Living and Dying in a Chlordane-Contaminated Home in the Covid-19 Era

Living in the Covid-19 era is stressful. Now that we have doubled the time in our homes, our exposure to chemicals in the air of toxic homes maybe affecting our health in a variety of ways. Chlordane and heptachlor found in the air of an estimated 30 million homes in the United States are known to cause upper respiratory affects (bronchitis, sinusitis, and asthma) at relatively low levels and anxiety at moderate indoor air levels, and depression at higher levels.  Even though these organochlorine insecticides were banned in United States in 1988, current levels in homes can range from Minimal Risk Level (MRL) (20 nanograms/cubic meter) to 200 times this levels) www.toxfree.net.

The range of symptoms and disease outcomes is unique for the Covid-19 infection from asymptomatic to death.  The death rate for Covid-19 parallels that of severe trauma with women having better outcomes than men and both sexes dying at an increased rate with age. Sex steroids in particular and steroids in general decrease with age. Sex steroids (estrogen and progesterone) reduce nitic oxide production by Isolated human white blood cells activated with an inflammatory cytokine mixture (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and interferon gamma) (1). These inflammatory cytokines have been reported to be at high levels in Covid-19 patients (2).  Nitric oxide is a lipophilic oxidant able to transverse cell membranes and damage surrounding cells (3). This pulmonary damage is observed in Covid-19 patients during the Cytokine Storm.

Heptachlor, at levels found in human serum, has been shown to bind to the estrogen receptor on isolated human white blood cells and induce the production of nitric oxide. If TNFα, at concentrations found in inflammation, is added with heptachlor- treated white blood cells, nitric oxide production dramatically increases (3).

Chemicals that have pro-oxidant effects or interfere with the dampening effects of steroids on the immune system would lead to an over activation of the immune response to Covid-19, resulting in the Cytokine Storm and consequently to a higher death rate.  Burn patients with higher levels of chlordane and heptachlor in their blood were shown to die at a significantly higher rate compared aged-, sex-, and degree of burn patients with lower levels of chlordane and heptachlor (4).

References:

1. Cassidy, Richard A., 2003. Influence of Steroids on Oxidant Generation in Activated Human Granulocytes and Mononuclear Leukocytes. Shock 20:85-90.

2. Jamilloux, Y. et al., 2020. Should We Stimulate or Suppress Immune Response in Covid-19?  Cytokine and Anti-cytokine Interventions.  Autoimmunity Reviews. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2020.102567.

3. Cassidy, Richard A. et al., 2005. The Link Between the Insecticide Heptachlor Epoxide, Estradiol, and Breast Cancer. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. 90:55-64.

4. Cassidy, Richard A. et al., 2003. Xenoestrogens: Do They Lower Survival after Thermal Injury? Archives of Environmental Health. 58:597-604.