More on the PPD rant

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Posted by Graham on August 25, 2000 at 00:08:18:

Hi Catherine,

Excellent job on the PPD info -- informative, thorough and easy to read!

I have one FYI and one question about some things mentioned:

The FYI (for those wondering, as I was...):

What is methemoglobin, which PPD can cause your body to produce?

Well, hemoglobin is the oxygen-binding protein found in red blood cells. The iron contained in hemoglobin TEMPORARILY binds to the oxygen in your lungs and transports it to the cells, where the oxygen is released for metabolic use.

In methemoglobin, the iron has become permanently oxidized. Another name for oxidized iron is -- you know it, we love it -- RUST!!! Users of PPD have rusty blood :-(

Methemoglobin is permanently incapable of binding to the oxygen in the lungs. It is absolutely useless. This means that users of PPD risk not only liver and kidney damage and asthma, but also anemia.

The lifespan of a red blood cell is only ~120 days. I don't know what this means for PPD users. If the damage is being caused to the bone marrow, where blood cells are made, they might continue to produce rusty RBCs. My guess, though, is that the damage to the blood is temporary, caused when the PPD enters the bloodstream and binds permanently to the hemoglobin.

For "black henna" artists who are constantly exposing themselves to PPD, I'd imagine that the risk for chronic anemia is quite high. They can eat more spinach than Popeye and not do themselves any good, since they're double dosing themselves through their lungs and their skin. As for the poor people receiving "black henna" tattoos, I'd think that their blood would recover in a couple of months, as the methemoglobin-laden RBCs are replaced by normal, healthy cells.

Does anyone know for sure? (Okay, I guess I have two questions)

So here's the other question I wanted to ask:

You mention the mutagenic effects of PPD, saying that it can cause birth defects. Is this documented somewhere?

I'm asking because there are plenty of mutagens, ultraviolet light being an obvious example, that are not harmful to fetuses. A mutagen is any agent which causes genetic mutations. Some mutagens do cause birth defects, but these are generally classified as teratogens (literally "monster makers" from the Greek "teras" = monster and "genes" = born...for those interested in etymology).

So I'm wondering if PPD can cross the placenta and/or even mutate a woman's (or girl's!) oocytes, wreaking future havoc that she doesn't even know about, like DES did before it was banned.

Whew! I just reread my post and it's so long! I didn't mean to go on and on... I'm just a science nerd :-)

~Graham

Follow Ups:

Re: More on the PPD rant Catherine Cartwright Jones 09:24:17 8/25/00 (4)
- One more thing Graham 12:41:14 8/25/00 (1)
  - Re: One more thing Catherine Cartwright Jones 14:04:26 8/25/00 (0)
- Re: More on the PPD rant Graham 12:36:16 8/25/00 (1)
  - Re: More on the PPD rant Catherine Cartwright Jones 14:17:37 8/25/00 (0)

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: Hi Catherine, : Excellent job on the PPD info -- informative, thorough and easy to read! : I have one FYI and one question about some things mentioned: : The FYI (for those wondering, as I was...): : What is methemoglobin, which PPD can cause your body to produce? : Well, hemoglobin is the oxygen-binding protein found in red blood cells. The iron contained in hemoglobin TEMPORARILY binds to the oxygen in your lungs and transports it to the cells, where the oxygen is released for metabolic use. : In methemoglobin, the iron has become permanently oxidized. Another name for oxidized iron is -- you know it, we love it -- RUST!!! Users of PPD have rusty blood :-( : Methemoglobin is permanently incapable of binding to the oxygen in the lungs. It is absolutely useless. This means that users of PPD risk not only liver and kidney damage and asthma, but also anemia. : The lifespan of a red blood cell is only ~120 days. I don't know what this means for PPD users. If the damage is being caused to the bone marrow, where blood cells are made, they might continue to produce rusty RBCs. My guess, though, is that the damage to the blood is temporary, caused when the PPD enters the bloodstream and binds permanently to the hemoglobin. : For "black henna" artists who are constantly exposing themselves to PPD, I'd imagine that the risk for chronic anemia is quite high. They can eat more spinach than Popeye and not do themselves any good, since they're double dosing themselves through their lungs and their skin. As for the poor people receiving "black henna" tattoos, I'd think that their blood would recover in a couple of months, as the methemoglobin-laden RBCs are replaced by normal, healthy cells. : Does anyone know for sure? (Okay, I guess I have two questions) : So here's the other question I wanted to ask: : You mention the mutagenic effects of PPD, saying that it can cause birth defects. Is this documented somewhere? : I'm asking because there are plenty of mutagens, ultraviolet light being an obvious example, that are not harmful to fetuses. A mutagen is any agent which causes genetic mutations. Some mutagens do cause birth defects, but these are generally classified as teratogens (literally "monster makers" from the Greek "teras" = monster and "genes" = born...for those interested in etymology). : So I'm wondering if PPD can cross the placenta and/or even mutate a woman's (or girl's!) oocytes, wreaking future havoc that she doesn't even know about, like DES did before it was banned. : Whew! I just reread my post and it's so long! I didn't mean to go on and on... I'm just a science nerd :-) : ~Graham

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