Organochlorine pesticides and chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents in the blood of chemically sensitive patients [corrected]. A statistical comparison with therapeutic medication and natural hormones.

The blood levels of organochlorine pesticides and chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents were measured in 200 and 114 chemically sensitive patients respectively, and compared with blood concentrations of standard medication (non- chlorinated substances. Clonidine, Haloperidol) of comparable toxicity after therapeutically effective dosage, and with reference levels of highly potent chemicals in the blood such as hormones. It was shown that the average blood levels of the most toxic environmental pollutants are comparable with the therapeutic steady state average blood levels of medications which have similar toxicities in the animal model. In addition the toxicity levels of xenoestrogens are at least an order of magnitude higher than normal plasma estrogen or progesterone levels. These findings suggest the possibility of additive or synergistic effects of these chlorinated compounds and the aforementioned medications. Also, these findings suggest the possibility of hormone deregulation from exposure to the aforementioned toxic chlorinated compounds.

Confirmation of chemical sensitivity by means of double-blind inhalant challenge of toxic volatile chemicals.

Fifty chemically sensitive patients with vascular, asthmatic and arthritic signs, ranging in age from 21 to 61, were exposed to double-blind challenges of ambient doses of inhaled toxic chemicals in a specially designed booth in an Environmental Control Unit (ECU). Primary signs and symptoms were recorded before and after challenge with five chemicals and three placebos. Inhaled challenges included phenol (less than .0025 ppm), petroleum-derived ethyl alcohol (less than .5 ppm), formaldehyde (less than .2 ppm), chlorine (less than .3 ppm), and pesticide (2, 3,-D at less than .0034 ppm). Placebos were water or saline. A set on testing criteria were evaluated for maximizing the likelihood of well-defined, reproducible information from these ambient-dose double-blind challenges. For best results, these testing criteria include: Before testing, the patient must be housed in a chemically less polluted environment. The individual must have been de-adapted to food, air, and water pollutants by means of a water fat for three to four days. At the time of the challenge, the patient must be on food and water previously determined to be safe. An enclosed non-pulluted challenge booth must be used for these chemical exposures. Sign and symptom scores appropriate for that patient must be recorded, before and after challenge. Appropriate doses of the chemical in question (determined by air concentration and length of exposure) are necessary to investigate a particular problem. The conclusion of the study is that in these patients, chemical sensitivity clearly does exist (pulse rate differences between positive responses and placebo - p .001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Elimination of oral food challenge reaction by injection of food extracts. A double-blind evaluation.

Twenty subjects underwent a double-blind evaluation by analyzing six variables to determine if subcutaneous injection of the food extract neutralizing dose would protect subjects from reactions. Twelve subjects had four of the six variables neutralized 60% of the time following the food antigen neutralizing dose. The placebo trials neutralized four of six variables 15% of the time. The sign/symptom results show statistical significance favoring food extract neutralization over placebo. The remaining eight subjects had at least two of the six variables neutralized by the food extract up to 85% of the time. It appears that the phenomenon of subcutaneous food neutralization can be scientifically endorsed for clinical use in the treatment of food reactions.

Recurrent environmentally triggered thrombophlebitis: a five-year follow-up.

Twenty disabled patients with recurrent intractable nontraumatic phlebitis were studied. The patients were divided into two groups and matched for age and severity. The control group was continued on their standard anticoagulant regime, bed rest and support hose. The other group was placed in an especially designed Environmental Control Unit (ECU) where all air, food and water could be controlled. These patients were taken off all medication and not fed until the leg pain and swelling disappeared, which was four to seven days. The patients then showed specific sensitivities to foods and ambient subthreshold doses of inhaled chemicals such as formaldehyde less than 0.2 ppm, phenol less than 0.0024 ppm, chlorine less than 0.33 ppm, petroleum alcohol less than 0.5 ppm and pesticide (2,4 DNP) less than 0.0134 ppm under controlled double-blind challenges. Eight out of 10 patients had their phlebitis reproduced in this manner. When in the symptom-free state, these patients were required to ride an exercycle at 150 kpm for one mile daily to demonstrate absence of phlebitis (none could walk across the room prior to examination). The five-year follow-up in the group showed two 48-hour episodes of phlebitis cleared by home bed rest and food abstenance. In contrast, the control group had more than 60 episodes of phlebitis at home and 41 episodes in the hospital. Medical costs in these comparable groups showed a differential of $20 per patient in the Environmental Control Unit treatment versus more than $20,000 per patient in the control group over the five-year follow-up.

Air pollution analysis used in operating an environmental control unit.

A simple, fast and reliable method was developed to measure the origin and daily and seasonal variations of selected air pollutants in the Brookhaven Environmental Unit. None of the pollutants that were measured surpassed its threshold limit value. The average concentrations of the pollutants that were measured could be considered as preliminary standard for environmental units in hospitals as long as material analysis for outgassing is used simultaneously.