RESEARCH ON SYNERGIES
A recent breakthrough in the understanding of Gulf War Syndrome may be changing scientific thinking and promoting further research on chemical synergy. Researchers at the Duke University Medical Center and the Texas Southwestern Medical School reported in April, 1996 that the simultaneous exposure to topical insecticides [DEET and permethrin] and pyrido-stigmine bromide, a drug taken prophylactically to counteract toxic gas warfare agents, causes nervous system damage in chickens. Both teams found that the many symptoms experienced by Gulf War veterans, including headaches, fatigue, aches, decreased attention and rashes, were similar to the symptoms that presented in exposed chickens. Chickens given any two chemicals became lethargic, unable to fly, lost weight and coordination and demonstrated tremors. For those administered all three chemicals, paralysis and death occurred. (May, 1996, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health.)
“This observed impact on nerve functioning is significant because survivors of the Gulf War who were exposed to these toxic agents also have demonstrated abnormal nerve function. It proves that hormone-disrupting chemicals, known to cause mild effects, when used in combination produce significantly dramatic hormonal effects”.
Hormone-disrupting chemicals known individually to cause mild effects, when used in
combination produced dramatic effects: Synergistic Activation of Estrogen Receptor with Combinations of Environmental Chemicals," 272 Science 1489-1492 (June 7, 1996). Combinations of two or three pesticides, which are commonly found in the environment at low levels, are up to 1600 times more powerful than any of the pesticides individually in their impact on hormones. Some chemicals, which individually do not disrupt hormones, tremendously magnify the ability of other chemicals eg chlordane to disrupt hormones.This study focused on endosulfan, chlordane, toxaphene and dieldrin.
“Chemical Concoctions [Science Times].” New York Times, 30 March, 99, D5.
“The completion of a 5-year study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin reveals that the effects of the “chemical cocktail”, made from fertilizer, insecticides and herbicides in agricultural groundwater, can differ from the effects of each chemical individually on the immune, endocrine and nervous systems of humans. A study using mice is reported in the current issue of the journal Toxicology and Industrial Health. Most current agricultural testing methods, according to these researchers, incomprehensively focus on chemicals in isolation and their carcinogenic effects, not their systemic impact.”
