Participation in clean-up of oil spill associated with airway injury and chromosomal damage

In 2002, the oil tanker Prestige spilled more than 67 000 tons of bunker oil, heavily contaminating the coast of northwestern Spain. The study population included local fishermen who were highly exposed (n = 501) or not exposed (n = 177) to oil. They were evaluated 2 years after the spill.

Elevated markers of airway injury

Persons exposed to oil were at increased risk for lower respiratory tract symptoms (risk difference, 8.0). However, lung function did not significantly differ between the groups. Exposed participants also had higher levels of exhaled vascular endothelial growth factor (risk difference, 44.8) and basic fibroblast growth factor (risk difference, 16.0).

Human chromosomes (grey) capped by telomeres (white). Image source: Wikipedia, public domain.

Chromosomal damage

A higher proportion of exposed participants had structural chromosomal alterations (risk difference, 27.4), predominantly unbalanced alterations.

Participation in clean-up of a major oil spill was associated with persistent respiratory symptoms, elevated markers of airway injury in breath condensate, and chromosomal damage.

References:

Health Changes in Fishermen 2 Years After Clean-up of the Prestige Oil Spill. Ann Intern Med, October 19, 2010, vol. 153 no. 8 489-498.

Fish out of pills - Pharmaceuticals in drinking water

Fish out of pills - Pharmaceuticals in drinking water, NationalGeographic, April 01, 2010. Design Editor Oliver Uberti shows what went into the making of an information graphic about pharmaceuticals that make their way into our watersheds and end up in fish. Click here to see the full-size illustration.

A vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans. The concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, far below the levels of a medical dose but the long-term consequences to human health are unknown.

The pharmaceutical industry points out the amount of medication in the water supply is the equivalent of a single pill in an Olympic-size swimming pool. Still, if you a have glass of water in Philadelphia, you are drinking tiny amounts of at least 56 medications.

References:

Antibiotics, anticonvulsants, antidepressants and sex hormones in drinking water of 41 million Americans http://goo.gl/HiXa

AP Probe Finds Drugs in Drinking Water. Associated Press.

Drugs in water causing troubling problems to fish, wildlife. CNN.
In U.S., bottled water lacks drug safeguards. CNN.

Pollution: Fish Pharm. NGM Blog Central.

Related reading:

Fish Pharm: Pharmaceutical Waste and the Environment. BitingTheDust, 2010.

Fishing For Answers: How To Choose Fish and Seafood | Summer Tomato http://goo.gl/0OBf
Something in the water - fluoxetine in this river, antihypertensives in that lake - BMJ, 2011.

Old drug, new warnings: Acetaminophen (paracetamol, Tylenol)

Acetaminophen is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States. Nearly half of acetaminophen-associated cases are due to unintentional overdose.

Especially vulnerable patients are:

- taking enzyme-inducing drugs
- chronic users of alcohol
- malnourished

Although no consensus has been reached on what is a safe dose in patients with liver disease, 4 g/day is too much: a total daily dose of no more than 2 g is recommended to decrease the risk of toxicity in these patients.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering banning acetaminophen-narcotic combination products.

References:
Acetaminophen: Old drug, new warnings. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine January 2010 vol. 77 1 19-27.
Image source: Amazon, used for illustrative purposes only - NOT a suggestion to purchase any medications.

Medications cause most accidental poisonings in children

Medications cause most accidental poisonings in children http://bit.ly/1k6GqN

The most common drugs that cause accidental pediatric poisoning are:

- Tylenol
- cough and cold medicines
- antidepressants
- NSAIDs

Children aged 5 and under account for 81% of the medication-related poisonings.

Image source: Wikipedia, public domain.

Video lecture: Risk of consuming too much mercury when eating top predator ocean fish

Video: Dr. Jane Hightower - Diagnosis: Mercury

"Jane Hightower will discuss the risk of consuming too much mercury when eating top predator ocean fish such as tuna, swordfish and sharks.

She is a San Francisco doctor who discovered in 2000 that many of her patients had the classic symptoms of mercury poisoning, including nausea, trouble concentrating and tiredness, and she traced these symptoms to eating fish several times a week. Public health warnings are still inadequate, she says."

Did Beethoven Died of Lead Poisoning (Plumbism) or Not?

Scientists examined six of Ludwig van Beethoven's hairs (15 cm long) and pieces of his skull, and found out that the famous composer likely died of lead poisoning.

Beethoven died in 1827 at age 56.

Listen to the NPR interview with Bill Walsh who headed the team that studied Beethoven's hair and skull samples.

How was the composer exposed to lead?

The lead exposure occurred over many years. The reason could have been Beethoven's love for wine which at that time was sweetened with lead-containing substances. His favorite wine goblet was also made of a lead based metal.

Another hypothesis is that Beethoven was slowly poisoned by Danube fish. One of his favorite dishes was the fish caught in a heavily polluted stretch of the river contaminated with lead.

How did the scientist get the samples?

The hair samples were from a lock of Beethoven's hair purchased by a collector several years ago.

The skull pieces belong to a California businessman who inherited them from his great-great uncle, who was a doctor in Austria.

What were the symptoms of lead poisoning?

Beethoven started to develop health problems in his twenties which grew worse over time. His chronic abdominal pain, irritability and depression, for example, were likely due to lead poisoning.

Beethoven saw physician after physician in search of a cure for illnesses. Nobody was able to help him. Ironically, in a letter to his brothers, he expressed the wish that after his death, "scientists would use his remains to find out the cause of his illness so that others would not have to suffer as he did".

"Lead poisoning made Beethoven grumpy", summarizes Chicago-Sun Times profoundly.

References:
Lead confirmed in Beethoven's death - USA Today
Study conlcudes Beethoven died from lead poisoning - amhersttimes.com
Plumbosis: The Cause of Beethoven's Illness -MedGadget
Investigating Beethoven's death - PBS
Beethoven Lead Poisoned by Danube Fish - lead.org.au
Lead poisoning seen as probable cause of Beethoven illnesses - CNN
Beethoven Suffered from Lead Poisoning - NPR
Ludwig van Beethoven - Wikipedia
Image source: Wikipedia

Related:
Checking Santa's Toys For Lead: Parents concerned about lead in their children's toys can buy a home testing kit. NPR, 12/2008.

Beethoven May Not Have Died of Lead Poisoning, After All. NYTimes, 2010.

Updated: 06/01/2010