US EPA

2210551 

Technical Report 

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS PRESENTING SUBCLINICAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS WHICH BIOACCUMULATE IN HUMAN TISSUE 

Root, DE; Katzin, DB; Schnare, DW 

1985 

HMTC/85/0002784 

1985 May 14 

150-153 

English 

HMTC The human population is continually exposed to low levels of toxic chemicals that bioaccumulate in body tissues. This study examines some of the problems in attempting to diagnose low-level body burdens of toxic chemicals as well as a treatment program and preliminary data from 120 patients who completed the detoxification program. There are reported to be four million distinct chemical compounds added to the chemical list each week. Human exposure to chemicals is both direct and indirect. More than 3000 chemicals are added to food, and over 700 chemicals are present in drinking water. Pharmaceuticals and recreational street drugs add to the human exposure. Toxic chemicals that are lipid soluble bioaccumulate in fatty tissues throughout the body. Over 4000 chemicals have been identified in human tissues, with 48 in adipose tissue, 40 in milk, 73 in liver, and over 250 in blood plasma. (35 ref.)