In 1973 and 1974, several thousand Michigan dairy farms were contaminated by polybrominated biphenyls (P.B.B.) as the result of an industrial accident. An unknown quantity of contaminated meat and dairy products entered the food chain before contaminated farms were quarantined. To determine the extent of human exposure, P.B.B. concentrations were measured in human breast milk, which was collected in a random-sample survey from nursing mothers throughout Michigan. 96% of 53 samples from Michigan's lower peninsula and 43% of 42 samples from the less densely populated upper peninsula contained detectable levels of P.B.B. These data indicate that about 8 million of Michigan's 9.1 million residents have detectable body burdens of P.B.B.
Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) were inadvertently introduced into the food chain in Michigan in 1973. Fifty-one people with known exposure to PBB were studied. Twenty-three farmers with disabling health complaints, and 28 chemical workers involved in the PBB manufacturing process were systematically evaluated to determine if these highrisk groups suffered adverse effects from their known exposure to PBB. The farmers had a high frequency of constitutional symptoms, hepatomegaly and skin rashes, findings not commonly noted in the chemical workers. Biochemical and hematologic testing revealed few abnormalities, and electromyograms, nerve conduction velocities, endocrine studies, and lymphocyte transformation studies provided no objective findings that correlated with subjective complaints. There was no relationship between PBB levels and physical or laboratory abnormalities. Present evidence suggests that people exposed to PBB have few objective findings at this time, and reactive depression may be responsible for the high prevalence of constitutional symptoms.
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