Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Human Fat in Great Britain

Abstract

Acute Myocardial Infarction-Norris et al. MEDICA JOURNAL dying, heart failure on admission, as determined clinically and radiologically, being nearly as likely to result in death from arrhythmia as in death from failure. Patients suffering late arrhythmic death were, however, much more ill than the survivors, having a greatly increased incidence of shock and heart failure, and a greater incidence of transmural infarction, particularly involving the anterior part of the heart. A detailed analysis of our 70 cases of late arrhythmic death showed that, excluding a few who had clearly diagnosable reinfarction, all but four had radiological evidence of interstitial or pulmonary oederna on admission, or heart failure, hypotension, or a major arrhythmia during the first few days after admission.It is doubtful whether long-term E.C.G. monitoring of all patients at risk of late arrhythmic death is economically feasible or psychologically desirable, and it is probable that the yield in lives saved will be considerably less than by the institution of early intensive care as practised by Pantridge and his colleagues. It is also true that ventricular fibrillation complicating heart failure or shock has a poor prognosis in spite of monitoring and resuscitation (Robinson, 1965). Nevertheless, it is thought that arrhythmic death in patients who are recovering from circulatory failure is in many cases preventable with antiarrhythmic drugs, and the logical use of E.C.G. telemetry (Cerkez et at., 1965) is in this group of patients.It is now our practice, in a four-bedded coronary care unit which has opened at Green Lane Hospital since this study was completed, to readmit patients who have had heart failure or major arrhythmia during their three to seven day3 of initial monitoring from the ward to the unit if their condition deteriorates. Warning signs of impending death from ventricular fibrillation are taken to be further chest pain not quickly relieved by trinitrin, a fall in blood pressure, or irregularity in the pulse which was not present before. Nurses are instructed to feel the pulse at the wrist of all coronary patients for a full minute and to report irregularities and ectopic beats. As late arrhythmic death occurs so seldom in uncomplicated cases, it can be argued that it is unnecessary to keep these patients in hospital for more than a week, and that mobilization and rehabilitation may be correspondingly accelerated.We are grateful to the visiting physicians of Auckland, Green Lane, and Middlemore Hospitals for allowing patients under their care to be studied, and to the medical registrars for accurate recording of information. Dr. P. W. T. Brandt, radiologist to the cardiological and cardiothoracic surgical units at Green Lane Hospital, kindly reviewed all the chest x-ray films. Facilities for the transfer of data to punch cards and analysis of the results were provided by the medical statistics unit of the Auckland Hospital Board.

Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Human Fat in the United Kingdom 1982-1983

“…For the BHC isomers and dieldrin the mean amounts found in female subjects of 60 years old and under were significantly less than those for females over 60 years old and for all male subjects. Similar sex differentiation was noted in the previous study (Abbott et al, 1968).…”

“…sss Conclusions It is again gratifying to record that the mean concentrations of the residues of the three main organochlorine pesticides found in human fat-namely, BHC, dieldrin, and DDT-have continued to decrease over recent years. It is worth repeating that a similar decline has been concurrently seen in the amounts of these compounds occurring in some fatty foodstuffs consumed in the United Kingdom, thus supporting the previously expressed belief that dietary sources are the main factor in determining the residue levels in human fat in this country (Abbott et al, 1968).…”

“…All specimens were placed in specially cleaned and prepared glass containers and stored at -20'C while awaiting analysis. The samples were examined as described in the report of the second study (Abbott et al, 1968) except that in most cases the final determination of the residues by gas-liquid chromatography involved the use of at least one additional stationary phase. As well as the silicone and Apiezon L columns regularly used for this purpose, columns of the more polar cyanosilicone (Simmons and Tatton, 1967) or of 3% diethylene glycol succinate on silanized Chromosorb P (Thomson et al, 1969) were found to be of value in supplying additional confirmation of the presence and amounts of some residues.…”

“…Such studies may usefully show the effect of the current general policy of reducing the use of certain persistent organochlorine pesticides or of limiting their application to those situations where there are no satisfactory substitutes (F.A.O./W.H.O., 1970; Department of Education and Science, 1969). In the past five years many publications have appeared which give the results of analyses of samples of human fat carried out in countries ranging from Australia (Wassermann et al, 1968) and New Zealand (Dacre, 1969) to Denmark (Weihe, 1966), and from Israel (Wassermann , 1970) and Holland (de Vlieger et al, 1968) to Hawaii (Casarett et al, 1968 1963-4 (Egan et al, 1965) and in 1965 (Abbott et al, 1968), but on this occasion the field was further extended to include Northem Ireland and also parts of south-west England; samples were also received from an additional centre in Scotland.…”

Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Human Fat in the United Kingdom 1969-71

“…The study reported here was undertaken jointly by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (Department of Trade and Industry) and the Department of Health and Social Security on behalf of the Panel for the Collection of Residues Data of the Scientific Sub-Committee of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and Other Toxic Chemicals. In its mode of operation it was very similar to the studies carried out in 1963-4 (Egan et al, 1965) andin 1965-7 (Abbott et al, 1968), but on this occasion the field was further extended to include Northem Ireland and also parts of south-west England; samples were also received from an additional centre in Scotland.…”