CONTAMINATION’S SHADOW
PBB health studies are ongoing but far more are needed
Research continues on the health impact of the Velsicol Chemical Co. contamination in St. Louis but the COVID-19 virus has slowed things considerably.
At a virtual meeting Tuesday, members of a coalition created to study the health problems of exposure to PBB - the fire retardant polybrominated biphenyl - outlined what they’ve learned so far and what more they want to learn.
As they have from the beginning, researchers have let the communities in michigan determine where the research should focus, said Michele marcus, Emory University Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Health who has led the studies.
Those studies have shown that PBB IS the likely cause of thyroid problems, certain cancers, reproductive issues and digestive problems that could be passed on to subsequent generations.
PBB, not soluble in water, is stored in the body’s fat, she said.
When the fire retardant was mixed with the livestock feed in 1973, it entered the food chain and wasn’t discovered for a year.
About 60 percent of Michigan residents still have some levels of PBB in their bodies from pbb contaminated food consumed, originating from the incident, Marcus said.
What people in Michigan who have been exposed to PBB want to know now are answers to other problems they or their family members have been experiencing.
Some of those issues concern joint problems, cognitive difficulties such as dementia, and autism, along with auto immune diseases, Marcus said.
“We’ve recently taken a look at (auto immune disorders) and there is a high rate (in Michiganders) - 25 percent compared to 8 percent (in the U.S population).”
They also want to know if they lose weight will the PBB levels diminish?
Marcus said that there is some indication that weight loss helps but more studies are needed. PBB can travel in and out of the blood stream and bodily fats vary, all making it complicated.
Marcus said that workers in the Velsicol plant have the highest levels of PBB in their bodies, followed by the families of the employees. They in turn are followed by farm families and average Michigan residents.
Another question from people who watched the virtual meeting concerned testing.
Would they have to travel to Michigan to get tested?
The short answer, Marcus said, is yes. These tests are not something their local physician can order up in a lab. However, she asked that those who want to participate to put that on the forms they fill out, “and we’ll see if we can work it out.”
She cautioned that in or out of michigan they may not get the test results for about a year, due to COVID-19.
Along with the testing question, physicians’ lack of knowledge about PBB was also problematic.
Information for medical professionals is available on the Emory University website
site and work continues on a model with more information as it becomes available, she said.
Currently the researchers are looking for some specific volunteers/participants in the studies.
It’s known that mothers can transmit PBB to their children, but it’s also been indicated that men too can transmit problems to their children as well. That appears to be done via hormone or DNA regulators, Marcus said.
So they are looking for men who are from Michigan but married women from out of state — women who did not live in Michigan in the early 70s.
Those wanting to participate in these studies and others can go to pbbregistry.emory.ed for more information.
At the meeting, it was also asked when families would be compensated for their loss and suffering.
Marcus explained that the state made an agreement with Velsicol. Velsicol would clean up the site and then the company would then have no further responsibility for anything.
The cleanup failed — clearly it didn’t scratch the surface — and Velsicol was utterly off the hook.
“I wish,” she said.