Reduction of the Human Body Burdens of Hexachlorobenzene and Polychlorinated Biphenyls

World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Scientific Publications Series, Volume 77, 1986.

Summary: Electrical workers paired by age, sex and potential for polychlorinated biphenyl exposure were divided into treatment and control groups. Adipose-tissue concentrations of hexachlorobenzene (HCB), four other pesticides and 10 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners were determined pre- and post-treatment, and three months post-treatment. At post-treatment, all 16 chemicals were found at lower concentrations in the adipose tissues of the treatment group, while 11 were found in higher concentrations in the control group. Adjusted for re-exposure as represented in the control group, HCB concentrations were reduced by 30 percent at post-treatment and 28 percent three months post-treatment. Mean reduction of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners was 61 percent at post-treatment and 14 percent three months post-treatment. These reductions are statistically significant (f< 0.001). Enhanced excretion appeared to keep pace with mobilization, as blood-serum levels in the treatment group did not increase during treatment.

Excretion of a Lipophilic Toxicant Through the Sebaceous Glands: A Case Report

Journal of Toxicology ­­ Cutaneous andOcular Toxicology, Vol. 6, No. 1, 1987.

Summary: A 23-year-old woman worked at a manufacturing facility, hosing the soot and ash accumulated in the exhaust stack and on the filter pads of an oil-fired generator. She performed this task without protective gear. After six months, she reported feeling ill to the plant nurse. One month later, she was removed from the job, and she remained unable to work for 11 1/2 months because of symptoms relating to toxic chemical exposure. The toxicants were amenable to removal through the sebaceous glands and possibly the gastrointestinal tract by Hubbard's detoxification technique. This was accompanied by remission of her subjective complaints and she was authorized to return to work.

Improvement in Perception of Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation Following Detoxification in Firefighters Exposed to PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs

Clinical Ecology, Vol. VI, No.2, 1989.

Summary: Seventeen firefighters with a history of acute exposure to polychlorinated biphyenyls, dibenzofurans, and dibenzodioxins were evaluated for peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathic evaluation was done using the Neurometer®, a transcutaneous nerve stimulation device. Prior to detoxification, five of the 17 had abnormal current perception threshold measurements. Following treatment, all showed improvement. Most strikingly, the current perception thresholds of two patients returned to normal range after detoxification. This finding raises the possibility that damage heretofore thought to be permanent may in many instances be partially reversible.