ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study documented the concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene (DDE) in the breast milk of women from Quebec, Canada, and assessed the impact of various sociodemographic and lifestyle factors on these levels. METHODS: From 1988 to 1990, milk samples were obtained from 536 Quebec women and analyzed for seven PCB congeners and p,p'-DDE. Information was obtained on subjects' physical, sociodemographic, and lifestyle characteristics. RESULTS: Mean concentrations were 0.52 mg/kg lipids (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.50, 0.54) and 0.34 mg/kg lipids (95% CI = 0.32, 0.35) for PCBs (Aroclor 1260) and DDE, respectively. Age and history of breast-feeding showed statistically significant correlations with PCB and DDE concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Concentrations of PCBs and DDE measured in this study are at the lower end of the concentration range recently reported for women living in industrialized countries. The modulating factors identified here should be considered when conducting studies on organochlorine exposure and disease.
Subject(s)
Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene/analysis , Diet , Milk, Human/chemistry , Polychlorinated Biphenyls/analysis , Adolescent , Adult , Alcohol Drinking , Female , Humans , Life Style , Linear Models , Parity , QuebecABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of lead contamination around a lead-reclamation plant on the blood lead levels of children and pregnant women living in the area. DESIGN: Prevalence study. SETTING: Residents living 150 m or less (high-exposure area), 151 to 400 m (intermediate-exposure area) or 401 to 800 m (low-exposure area) southeast from the plant. PARTICIPANTS: All children aged 10 years or less and all pregnant women living in the designated area. OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlation of venous blood lead levels with soil lead concentrations in the areas in which the subjects lived and with sociodemographic and behavioural factors. MAIN RESULTS: Of the estimated 57 pregnant women 38 (67%) participated: 20 were in the high-exposure area and 18 in the other two areas; their geometric mean blood lead levels were low (0.15 and 0.13 mumol/L respectively). Of the 625 eligible children 510 (82%) participated: 169 were in the high-exposure area, 179 in the intermediate-exposure area and 162 in the low-exposure area; their geometric mean lead levels were 0.43, 0.30 and 0.26 mumol/L respectively. Within each age group children in the high-exposure area had the highest levels. The mean levels for children aged 6 months to 5 years were 0.49, 0.35 and 0.28 mumol/L in the three areas respectively. Within each exposure group children aged 1 to 2 years had the highest levels. No potential confounding variables could explain the relation between blood lead level and soil lead concentration. CONCLUSIONS: The pregnant women's blood lead levels did not seem to be affected by exposure level, but the children's levels were primarily related to the soil lead concentration.
Subject(s)
Chemical Industry , Environmental Exposure , Lead/blood , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Dust/analysis , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Humans , Infant , Lead/analysis , Lead Poisoning/blood , Lead Poisoning/epidemiology , Male , Pregnancy , Prevalence , Quebec/epidemiology , Soil/analysis , Spectrophotometry, Atomic , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
A 2 yo male child ingested approximately 15 ml of a Gun Blue solution containing selenious acid, nitric acid and copper nitrate. He was immediately given milk and vomited spontaneously blood-stained food with a garlic smell. He was admitted to our Centre less than 3 hr following ingestion. An esophago-gastroscopy showed a second degree burn of both esophagus and stomach. He became comatose and had to be ventilated mechanically. Metabolic acidosis, leucocytosis, hyperglycemia and hemoconcentration were also observed. During the following day he developed a severe intestinal distension, a cardiomyopathy (CPK = 1,302, cardiac arrhythmia), and moderate hepatic, renal and pulmonary dysfunctions. Plasma selenium concentration was 285 micrograms/L and the maximum urinary concentration was 28,459 micrograms/L. After 4 days, his condition had improved considerably and he was about to be extubated when he suddenly developed acute respiratory distress. A similar episode occurred 24 hr later. His lung function progressively deteriorated; later he required the use of an extracorporeal membrane lung. Legionella dumofii was found the causative agent. He died 17 d after ingestion despite aggressive treatment. Acute selenious acid poisoning and its relation to Legionnaire's disease is discussed.
Subject(s)
Selenium/poisoning , Acid-Base Imbalance/chemically induced , Burns, Chemical/etiology , Child, Preschool , Digestive System/drug effects , Heart/drug effects , Humans , Kidney/drug effects , Liver/drug effects , Male , Respiration/drug effects , Selenious Acid , Selenium/metabolismABSTRACT
Thousands of families living in homes insulated with urea-formaldehyde foam (UFF) have complained of various health problems. This product is now banned from the market both in Canada and the United States. Formaldehyde gas emitted by the product has been considered to be the source of these health problems but this cause-effect relationship has not been confirmed as yet. It has been suggested that other contaminants released by the foam could be involved. Work initiated to verify this possibility has permitted the observation of microparticles of less than 1 micron in diameter in foam samples obtained from various houses. The microparticles can easily be removed from the foam by passing air through it or, simply, by immersing it in water. These particles have been studied by different microscopy techniques and their morphological characteristics are described. They may represent a potential health risk.
