US EPA

2192329 

Technical Report 

Reduction of human organohalide body burdens. Final research report 

Schnare, DW; Ben, M; Robinson, PC; Shields, MG; Denk, G 

1983 

No 

Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education 

Los Angeles, CA 

NIOSH/00181138 

Data on the effectiveness of the Hubbard technique in reducing human body burdens of fat stored polychlorinated-biphenyls (1336363) and polybrominated-biphenyls (67774327) (PBBs), as well as chlorinated pesticides, was presented. Seven healthy subjects underwent treatment to reduce burdens resulting from exposure to organohalides in the early 1970s; subjects had PBB body burdens ranging from 0.5 to 10 parts per million per lipid weight. Treatment consisted of a 3 week regimen of polyunsaturated oil supplements, aerobic exercise, sauna, nutritional supplements (vitamins, minerals, water, salts), and a balanced daily schedule. Adipose tissue samples were obtained by subcutaneous needle aspiration pretreatment, 1 day posttreatment, and 4 months posttreatment; chemicals were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Of the 16 identifiable organohalides, 13 were present in lower concentrations posttreatment; reductions ranged from 3.5 to 47.2 percent, with a mean reduction among all 16 chemicals of 21.3 percent. Followup analysis at 4 months indicated an average reduction in organohalides of 42.4 percent, with a range of 10.1 to 65.9 percent. A comparison of posttreatment and followup concentrations suggested the possibility of continued posttreatment reductions in organohalide concentrations. The authors conclude that the probable mechanism for the reduction in organohalide body burdens is sauna induced mobilization of stored xenobiotics, followed by increased fecal and dermal excretion.