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Chemical Mixtures

WHEN CHEMICALS ARE ASSESSED FOR TOXICITY, THEY’RE OFTEN ANALYZED IN ISOLATION.  BUT IN REAL LIFE, WE’RE EXPOSED TO A MIXTURE THAT CAN PRODUCE UNEXPECTED EFFECTS.  LEARN MORE ON THIS ENVIRONMINUTE.

STIERUM: CHEMICALS MAY ACT COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT FROM ONE ANOTHER, BUT THEY MAY ALSO AFFECT ONE ANOTHER’S TOXICITY.

THAT’S ROB STIERUM OF THE NETHERLANDS ORGANIZATION FOR APPLIED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.  HE USED TOXICOGENOMICS, THE STUDY OF HOW CHEMICALS AFFECT THE ACTIVITY OF GENETIC MATERIAL, TO LOOK AT THE COMBINED EFFECT OF BENZENE, TRICHLOROETHYLENE, AND METHYLMERCURY. 

WHAT HE FOUND WAS THAT THE MIXTURE PRODUCED SOME GENE EXPRESSION CHANGES THAT THE CONTAMINANTS ALONE DID NOT.

THIS SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF LOOKING AT MIXTURES WHEN EVALUATING CHEMICALS FOR RISK.  BUT GENE EXPRESSION CHANGES DO NOT ALWAYS CAUSE ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS, SO STIERUM SAYS PATHOLOGICAL STUDIES ARE ALSO NEEDED.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Read more from the Netherlands Toxicogenomics Center.

Learn more about the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry’s Chemical Mixtures Program.