Medical Panel's Recommendations To Persons Exposed To Certain Aerosol Spray Adhesives

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 1973
Release # 73-016

CPSC Releases Medical Panel's Recommendations To Persons Exposed To Certain Aerosol Spray Adhesives

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 27)--The Consumer Product Safety Commission today released information developed by a panel of medical experts to help persons exposed to aerosol spray adhesives in dealing with possible after effects.

The Commission, last week, banned the production, distribution, and sale of three brands of the spray adhesives which have been possibly linked to multiple birth defects by Dr. J. Rodman Seely, a researcher at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center at Oklahoma City.

Commission Chairman Richard 0. Simpson said that although much research remains to be done, individuals who have come into contact with the sprays must be aware of possible serious consequences related to use of the products.

Dr. Seely, who is Director of the Clinical Research Center, Children's Memorial Hospital, in Oklahoma City, has discovered possible links between use of the spray adhesives and chromosomal breaks and gaps in two severely deformed Oklahoma City infants, their parents, and four other individuals in the area.

The panel's information outlines possible action that adults of child-bearing age, who have been exposed to the aerosol sprays, should be aware of in assessing their situations.

Concerned individuals should consider consulting their physician and/or a genetic counseling center in their area. The panel developed the following recommendations for three possibly affected groups:

adults who have been exposed to the sprays
families that are now in either early or late stages of pregnancy, and have had one or both parents exposed
children

1. Adults, who are concerned because of past and/or current exposure:

Until further information is available, they should consider delaying pregnancies.
Chromosome analysis is not generally available, and it is not a practical consideration for all concerned individuals at this time. However, if analysis is done, the individual performing the test should be aware of the nature of the suspected chromosome damage since this is not a part of routine analysis.

2. Couples, in which one or both have been exposed, and the wife is pregnant:

The risk for the infant is not known.
Concern may be increased if both parents have been exposed.
While chromosome analysis on the parents will not give a definite answer about the baby, there would be less concern if the results showed no evidence of chromosome damage than if they did show chromosome damage.
Intrauterine chromosome analysis of the unborn infant would not provide a definitive answer. Moreover, most centers are not equipped to do more than just a few of these. However, useable information to advance understanding of the problem could come from such studies.
There is certainly a good chance of having a normal, healthy baby. We already know that in many circumstances of this type a normal, healthy baby has resulted.

3. Exposed Children

There is no immediate reason for concern and further studies hopefully will clarify that situation. No action is recommended.