Epidemiological and experimental studies on the effects of methyl isocyanate on the course of pregnancy

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8772153· OSTI ID:5898250

Varma, D R

Although press reports indicate that the leakage of methyl isocyanate (MIC) on December 3, 1984, in Bhopal has led to an increase in spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, infant mortality, and fetal abnormalities, no clinical or experimental studies on the reproductive toxicity of MIC were reported in scientific journals for several months after the accident. The authors therefore conducted, 9 months after the accident, a preliminary survey of 3270 families in Bhopal and experimental studies on the effects of MIC in pregnant mice. It was found that 43% of pregnancies in women residing near the Union Carbide pesticide plant did not result in the birth of a live child. Likewise, exposure of mice to relatively low concentrations of MIC (9 and 15 ppm) for 3 hr caused complete resorption in more than 75% of animals. A decrease in fetal and placental weights was observed at 2 to 15 ppm MIC. In general, the experimental findings in mice corroborate the epidemiological data from Bhopal. The mechanism of the fetal toxicity of MIC remains to e established.

• Research Organization: McGill Univ., Montreal, Quebec
• OSTI ID: 5898250
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Vol. 72
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ISOCYANATES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
PRENATAL EXPOSURE
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
EPIDEMIOLOGY
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INDIA
MICE
MORTALITY
PREGNANCY
ANIMALS
ASIA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
MAMMALS
POPULATIONS
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology