Chemical Pollutants in the Pacific Basin

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Chemical Pollutants in the Pacific Basin

• David O. Carpenter, MD
• Director
• Institute for Health and the Environment

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Possible Human Health Effects of Environmental
Contaminants Cancer Birth Defects Immune
System Defects Reduced IQ Behavioral
Abnormalities Decreased Fertility Altered Sex
Hormone Balance Altered Metabolism Specific
Organ Dysfunctions
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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.
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Mean total DDT in Breast Milk by Region
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Bertazzi et al., 1998
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Longnecker et al., 2001
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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.
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Geschwind, SA., et al., Am. J. Epidemiol. 135
1197-1207, 1992.
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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

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Toxic Effects of Acute Exposure to Arsenic

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

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Nordstrom, Science 296 2143-2145, 2002.
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Schwartz, Environ Health Perspect 78 15-22, 1998.
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Sokol et al., Biology of Reproduction 33
722-728, 1985.
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• 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.