Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) were inadvertently introduced into livestock feed in Michigan in 1973, resulting in widespread contamination of the state's food supply. Details of this unfortunate incident have been extensively documented (Carter 1976; Meester 1979). Approximately 12 months after the spill, several reports demonstrated the presence of PBB in human tissues including fat and blood...

The intactness of the immune system in cattle exposed to polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) has been investigated by using several immunoassays. Eighty-seven animals have been studied, 35 control animals (not exposed to PBBs) and 52 animals exposed to PBBs (0.02-30 ppm/g fat equivalent). The immunoassays included a complete blood count, identification of peripheral blood T and B lymphocyte subpopu...

Studies were performed to investigate the effects of FireMaster FF-1, a chemical fire retardant consisting of a mixture of polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), on immune functions in mice and rats. Animals received 22 daily treatments of 0.03, 0.3, 3.0, or 30 mg PBB/kg body weight in a period covering 30 days. PBB exposure severely depressed cell mediated immunity in both mice and rats at the higher...

Studies of polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) uptake by plants have been conducted in hydroponic solutions and in greenhouse experiments with soil. Autoradiograms of corn and soybean seedlings grown in hydroponic solutions showed no translocation of 14C-PBB from 14C-PBB-treated solutions to plant tops or within the leaf from 14C-PBB-treated spots on the upper leaf surface. A significant portion of t...

Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were given 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 5, and 10 mg of a commercial polybrominated biphenyl, FireMaster BP-6 (PBB), in olive oil by gavage each day from days 7 through 15 of pregnancy. Laboratory chow and water were given ad libitum. Treatment with PBB had no significant effect on body weight gain, food and water consumption, and urine production. The mothers were killed on da...

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Thyroid hormones, which influence body metabolism and development, could be affected by persistent organic pollutants. We sought to examine the relationship between polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and thyroid disease. We employed incidence density sampling to perform a nested case control analysis of the Michigan Long-Term PBB Cohort. Cohort members (n=3333)...