g) in feces when compared with undetectable urine HCB levels indicate elimination by feces to be the primary removal route for the parent chemical. Conversely, both PCP and PCBT have been detected in 100% of urine samples examined, but detected in only 51% and 55% of fecal matched samples, respectively. However, it should also be noted that removal by the above mechanisms only accounts for a small fraction of the estimated concentration of HCB within the lipophilic body burden of the test population.61 In rats, it has been demonstrated that PCP formed from HCB metabolism in hepatic microsomes may undergo further transformation to tetrachlorohydroquinone (TCHQ).62 Further, TCHQ has been found to conjugate to protein within the hepatic microsomes. This suggests that TCHQ formed from HCB metabolism may be responsible for producing reactive oxygen, which can subsequently bind to protein macromolecules to produce cellular damage. Among other metabolites, tetrachlorophenol, pentachlorobenzene, and 3 isomers of tetrachlorobenzene have been identified.62
Environmental Toxins and Chronic Illness
Published in Aruna Bakhru, Nutrition and Integrative Medicine, 2018
Compounding the problem is the immense number of chemicals used in daily life that have endocrine disrupting properties. According to Maqbool et al. (2016), this number is about 800. Furthermore, the authors point out that only some of them have been examined. What is known about these chemicals? Kabir et al. (2015) provide much more detail than what was presented above. First, what is the precise definition of an endocrine-disrupting compound? The authors answer this question by providing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) definition: “an agent that interferes with the synthesis, secretion, transport, binding, or elimination of natural hormones in the body that are responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis, reproduction, development and/or behavior.” Kabir et al. (2015) then simplify this definition by stating: “this means that endocrine disruptors are chemicals, or chemical mixtures, that interfere with normal hormone function.” Next, the authors divide EDCs into two categories. First, there are those that occur naturally such as natural chemicals found in human and animal food. These include phytoestrogens, genistein, and coumestrol. Second, there are those that are synthesized. These include industrial solvents and lubricants and their byproducts, for example, PCBs polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), dioxins, plastics, bisphenol A (BPA), plasticizers, pesticides, fungicides, and some pharmaceuticals such as diethylstilbesterol (DES). Next, Kabir et al. (2015) group EDCs based on origin. First, there exists natural and artificial hormones such as phytoestrogens, omega-3 fatty acids, contraceptive pills, and thyroid medications. Second, there exists drugs with hormonal side effects such as naproxen, metoprolol, and clofibrate. Third, there exists industrial and household chemicals such as phthalates, alkylphenoltoxilate detergents, fire retardants, plasticizers, solvents, and PCBs. Finally, there exists side products of industrial and household processes such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins, and pentachlorobenzene. Still another way of categorizing EDCs according to Kabir et al. (2015) is pesticides, chemicals in products used in everyday life which includes lead and brominated flame retardants, and food contact materials with BPA being the most common. Maqbool et al. (2016) provide additional information on the organ and systemic effects of EDCs. These include reproductive and developmental effects, carcinogenicity, obesity and diabetes, and effects on the thyroid, cardiovascular system and nervous system. Kabir et al. (2015) provide additional detail about reproductive effects, pointing out that EDCs have been linked with abnormal development during puberty, ovarian failure, menstrual irregularities, polycystic ovary syndrome, poor sperm quality, and male infertility.
Veterinary utility of dried blood spots for detailed analysis of chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
Published in Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods, 2020
Andreas F. Lehner, Lauren Stensen, Alan Zimmerman, Adam Bush, John Buchweitz
Organochlorine pesticides such as aldrin, dieldrin, DDT and its derivatives (4,4′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane [4,4′-DDD] and 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene [4,4′-DDE]), lindane, hexachlorobenzene, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are of particular concern due to their highly bioaccumulative properties and toxicities (Chopra, et al 2011). These chemicals persist in nature, biomagnify in the food web, and impose toxic effects in marine and other organisms (El-Shahawi et al. 2010). The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) has issued recommendations aimed at restricting and eliminating highly dangerous, long-lasting chemicals, and of 21 listed chemicals, 14 are chlorinated pesticides (aldrin, chlordane, chlordecone, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, lindane and its alpha- and beta-isomers, mirex, pentachlorobenzene and toxaphene), with the remainder including PCBs, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOS-F) (Stockholm Convention Factsheet 2011).
Veterinary utility of dried blood spots for analysis of toxic chlorinated hydrocarbons
Published in Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods, 2018
Andreas F. Lehner, Margaret Johnson, John Buchweitz
With regards to the environment, organochlorine pesticides such as aldrin, dieldrin, DDT and its derivatives (4,4′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane [4,4′-DDD] and 4,4′-DDE), lindane, hexachlorobenzene and PCBs are of great concern due to their highly bioaccumulative properties and toxicities (Chopra et al. 2011). These chemicals persist in nature, biomagnify in the food web, and impose toxic effects in marine and other organisms (El-Shahawi et al. 2010). As of 2011, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) has endeavored to restrict and eliminate highly dangerous, long-lasting chemicals from the environment, and of 21 chemicals listed by the agency, 14 are chlorinated pesticides (aldrin, chlordane, chlordecone, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, lindane and its alpha- and beta-isomers, mirex, pentachlorobenzene and toxaphene), with the remainder including PCBs, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, brominated diphenyl ethers, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOS-F) (Stockholm Convention Factsheet 2011).