by Masaharu Asaba, Daily Yomiuri

Nineteen Diet members, among other volunteers, have given blood to Chiba University researchers as part of a project to measure the amount of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) in their bodies.

The experiment comes at a time when simply monitoring levels of this toxic chemical substance is insufficient. Rather, specific measures are needed to prevent PCBs from entering the body and to remove substances that have already accumulated there. Advice on how to change lifestyle habits to attack this problem also is indispensable.

A myriad of toxic man-made compounds and substances are found--albeit in tiny quantities--in the air we breathe and the food and beverages we consume. Most of the known substances include insecticides such as DDT, dioxins produced through the burning of refuse and PCBs used in manufactured products.

These chemical substances can be passed on to babies while they are in their mother's womb and through breast milk. Most worrisome is their ability to remain inside our bodies for a prolonged period and the higher levels of bioaccumulation and degree of contamination found among animals of the higher orders.

High concentrations of these substances have been detected in many species of wild animals around the world, and there have been numerous cases of unusual phenomena, such as birds with curved beaks and the feminization of male organisms and creatures.

"Our Stolen Future," a book by U.S. biologist Theo Colborn and others, set off alarm bells about endocrine disruption and the fact that common contaminants can interfere with the natural signals controlling development of the fetus. It drew attention to the issue of hormone-disruptive chemical substances (environmental hormones).

PCBs were formerly widely used in electrical products and copy paper because they have the commercially advantageous qualities of being heat-resistant and offering good insulation.

However, PCBs can adversely affect human skin and the kidneys. Their manufacture, import and use was prohibited in Japan, the United States, Europe and other advanced countries from the 1970s, when it was revealed that they eroded people's immune systems, and some people developed symptoms of poisoning.

The concentration of chemical substances accumulated inside the body is generally only about one-billionth of a gram per 1cc of blood, making the task of detecting them very onerous and expensive. Furthermore, pinpointing their impact on humans and animals is difficult.

In particular, there is no universally used examination method for detecting chemical substances in humans, putting measures to deal with the problem behind the eight ball.

In April, Prof. Chisato Mori, an expert in developmental biology and endocrine disruptor issues from Chiba University's Graduate School of Medicine, and a research team from the school drew 20cc from about 150 people--including local residents, university students and researchers--to examine the concentrations of PCB in their bodies.

After obtaining the consent of the university's ethics committee, the team also gained the cooperation of 19 lawmakers from the Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan--the first time lawmakers in this nation have taken part in a research project involving donating blood for examination.

By allowing the lawmakers to find out the levels of PCBs that have accumulated in their bodies, the researchers hope to raise their awareness of these elusive chemical contaminants and encourage them to take the lead in developing measures to care for the environment.

Experiment participants also were asked about their dietary habits and health problems so researchers could determine if differences in PCB concentrations resulted from environmental influences, as well as individual traits and factors such as age.

"We restricted our project to detect only PCBs purely because of the high costs involved," Mori said. "We know about the correlation between PCBs and other substances that accumulate in the body, such as other dioxins and organochlorine pesticides, so we can glean plenty from this project."

The team will not just monitor those taking part. For those found to have high PCB concentrations, the researchers will provide medicine that can help expel chemical compounds from the body and offer recommendations to promote healthier living, such as eating foods rich in fiber.

"When I was raising my kids many years ago, we were unconcerned about these types of problems," said Wakako Hironaka, a DPJ member of the House of Councillors who volunteered to provide blood for the project. "When I think about the future of my grandchildren, I feel worried about environmental pollution. We must face up to this problem."

Since 2002, the Environment Ministry has surveyed 250 people from around the country each year as part of its efforts to address the environmental hormone problem. Although the ministry is investigating 20 chemical substances, including PCBs and dioxins, for all intents and purposes the plan does not go further than monitoring the subjects on an ongoing basis.

Last year, the World Wide Fund for Nature took blood from 47 European Union parliamentarians. In published findings, the WWF said it detected 76 different chemical substances in their blood. However, no survey covering treatment and measures to manage the problem has yet been conducted.

"By focusing on the environmental hormone issue, we've been able to learn quite a lot about the risks of individual chemical substances," Mori said. "We now need to focus on people's health and devise policies to reduce PCBs and eliminate them from people's bodies--and then put this plan into practice."

Tens of thousands of chemical substances have been manufactured, and fingers are being pointed at these substances in connection with the surge in allergies and hay fever in recent years. At the very least, it seems these substances aggravate symptoms of these ailments.

With this in mind, authorities must swiftly develop comprehensive measures to unravel the functions of these substances and alleviate people's suffering.