PESTICIDE-INDUCED IMMUNOTOXICITY - ARE GREAT-LAKES RESIDENTS AT RISK

Several organophosphate and organochlorine compounds, including pestic ides commonly found in the Great Lakes basin, have the potential to in duce immunotoxicity. Because of biomagnification and accumulation in t he food chain, Great Lakes residents may inadvertently be exposed to t hese compounds and thus face increased risk of immune dysfunction. In spite of the laboratory animal data and evidence from occupational exp osures that suggest immunotoxicity, there is no definitive evidence as yet that environmental exposure to these xenobiotics poses a signific ant threat to the human immune system that is sufficient to predispose residents of the Great Lakes basin to increased disease. However, unc ertainties with regard to exposure levels, predictability of tests, su itability of the animal models, and immune reserve cannot be ruled out when making risk assessment decisions such as this.