Cancer and non-cancer excess mortality resulting from mixed exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzofurans from contaminated rice oil: "Yusho".

PURPOSE: In 1968, rice oil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzofurans caused a severe outbreak of food poisoning in Japan and was termed locally as "Yusho" (oil disease). In our previous study, we found that area-based standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) of some diseases were elevated shortly after the incident. This previous study, however, was unable to determine whether these elevated SMRs were a result of other area-specific factors. To overcome this limitation, we obtained mortality data from the 5 years before the incident and conducted an area-based study using vital statistics records dating from 1963 to 2002. METHODS: The population of Nagasaki Prefecture was set as the reference population for calculating SMRs. We also included data on cause-specific mortality attributable to cancer and expanded the population to encompass two severely exposed areas where contaminated rice oil was distributed (namely Tamanoura and Naru). We also calculated SMRs in the remainder of the Shimo-Goto region, excluding the exposed area, which was used as a comparison area. RESULTS: Even after considering the time trends in mortality before the incident, mortality due to diabetes mellitus and heart disease, as well as all-cause mortality, was found to be elevated shortly afterward. Additionally, mortalities due to uterine cancer in Tamanoura and leukemia were also elevated at 30-34 and 10-59 years after the event in both exposed areas, respectively. SMRs for leukemia in Tamanoura were as high as 3.0 (95% confidence interval 1.4-6.2) and 2.4 (1.2-4.8) 10-19 years later. In this period, SMRs for leukemia in the comparison area were not elevated. CONCLUSIONS: Further epidemiological studies are needed regarding this rice-oil, "Yusho" outbreak, especially with regard to cancer and non-cancer mortality.

Pigmentation of the oral mucosa by PCB poisoning in Yusho patients.

OBJECTIVES: Toxins, such as PCBs, dramatically affect patients even decades after exposure. Although 40 years have passed since the accidental poisoning with polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) in Western Japan in 1968, high concentrations of PCBs are still detected in the serum of the "Yusho" (oil disease) patients. In this study, an epidemiological examination was carried out to reveal the prevalence of the oral pigmentation and blood concentrations of PCBs and polychlorinated quaterphenyl (PCQ) in Yusho victims. DESIGN: We performed a group examination of patients (Yusho victims) from 2004 to 2006, including 72 Yusho victims and 15 control subjects. The oral examination was performed by two oral and maxillofacial surgeons. The serum concentrations of PCB and PCQ were determined using gas chromatography; blood samples from Yusho victims were analyzed for PCB and PCQ by saponification in 1M NaOH ethanol solution, extraction with n-hexane column chromatography on silica gel, and then gas chromatography with electron capture detection. RESULTS: The mean Yusho victim's serum PCB and PCQ concentrations were 3.3ppb and 0.9ppb, respectively. In controls, these were 0.7ppb and 0ppb, respectively. Oral pigmentation was observed in 24 out of 72 Yusho patients. In controls, oral pigmentation was observed in one out of 15 persons. Oral pigmentation was most frequently observed in the buccal mucosa, followed by gingival mucosa. The blood concentration of PCB in Yusho patients with oral pigmentations was significantly higher than that in Yusho patients without oral pigmentation. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that PCB-related compounds may be responsible for the higher prevalence of oral pigmentation in Yusho victims, even though a long time has passed since the Yusho poisoning accident.

[Impaired mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformation in patients with Yusho].

To investigate chronic immune effects of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF), in vitro lymphocyte transformation in response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A) was studied in 139 patients with Yusho and 61 controls. PHA-induced lymphocyte transformation was significantly lower in patients with Yusho than in controls. PHA-induced lymphocyte transformation was inversely correlated with the concentrations of PCB and 2,3,4,7, 8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PeCDF) in the blood. Con A-induced lymphocyte transformation showed similar inverse correlations with the concentrations of PCB and 2,3,4,7, 8-PeCDF. We conclude that impairment of mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformation in patients with Yusho may be associated with PCB and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF in the blood.

[The temporal change rate of 2,3,4,7,8-PCDF level among examinees of annual health checkups of Yusho].

BACKGROUND: Yusho is an incidence of food poisoning caused by rice bran oil in 1968. Its main causal agent is considered as 2,3,4,7,8-penta-chlorodibenzofuran (PeCDF). The patients have been suffered by the various symptoms, and their blood concentration of PeCDF is still higher than the general population. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to estimate the change rate of PeCDF concentration among the examinees of annual health examination of Yusho patients. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: PeCDF concentration of 118 men and 140 women who received the health examination four times or more from 2001 to 2008 was statistically analyzed. The estimated annual change rate of the PeCDF concentration was low; 1.43% reduction and 1.03% increase were observed, respectively, for men and women who have low PeCDF concentration, and 3.6% and 3.7% reductions, respectively, for men and women who have high concentration of PeCDF. The reduction rate was associated with age and smoking habit in men, and drinking habit in women.

[Prevalence of atopic dermatitis and serum IgE of Yusho patients born before 1967].

Dioxins may have an impact on the human immunological system, which would increase the risk to develop allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis. In order to determine the lifetime prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Yusho patients, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted in 2008. One thousand and seventy-one out of 1430 certified yusho patients who were born before Yusho accident answered the questionnaires, and the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Yusho patients was 5.5%. We also measured serum IgE in 515 Yusho patients who attended annual medical check-ups from 2007 to 2009 and in 172 control subjects. Serum levels of IgE in Yusho patients were 250.7 +/- 663.4 IU/ml, whereas those in control subjects were 265.0 +/- 602.0 IU/ml. There was no significant difference in serum levels of IgE between Yusho patients and control subjects. In addition, no significant correlation was observed between serum levels of IgE and blood levels of dioxins in Yusho patients.

[Relationship between half-lives of blood dioxins and possible metabolic mechanism].

Blood levels of dioxins in Yusho patients have been measured for 10 years. The purposes of this study were to determine the half-lives of dioxins on the basis of the data obtained from Yusho patients and to compare the half-lives of the compounds. Linear regression analysis was performed using the binary logarithmic value of each dioxin level as the dependent variable and the year of measurement as the independent variable. The linear coefficient obtained from this linear regression analysis was the reciprocal number of the half-life. The relationship between the blood dioxin levels estimated in 2004 and the reciprocal number of half-life was evaluated. Of the studied dioxins, the concentrations of some compounds were strongly correlated with that of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF. For 2 such compounds, the correlation coefficient of the reciprocal numbers of half-life were greater than the correlation coefficient of the logarithmic values of the estimated concentrations. Of these 2 compounds, the concentration of 3,3,4,4,5,5-HxCB was at least 50 times less than that of the 2,3,4,7, 8-PeCDF in rice oil: however, their current concentrations are equivalent. Patients with high levels of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF also showed high levels of 3,3,4,4,5,5-HxCB. Yusho patients may have a disease-specific mechanism to supply 3,3,4,4,5,5-HxCB.

[Chemokine profile of Yusho patients].

Dioxins may have an impact on the human immunological system, which would increase the risk to develop allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis. In the present study, we measured serum levels of Th1- and Th2-favored chemokines in 233 Yusho patients who attended annual medical check-ups from 20.06 to 2009 and in 97 control subjects. Serum levels of CCL5, CCL17, and CCL27 in Yusho patients were significantly lower than those in control subjects. In addition, serum levels of some chemokines have weak correlations with blood levels of dioxins in either Yusho patients or control subjects.

[Time serial changes in the concentrations of the etiological agents of fetal Yusho--PCDDs and PCDFs].

We determined polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) in 6 preserved umbilical cords of fetal Yusho patients and in 11 preserved umbilical cords of Yusho suspected persons who were born to mothers with Yusho from 1970 to 2002, which were Yusho group. As a control, we also analyzed PCDFs and PCDDs in 15 preserved umbilical cords of babies who were born to healthy mothers, which was healthy group, in the same period of time. As a result, 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran and 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexachlorodibenzofuran, true causal agents of fetal Yusho, were only determined in the umbilical cords of fetal Yusho patients, except for one umbilical cords of Yusho suspected persons. Decreasing rate in concentrations of PCDFs and PCDDs seemed to greater in Yusho group than in healthy group during this period of time. Therefore, we considered due to high exposure to PCDFs some drug metabolizing enzymes such as aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase were induced and the excretion of PCDFs and PCDDs were enhanced from the bodies of Yusho group. In order to clarify this hypothesis, further more detail researches are required.

[Time serial changes in the concentrations of the related agents to fetal Yusho--dioxin-like PCBs and PCBs].

We determined dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and PCBs in 6 preserved umbilical cords of fetal Yusho patients and in 11 preserved umbilical cords of Yusho suspected persons who were born to mothers with Yusho from 1970 to 2002, which were Yusho group. As a control, we also analyzed dioxin-like PCBs and PCBs in 15 preserved umbilical cords of babies who were born to healthy mothers, which was healthy group, in the same period of time. As a result, concentrations of three dioxin-like PCBs, that is, #156, #157 and #189 which were 6 to 20 times higher in fetal Yusho patients than in healthy babies were still 4 to 6 times greater in Yusho group than in healthy group about 20 years after the outbreak of Yusho, but could not recognize this characteristic anymore about 30 years after the outbreak. Decreasing rate in concentrations of dioxin-like PCBs and PCBs seemed to higher in Yusho group than in healthy group during this period of time. Therefore, we considered due to heavy exposure to PCDFs some drug metabolizing enzymes such as aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase were induced and excretion of the related agents to fetal Yusho were enhanced from the bodies of Yusho group. In order to clarify this hypothesis, further more detail studies are needed.

[Promotive excretion of causative agents of Yusho by fermented brown rice with Aspergillus oryze in Yusho patients].

Forty two years have passed since the outbreak of Kanemi rice oil poisoning, namely, Yusho in the western Japan. However, even now the Yusho patients have been still suffering from several objective and subjective symptoms. In order to improve or, if possible, to cure such symptoms, the most important therapeutic treatment is considered to actively excrete the causative agents, that is, polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) from the bodies of the patients and to reduce their body burdens. In rats, chlorophyll and dietary fiber have been shown to promote the fecal excretion of PCDFs and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and to reduce their levels in rats. In this study, we have examined whether such kinds of effect are also observed by fermented brown rice with Aspergillus oryzae (FBRA) containing 5% spirulina, which is so-called spirulina HI * GENKI, the health food and relatively rich with chlorophyll and dietary fiber, in eighteen Yusho patients. They were divided into two groups, namely group A, ten patients (3 males and 7 females) with the mean age of 67.7 years old and group B, eight patients (4 males and 4 females) with the mean age of 64.1 years old. Among the patients of group A, three patients were especially highly contaminated with PCDFs and we classified them into group A (High). Respective mean concentrations of PCDFs in the blood just before initiating this study were as follows; group A : 145 pg/g lipid, group A (High) : 371 pg/g lipid and group B : 52.1 pg/g lipid. Contamination levels of PCDFs, PCDDs and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in group A (High) were 1.7 to 2.6 times higher than those in group A and 2.4 to 7.1 times higher than those in group B. Accordingly, concentrations of dioxins (PCDFs + PCDDs + dioxin-like PCBs) in the blood of groups A, A (High) and B were, respectively, 194, 458 and 85 pg-TEQ/g lipid. Concentrations of PCBs were also the highest in group A (High) : 1399 ng/g lipid, in group A : 748 ng/g lipid and the lowest in group B : 456 ng/g lipid. Groups A and A (High) took around 7.0 g of spirulina HI * GENKI after each meal and three times a day for the first one year and for the second one year, they did not take spirulina HI * GENKI anymore. Group B took spirulina HI * GENKI with the same manner as the group A only for the second one year. The concentrations of PCDFs, PCDDs, dioxin-like PCBs and PCBs in the blood were also measured at the end of the first and second year, respectively. Assuming the body fat is also contaminated with these compounds at their concentrations on lipid weight basis in the blood and the content of body fat is 20% of 60 kg body weight, we computed the average amounts in their net excretion from the body of the patients due to spirulina HI * GENKI in the three groups. As a result, in group A (High), 341 ng-TEQ/patient of dioxins was excreted from the body, which was 3.4 times greater than that in group A and 12 times higher than that in group B. Therefore, promotive excretions of causative agents of Yusho were the most effective in group A (High) and we consider spirulina HI * GENKI is more effective from the therapeutic point of view in more highly contaminated Yusho patients.

[Differences in the bone mineral density in patients with Kanemi Yusho treated before and after the age of 18 years].

This study examined patients with Kanemi Yusho. The patients' height, weight, and bone mineral density were measured. The density of the distal end of the radius was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and the calcaneum was measured with ultrasound. We also measured urine levels of cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen, serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b, serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, serum Ca, serum P and blood PCB level. The patient group that took PCBs when they were 0 to 18 years old (such patients were 42 to 60 years old at the time of the study) showed no correlation between the bone density of the radius and calcaneum in spite of treatment received when they were over 18 years of age (> 60 years of age at the time of the study). The bone mineral density in Kanemi Yusho was not different from the control group. The levels of only serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase were correlated with the bone mineral density of the radius and calcaneum in patients treated when they were over 18 years of age (currently over 60 years old). PCBs might have had an effect on bone density and bone metabolism.

[Blood PCB concentrations and their tendencies examined in Fukuoka 2007-2010 annual inspections for Yusho].

We performed PCB congener specific analysis using HRGC/HRMS and determined their concentrations and blood chromatogram classifications in 275 individual blood samples collected during annual Yusho examinations between 2007 and 2010. When both blood total PCB concentrations and blood chromatogram classifications were compared among eleven Yusho patients undergoing examinations between 2007 and 2010, the longitudinal concentrations and classifications in the respective individuals hardly changed over these years. In a subset of persons suspected of Yusho, it was found that the mean total blood concentrations of three index congeners, that is, 2, 3', 4, 4', 5-pentaCB (PCB118), 2, 2', 4, 4', 5, 5'-hexaCB (PCB153), 2, 3, 3', 4, 4', 5-hexaCB (PCB156) and mean blood total PCB concentrations gradually decreased between 2007 and 2010. Mean concentration of PCB118 in blood from persons suspected of Yusho was calculated as 0.035 ng/g in the 2010 examination, which was 36% lower than the mean value of 0.054 ng/g in the 2007 examination: the concentration of PCB118 showed the highest degree of decrease among the three index congeners. Among persons suspected of Yusho, occupational rates of persons with blood PCB concentrations below one ppb in the entire population increased from approx. 50% in 2007 to approx. 70% in 2010. The lowest concentration of PCB156 in blood of persons suspected of Yusho in 2010 was 0.43 pg/g, which was almost equivalent to the limit of the determination value on HRGC/HRMS, S/N = 10.

[The difference between male and female dioxin concentrations in the blood of Yusho patients].

In 1968, the contamination of cooking oil by heat-degraded polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) caused a case of mass poisoning, the so-called Yusho incident. The cause of Yusho disease is thought to be ingested toxic substances, including not only PCBs but polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDFs) in Kanemi rice oil. Extensive studies have been performed since 1995 by the Yusho study group involving follow-up surveys of human blood concentrations of the casual compounds in Yusho patients as well as clinical trials of the acceleration of the excretion of these compounds in Yusho patients. We have previously measured dioxin concentrations in the blood of 649 Yusho patients in annual medical examinations from 2001 to 2009. We determined that the concentrations of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF, and 3,3',4,4',5,5'-HxCB (#169) in the blood of Yusho patients were more than twice as high levels to as those of normal controls. In this study, we compared the concentrations of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF, 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF, and 3,3',4,4',5,5'-HxCB (#169) in the blood of male Yusho patients with those of female Yusho patients. As a result, it was found that the mean concentrations of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF 1,2,3,4, 7,8-HxCDF 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF, and 3,3',4,4',5,5'-HxCB (#169) in female Yusho patients were 2.9, 3.7, 2.4, and 1.3 times higher, respectively, than those of male Yusho patients.

[The rapid analysis of polychlorinated quaterphenyls in blood using different diameter capillary column with the high-resolution gas chromatograph high-resolution mass spectrometer].

The polychlorinated quaterphenyl (PCQ) concentrations in blood are important discriminative parameters in yusho patient. In this study, a rapid analytical method for PCQ using different diameter capillary column (rapid-Rtx65TG) with high-resolution gas chromatograph high-resolution mass spectrometer (HRGC/HRMS) instead of the gas chromatograph electron capture detector (ECD/GC) was developed. Using different diameter capillary columns, the analysis time of the HRGC/HRMS was drastically shortened, and the detection sensitivity was improved. In the rapid-Rtx65TG column, a small-bore capillary column (length 1m, I.D. 0.1mm) was connected with the inlet side of the GC, and behind that column, a large-bore capillary column (length 15mm, I.D. 0.53mm) for octadecachloroquaterphenyl (ODCQ) analysis was connected. In the HRGC/HRMS measurement of ODCQ by the rapid-Rtx65TG column, the minimum limit of detection for the apparatus was 0.4 pg, and the minimum limit of determination for the blood was 0.008 ppb. On ECD/GC in the conventional method and HRGC/HRMS in this study, the PCQ concentration in blood including yusho patients and yusho suspected persons was almost equivalent.

Measurement method for hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls in the blood of Yusho patients by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.

Hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) are formed as major metabolites of PCBs by cytochrome P450 enzyme-mediated oxidation. It has been reported that their total concentration in serum samples of Yusho patients ranged from 390 to 1300 pg/g. We developed a measurement method for OH-PCBs in blood samples by LC/MS/MS. This method is effective at determining the concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, Co-PCBs and OH-PCBs from the same sample without special treatment of the sample. The concentration of OH-PCBs in the blood of Yusho patients was examined using this method. The major OH-PCB metabolites were 4-OH-CB187 (54-906 pg/g-wet), 4-OH-CB146 + 3-OH-CB153 (32-527 pg/g-wet), 4-OH-CB109 (ND-229 pg/g-wet) and 4'-OH-CB172 (ND-143 pg/g-wet). The total OH-PCBs ranged from 95 to 1740 pg/g-wet.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating: an outbreak of emetic syndrome after a kindergarten excursion, Berlin, Germany, December 2007.

An outbreak of food poisoning (emetic syndrome) occurred in three kindergartens (A, B and C) in Berlin, Germany, on 3 December 2007 after an excursion during which food was served. We conducted a retrospective cohort study among the kindergarten children and personnel who participated in the trip. The overall attack rate among the 155 participants was 30%. It was 31% among the 137 children (aged two to six years) and 17% among adults (n=18). The consumption of rice pudding was significantly associated with disease. Among those who ate rice pudding, the attack rate was 36%, compared with 0% for non-eaters (relative risk: infinite, p<0.001, aetiological fraction: 100%), but differed significantly between kindergartens A (43%), B (61%) and C (3%), probably because groups were served from different pots. Bacillus cereus sensu stricto was identified from one vomit sample. The clinical and epidemiological characteristics suggest that B. cereus emetic toxin (cereulide) was the causative agent, although it could not be proven in the single vomit isolate. Inadequate food handling most probably led to the outbreak. Single-portion ready-to-eat rice pudding was recommended for subsequent excursions and no further cases of food poisoning occurred.

Aluminum phosphide poisoning known as rice tablet: A common toxicity in North Iran.

BACKGROUND: Aluminum phosphide (ALP) is a highly effective insecticide and rodenticide used frequently to protect stored grain. Acute poisoning with this compound is common in some countries including India and Iran, and is a serious health problem. AIM: The objective of this study was to survey ALP poisoning locally known as "Rice Tablet" and the outcome in a referral poisoning hospital in Mazandaran province, northern part of Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional study from March 2007 to February 2008. Records of all patients admitted and hospitalized to a referral teaching hospital during the 2 year period were collected. Information including gender, age, cause of toxicity, amount of AIP consumed, route of exposure, time between exposure and hospital admission, signs and symptoms of toxicity at admission, therapeutic intervention, laboratory tests, and outcome were extracted from the patients' notes. Patients who died and survived were compared using appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS: During the two-year period, 102 patients, 46 men and 56 women with mean (±SD) age 28.5 ± 12.4 year were admitted with ALP poisoning. The most common signs and symptoms at admission were nausea (79.4%), vomiting (76.5%), and abdominal pain (31.4%). 41.1% of the patients showed metabolic acidosis. Suicidal intention was the most common cause of poisoning (97%) leading to 19 (18.6%) deaths. Compared with the patients who survived, those who died had taken higher amount of ALP tablet (2.2 ± 2.4 vs. 1.4 ± 1.0, P < 0.05), had poor liver function test (P < 0.0001) and severe metabolic acidosis (pH: 7.17 ± 0.19 vs. 7.33 ± 0.08, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: ALP poisoning is a common toxicity in Iran causing high morality. This is a serious health problem in agricultural region where ALP is readily available. Withdrawal of ALP tablet from the market and introduction of safer products as rodenticides and insecticides is recommended.

Association of clinical findings in Yusho patients with serum concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated quarterphenyls and 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran more than 30 years after the poisoning event.

BACKGROUND: The Yusho poisoning incident, which was caused by rice bran oil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated quarterphenyls (PCQs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) generated by heat denaturation of PCB, occurred in 1968 in western Japan. Annual physical, dermatological, dental, ophthalmological and laboratory examinations were conducted for Yusho patients after the incident. From 2001, blood levels of individual PCDF congeners were also measured. The blood levels of 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF), PCBs and PCQs in Yusho patients were found to be significantly higher than those of the general population. We investigated the relationships between blood concentrations of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, PCBs and PCQs in Yusho patients and the items measured in the annual medical examination. METHODS: Medical and laboratory examination data from 501 Yusho patients enrolled in the study from 2001 to 2004 were analyzed. The relationships between blood 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, PCB and PCQ concentrations and medical/laboratory examination data were investigated using principal components and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Serum Concentrations of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, PCBs and PCQs in blood tended to correlate with either acneform eruptions, black comedones, cutaneous and mucosal pigmentation, and hypersecretion of meibomian glands as well as general fatigue, headaches, cough/sputum, abdominal pain, arthralgia, increased blood sugar, increased serum gamma-GTP and decreased total bilirubin. The majority of these signs and symptoms are included in the diagnostic criteria for Yusho. CONCLUSION: After Yusho patients had suffered chronic exposure to these chlorinated compounds for more than 35 years, the serum concentration of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF in blood was significantly related to arthralgia and decreased albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio; the serum concentration of PCBs was significantly related to ophthalmologic symptoms; and the serum concentration of PCQ to increased total cholesterol. These findings suggest that the co-contaminants may affect other functions than those originally associated with Yusho.

Increased levels of urinary nitrite and nitrotyrosine in Yusho victims 40 years after accidental poisoning with polychlorinated biphenyls in Nagasaki, Japan.

Forty years have passed since the accidental poisoning with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in Japan in 1968, named Yusho. High concentrations of PCB are still detected in the serum of the Yusho victims. PCB produces superoxide (O(2) (-)) in the metabolic process and we reported high concentrations of serum nitrite, a stable metabolite reflecting nitric oxide (NO), in the Yusho victims. NO reacts with O(2) (-) and immediately produces peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)). ONOO(-) causes nitration of tyrosine residues and produces nitrotyrosine (NT). Therefore, we measured urinary concentrations of nitrite and NT in the victims and age-matched controls. The mean urinary concentrations of nitrite and NT were significantly higher than in the controls. There was a positive correlation between urinary nitrite and NT in the Yusho victims. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the ratio of urinary NT to nitrite and serum PCB concentrations in the Yusho victims. It was considered that the emergence of some ailments could be presumed to have been caused by high levels of urinary nitrite and NT in the Yusho victims.