Pediatric aspects of the Michigan polybrominated biphenyl contamination

Abstract

In 1973, Michigan cattle feed was accidentally contaminated with polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and subsequently PBB has been found in the serum, body fat, and breast milk of most Michigan residents. Because of numerous complaints of ill health, a survey of Michigan farm children, the most heavily exposed group, was undertaken in 1976 to determine the nature and scope of the problem. Examination of the data from 292 Michigan children showed that the prevalence of symptoms was related to the quarantine status of the farm and to the method of invitation into the study. Serum PBB levels were related to the quarantine status of the farm but not to the method of invitation into the study. No significant effects of age or sex were found on the prevalence of symptoms or serum PBB levels, except that the teenage (13-16) males had somewhat higher PBB levels. Despite the frequent reporting of symptoms of ill health, physical examination failed to reveal any objective alterations that could be attributed to PBB. The most striking finding has been a statistically significant negative correlation between the prevalence of symptoms and the serum-PBB levels. So far, the reason for this negative correlation is unexplained.