Summary
Hot spots of pollution have shown that dioxins can cause congenital malformations, prematurity and intra-uterine growth retardation. In regions with background concentrations, like in Europe, there has generally been no indication of an increase in congenital malformations in relation to dioxins.
Specific types of malformations, such as cleft lip and palate, were found to be associated with exposure to a mixture of chemicals in clouds formed by open burning of chemical waste in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. While such defects have been seen in rodents, occurrence in humans had previously not been documented. In a similar fashion, renal abnormalities like agenesis and dysgenesis were found in Chapaevsk, also previously only noted in animal experiments (See sections on Amsterdam Diemerzeedijk and Chapaevsk).
The finding in Chapaevsk of a high incidence of congenital hydrocephaly without spina bifida 4/1,000 births is remarkable. Congenital hydrocephaly is a rare condition, in general 2.0-3.9/10,000 births (Abbott, 1995). However, this specific malformation is also found in the offspring of mothers with type 1 diabetes. Abnormal glycosylation is assumed to play a role and cause congenital malformations as expressed in an increased level of Hemoglobin A 1c (glycosylated hemoglobin) in mothers with type I diabetes.
We suggest that in both situations (Chapaevsk and pregnant women with type 1 diabetes) the same metabolic mechanism might be the cause of malformations.
Animal experiments have shown that dioxins can deplete vitamin A stores in the liver. In other animal experiments, vitamin A can counteract negative effects of PAHs, including dioxins. This vitamin is necessary for glycosylation. And the vitamin might be important as a prevention, the more so because recent research in the Netherlands revealed a 48% deficiency of this vitamin in the diet of women trying to fall pregnant. In general, more attention to keeping a balanced vitamin Astatus in general, and in women with type 1 diabetes especially, is recommended.
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Koppe, J., Leijs, M., Tusscher, G.T., Boer, P. (2007). Dioxins and Congenital Malformations. In: Nicolopoulou-Stamati, P., Hens, L., Howard, C. (eds) Congenital Diseases and the Environment. Environmental Science and Technology Library, vol 23. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4831-9_6
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