Musculoskeletal system mixtures

Only a very few studies have documented the toxic effects of chemical mixtures on the musculoskeletal system. Almost all of these studies address the effects of tobacco smoking and organic solvent exposure. The following studies are illustrative of those reported. 

Xenobiotic exposure can adversely affect bones, joints, connective tissue, and muscles. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, systemic sclerosis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, and spina bifida are musculoskeletal diseases that have been associated with toxic chemical exposures. Most of these associations, however, have been made to single chemical exposures and not to mixtures. This chapter cites the evidence on which those associations are based and discusses the available examples of mixtures that have been implicated. 

It was found that all bodily systems are affected by some lipophile/hydrophile mixtnres. These include the reproductive (infertility), nervous, digestive, skin, musculoskeletal, filtering organ, digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, immunological, and endocrine systems. A developing fetus or young child (with an incompletely developed immune system) is particularly vulnerable to attack by chemical mixtures. 

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