Abstract
Since 1972, the use and production of PCB in Japan has been abandoned. However, PCB is still making a widespread contamination in environment as this compound is extremely stable and has a strong resistance to degradation. For an example, recent survey studies revealed that average PCB concentration in fat tissue of inhabitants in Kyoto City is about 4.7 ppm (MIZUTANI et al, 1972) and that in blood among the normal people in western Japan it is about 3.1 ppb (ABE et al, 1974). Regarding the injurious effects of this compound, an outbreak of PCB poisoning due to a chronic ingestion of rice oil that had been contaminated with PCB was brought to the public attention (Yusho) in 1968. Among the various symptoms in these patients, itwas clarified at autopsy that there was an accumulation of calcium in the heart and kidneys (KIKUCHI and MASUDA, 1973). This fact suggested that PCB has a some effect on calcium metabolism. However, little information is available concerning the relationship between PCB poisoning and mineral metabolisms. The present study was undertaken to determinethe effect of PCB on mineral levels in rats.
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