Review of evidence for a toxicological mechanism of idiopathic environmental intolerance.

Idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI) is a medically unexplained disorder characterised by a wide variety of unspecific symptoms in different organ systems and attributed to nontoxic concentrations of chemicals and other environmental factors that are tolerated by the majority of individuals. Both exposure to chemicals and behavioural conditioning are considered as possible contributors to the development of IEI. However, owing to the heterogeneity of the condition, it is difficult to separate the toxicological, physiological and psychological aspects of IEI.

Factors affecting the incidence of genotoxicity biomarkers in peripheral blood lymphocytes: impact on design of biomonitoring studies.

A review of risk factors affecting background rates of micronuclei and chromosomal aberration (CA) formation in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) was undertaken with a view to aiding the interpretation of genotoxicity biomonitoring studies. Both endogenous factors and those due to methodological variation were evaluated. Background variation of other indices of genotoxicity in PBLs (specifically 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine and comet assays) were also considered as these data likely reflect overlapping causes of DNA damage and may provide some indicators for future research areas.

Hospital admission for accidental pesticide poisoning among adults of working age in England, 1998-2003.

Aims: To explore the circumstances associated with hospital admission of adults of working age for accidental pesticide poisoning in England.

Methods: From Hospital Episode Statistics we identified all adults aged 16-69 years who completed hospital admissions nationally for accidental pesticide poisoning during April 1998 to March 2003. Further information was obtained through a postal questionnaire completed by the treating consultant.

Evidence for genotoxicity of pesticides in pesticide applicators: a review.

A systematic review of the literature has been conducted and studies reporting investigations of genotoxicity biomarkers in pesticide workers have been assessed with view to establishing whether there was evidence for any risk to those using pesticides approved in the United Kingdom. Each of the studies was evaluated using a set of criteria drawn up by members of the UK Committee of Mutagenicity based upon the guidelines proposed by the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) working group [R. J.