Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls Levels Research Articles

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman: baseline report on occurrence, distribution, and ecological risk assessment.

In the present study, 18 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compounds were measured in marine sediments collected from 49 offshore stations in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in 2019. After the last oceanographic cruise in 2006, no study has been performed on the offshore sediments of this region, and this is the first study on the PCBs in this area. The total amount of PCB compounds in the sediment samples ranged from 74.38ngkg-1 (near Abu Musa Island) to 1212.98ngkg-1 (near Siri and Kish Island). The maximum and minimum values of the individual detected PCB compounds were 175.88ngkg-1 (PCB52) and 2.09ngkg-1 (PCB156), respectively. The levels of total PCBs detected in sediments were lower than the Canadian interim sediment quality guideline value of 21500ngkg-1 for marine sediments. The sedimentary mass inventories for Σ18PCBs were 0.6 and 0.2 mt for the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, respectively.

Serum levels of polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in early pregnancy and their associations with gestational diabetes mellitus

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) are extensively present in humans and may disturb glucose metabolism during pregnancy. However, previous reports on the associations between PCBs/PBDEs levels and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have been inconsistent. We performed a nested case-control study to measure the serum levels of 6 PCB and 7 PBDE congeners in early pregnancy, and to assess their associations with GDM risk and blood glucose levels. Totally, 208 serum samples (104 GDM cases and 104 controls) were included based on a prospective cohort which was carried out in Jiangsu province, China, from 2020 to 2022. The results showed that PCB-153 was the major PCB congener, whereas PBDE-47 was the predominant PBDE congener. The continuous concentrations of PCB-153, PBDE-28, and total PCB were significantly related to an increased risk of GDM, with adjusted ORs (95%CI) of 1.25 (1.04–1.50), 1.19 (1.02–1.39), and 1.37 (1.05–1.79), respectively. Potential dose-response relationships were also observed between serum levels of PCB-153 (P = 0.011), PBDE-28 (P = 0.028), total PCB (P = 0.048), and total PCB/PBDE (P = 0.010) and GDM risk. Moreover, PCB-153, PBDE-28 and total PCB levels were positively related to 1-h OGTT blood glucose (adjusted βPCB-153: 0.14, 95%CI: 0.00–0.28; adjusted βPBDE-28: 0.20, 95%CI: 0.08–0.32; adjusted βtotal PCB: 0.30, 95%CI: 0.09–0.50), whereas none of the PCBs/PBDEs were statistically related to fasting blood glucose and 2-h OGTT blood glucose (all P > 0.05). Further meta-analysis also supported the association of PCBs exposure with GDM risk. Our study provides further evidence that PCBs/PBDEs exposure may increase GDM risk during pregnancy.

Temporal Variations of PCBs and Their Estimated Air-Soil Exchange Fluxes Measured in Seven Sites in Bursa-Turkey

ABSTRACT Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can travel in ambient air for long distances and exchange between different environments. Soil and ambient air samples were simultaneously gathered during the winter and summer months in 7 regions in Bursa, Turkey, to study spatio-temporal fluctuations and soil-air exchange of PCBs. Σ25 PCB concentrations for the winter and summer seasons were 0.007–0.04 ng/m3 and 0.03–0.24 ng/m3 in air, also 4.09–10.00 ng/g DM and 1.65–10.01 ng/g DM in soil, respectively. PCB concentrations showed spatial variations in air and soil samples. The lowest total PCB levels were measured both in air and soil samples in the R (rural) site. The highest Σ25 PCB concentrations were measured in the SR3 site in soil samples, while the I1 site was the most polluted in air samples. Ambient air concentrations of PCBs in the summer months were greater than those in winter. In SR1, SR2, SR3, and I1 sites, soil PCB levels in the summer were higher than in the winter. The opposite was observed in the other sites (R, U, I2). Net flux values and fugacity fraction (ff) values for all regions indicated that PCBs represented a transfer from soil to air. The air-soil net gas phase flux values changed between 0.04 - 1.01 ng/m2-day and 0.02–0.83 ng/m2-day in the summer and winter, respectively. The PCB homologous distributions of mean flux values differed depending on the regions and seasons. PCBs with 4- and 5-CBs were dominant in both seasons.

Health risk assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in baby clothes. A preliminary study

Clothes may contain a large range of chemical additives and other toxic substances, which may eventually pose a significant risk to human health. Since they are associated with pigments, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may be especially relevant. On the other hand, infants are very sensitive to chemical exposure and they may wear some contact and colored textiles for a prolonged time. Consequently, a specific human health risk assessment is required. This preliminary study was aimed at analyzing the concentrations of PCBs in ten bodysuits purchased in on-line stores and local retailers. The concentrations of 12 dioxin-like and 8 non-dioxin-like PCB congeners were determined by gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry, with detection limits ranging between 0.01 and 0.13 pg/g. The dermal absorption to PCBs of children at different ages (6 months, 1 year and 3 years old) was estimated, and the non-cancer and cancer risks were evaluated. Total levels of PCBs ranged from 74.2 to 412 pg/g, with a mean TEQ concentration of 13.4 pg WHO-TEQ/kg. Bodysuits made of organic cotton presented a total mean PCB concentration substantially lower than clothes made of regular cotton (11.0 vs. 15.8 pg WHO-TEQ/kg). The dermal absorption to PCBs for infants was calculated in around 3·10−5 pg WHO-TEQ/kg·day, regardless the age. This value is > 10,000-fold lower than the dietary intake of PCBs, either through breastfeeding or food consumption. Furthermore, this exposure value would not pose any health risks for the infants wearing those bodysuits. Anyhow, as it is a very preliminary study, this should be confirmed by analyzing larger sets of textile samples. Further investigations should be also focused on the co-occurrence of PCBs and other toxic chemicals (i.e., formaldehyde, bisphenols and aromatic amines) in infant clothes.

Occurrence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the sea anemone Bunodosoma zamponii, sediments and seawater from the southwestern Atlantic.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent and bioaccumulable organic compounds. The occurrence of PCBs was assessed in two populations of the intertidal sea anemone Bunodosoma zamponii living under different anthropogenic strains. One location was in vicinity to a wastewater plant (Las Delicias, LD), and the other was a preserved location chosen as a reference site (Punta Cantera, PC). Anemone populations were sampled 4 times (spring, summer, autumn and winter) throughout a year, in addition to seawater and sediment from those areas. PCB loadings ranged from 2.89 to 79.41 ng L-1 in seawatersamples and from 0.07 to 6.61 ng g-1 dry weight in sedimentsamples. Total PCB levels ranged from 0.22 to 14.94 and 2.79 to 24.69 ng g-1 wet weight in anemonesfrom PC and LD, respectively. PCBs concentrations in anemonesfrom LD were significantly greater than PC during spring, summer and winter. The congeners 18 and 44 prevailed in seawatersamples, 44 and 52 in sedimentand 18 and 132+153 in anemones. Redundancy analysis integrated PCB levels from all matrixes and bolstered contrast between sampling sites. Seasonality was also a relevant factor since during winter PCB loading was greater in sedimentand anemone samples, coincident with the rainiest season. Disparity between sites could be due to LD's proximity to the wastewater plant, effect of littoral drift direction and/or asymmetries in anemonesphysiological condition.

Association between Total and Individual PCB Congener Levels in Maternal Serum and Birth Weight of Newborns: Results from the Chiba Study of Mother and Child Health Using Weighted Quantile Sum Regression.

Maternal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during pregnancy is associated with a low birth weight; however, the congener-specific effects of PCB congeners are not well defined. In this study, we used maternal serum samples from the Chiba Study of Mother and Child Health (C-MACH) cohort, collected at 32 weeks of gestational age, to analyze the effects of PCB congener exposure on birth weight by examining the relationship between newborn birth weight and individual PCB congener levels in maternal serum (n = 291). The median total PCB level in the serum of mothers of male and female newborns at approximately 32 weeks of gestation was 39 and 37 ng g−1 lipid wt, respectively. The effect of the total PCB levels and the effects of PCB congener mixtures were analyzed using a linear regression model and a generalized weighted quantile sum regression model (gWQS). The birth weight of newborns was significantly associated with maternal exposure to PCB mixtures in the gWQS model. The results suggest that exposure to PCB mixtures results in low newborn birth weight. However, specific impacts of individual PCB congeners could not be related to newborn birth weight.

Pollution Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in E-waste Disposal Residue-Soil-Vegetable

To study the characteristics of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in waste residue-soil-vegetable in an e-waste dismantling area and the potential health risks to humans, three samples of e-waste residue were collected, and 10 and 18 samples were taken from farmland soil and vegetables (six lettuce, six green bean, and six cabbage samples), respectively, next to the waste residue. High-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to detect the content of PCBs in waste residue, soil, and vegetables. The results showed that the total PCBs levels were as follows:waste residue (11938 ng·g-1, dw) > soil (45.54 ng·g-1, dw) > vegetables (11.51 ng·g-1, dw). The bio-sediment/soil enrichment factor values were as follows:lettuce samples (0.18) > green bean samples (0.05) > cabbage samples (0.01). There were 37 PCB identical homologues detected in the waste residue and soil, and 33 types were detected in vegetables, all of which were within the homologues detected in the waste residue and soil. Some homologues in the soil were correlated with cabbages (P<0.05). The column chart of PCB chlorination number in waste residues, soil, and vegetables showed that low-chlorinated biphenyls from trichlorobiphenyl to pentachlorobiphenyl mass fraction accounted for the largest proportion, accounting for 77.92%, 59.73%, and 73.96%, respectively. The proportion in the soil was relatively low, with the overall proportion showing a downward trend with increasing rate of chlorine generation. The results of the health risk assessment showed that the total HQ of PCBs in the soil and vegetables exposed to adults (male/female) and children was less than 1, which was at an acceptable level. The total CR of PCBs in the soil and vegetables exposed to adults (male/female) and children all exceeded 1×10-6, which is at an unacceptable level, and the values for adults (male/female) were higher than those for children.

Dietary Acid Load, Serum Polychlorinated Biphenyl Levels, and Mortality Following Breast Cancer in the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project.

Dietary acid load (DAL) may be associated with all-cause mortality (ACM) and breast cancer-specific mortality (BCM), and these associations may be modified by serum polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels. Participants included 519 women diagnosed with first primary in situ or invasive breast cancer in 1996/1997 with available lipid-corrected PCB data. After a median of 17 years, there were 217 deaths (73 BCM). Potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) scores calculated from a baseline food frequency questionnaire estimated DAL. Cox regression estimated covariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between PRAL and NEAP with mortality. We evaluated effect measure modification by total serum PCB levels (>median vs. ≤median). PRAL quartile 4 versus quartile 1 was associated with an ACM HR of 1.31 (95%CI = 0.90–1.92). In the upper median of PCBs, ACM HRs were 1.43 (95%CI = 0.96–2.11) and 1.40 (95%CI = 0.94–2.07) for PRAL and NEAP upper medians, respectively. In the lower median of PCBs, the upper median of NEAP was inversely associated with BCM (HR = 0.40, 95%CI = 0.19–0.85). DAL may be associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality following breast cancer among women with high total serum PCB levels, but inversely associated with breast cancer mortality among women with low PCB levels.

Comparison of the PCB serum levels among mother-child pairs in areas of Eastern Japan and Central Taiwan

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been prohibited for two decades in Japan and Taiwan. The aim of this study was to compare the PCB congeners in maternal and cord serum between two countries. Our study subjects were 248 and 100 mother-child pairs in Japan and Taiwan. The measured levels of 23 serum PCB congeners between two countries were analyzed using gas chromatography–electron capture negative ionization quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-NICI-qMS). The statistical comparisons were conducted by Student's t-test and principal component analysis with further stratification by maternal age and parity. The maternal total PCBs levels in Japan (426 ± 244 pg/g wet wt) were significantly higher than those in Taiwan (254 ± 155 pg/g wet wt), and the similar results were found in cord total PCBs levels (97 ± 76 and 58 ± 87 pg/g wet wt). It showed different distributions of PCB congeners between two countries. Whether in maternal or cord serum, the CB138, CB153 and CB180 were the highest detectable congeners whether in Japan or Taiwan. And, the CB66, CB99, CB206 and CB209 were only detected in maternal serum of Taiwan. The women of advanced maternal age had higher levels of PCB congeners, especially in Taiwan, and the primiparous women had higher levels of PCB congeners in two countries. In summary, the PCB congeners in Japan's mother-child pairs were with higher levels and different distributions when compared to those in Taiwan, and the maternal age and parity were important factors associated with the PCB levels.

Histopathological alterations induced by marine environmental pollutants on the bivalve Cerastoderma glaucum (Bruguière 1789) from Temsah Lake, Suez Canal, Egypt.

Bivalves are considered a main consumed matrix for coastal communities worldwide and classified as hyperaccumulators of pollutants. The present study aims to determine some micro-organisms, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and okadaic acid (OA) levels in Cerastoderma glaucum collected from Temsah Lake, Egypt, and their induction through histopathological damage and caspase-3 protein expression. During the autumn, it was found different types of biological and chemical pollutants, especially benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) that accumulated in C. glaucum soft tissues and exceeded the safety limit for shellfish consumption. Dioxin-like PCB3 was predominant in C. glaucum soft tissues during autumn, but the total levels of PCBs in these tissues have not exceeded the permissible limit. Chlorophyll-a (Chl. a), nutrient concentrations, and Prorocentrum lima dinoflagellates in the water significantly increased during autumn. High P. lima abundance was confirmed by high OA in the soft tissues during this season compared to the other seasons. The measured contaminants may render C. glaucum more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections. The autumn season showed a significant increase in the colony-forming units (CFU). C. glaucum showed calcification abnormalities and adhering of abnormal brown organic material to the inner surface of the shell valves, which was related to poor water conditions and Vibrio infection. Damages or injuries on gills and digestive gland tissues indicated an impact of the pollutants on C. glaucum. Also, high expressions of caspase-3 were recorded in these tissues during all the seasons. So, C. glaucum cockles, collected from Temsah Lake, may induce serious diseases to consumers, especially when eaten raw or insufficient cooking.

Multiple persistent organic pollutants in mothers' breastmilk: Implications for infant dietary exposure and maternal thyroid hormone homeostasis in Uganda, East Africa

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are ubiquitous contaminants with adverse health effects in the ecosystem. One of such effects is endocrine disruption in humans and wildlife even at background exposure concentrations. This study assessed maternal breastmilk concentrations of POPs; brominated flame retardants (BFRs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs), and the potential health risks posed to the nursing infants. We also evaluated the association of these POPs with total 3,3′,5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), L-thyroxine (T4), and 3,3′,5′-triiodo-L-thyronine (rT3) levels measured in human breast milk. Thirty breastmilk samples were collected from Kampala, Uganda between August and December 2018. Hexabromobenzene was not detected while the maximum level of 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexabrombiphenyl was 64.7 pg/g lw. The median levels of total indicator PCBs, PBDEs, dioxin-like PCBs, and PCDD/Fs in the samples were 159 pg/g lw, 511 pg/g lw, 1.16 pg TEQ/g lw, and 0.4 pg TEQ/g lw, respectively. These levels were lower than those reported in other countries. Owing to their bio accumulative nature, PCBs −81, −169, and ∑PCDD/Fs increased with increase in maternal age. Estimated dietary intakes for dioxin-like PCBs and PCDD/Fs were lower than those reported elsewhere but were higher than the WHO tolerable daily intakes suggesting potential health risks to nursing infants. In adjusted single pollutant models, PCB-126, PCB-169, and ∑PCBTEQ were negatively associated with T3, while 1,2,3,4,5,7,8-HpCDF was positively associated with rT3. Although these associations did not persist in multipollutant models, our findings suggest potential thyroid hormone disruption by POPs in mothers. This may reduce the levels of thyroid hormones transferred from the mother to the neonates and, hence, adversely influence infant growth. A temporal study with a bigger sample size is required to corroborate these findings.

Concentrations and regularities of disperse-phase distribution of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in natural water

&lt;div&gt;&lt;p&gt;This article presents the monitoring results of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface water of the Dnieper River for the period 2011–2019. Total levels of OCPs, PCBs and PAHs consist of 1,4–17,1; 2,8–57,2; and 7,5–378,6 ng/L, respectively. A significant increase in pollution levels was not identified. Research results of the disperse-phase distribution of these substances in water were also provided. Less than half of the total contents of pollutants were in the water phase. Average water-soluble parts of OCPs, PCBs, and PAHs accounted for 32, 42, and 44 %, respectively. It was shown that water-soluble parts of individual pollutants decrease with the increase in &lt;span style="text-decoration: line-through;"&gt;the&lt;/span&gt; coefficients of hydrophobicity of compounds. The clearest reliable, relevant correlation between water-soluble parts of individual congeners and coefficients of hydrophobicity was obtained for PCBs.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p align="center"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Validation of proximity-based estimates of residential exposure to emissions of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in the U.S.

Background: Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants emitted from industrial sources. The relationship between proximity to emissions from these sources and personal exposure is poorly understood.Methods: We linked geocoded residential addresses and serum measurements of PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs, and their derived TEQ (toxic equivalency quotient) for 5,725 participants in the 1999-2004 U.S. National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency database of 4,478 historical emission sources of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds (e.g., coal-fired power plants, solid waste incinerators). We calculated continuous and categorical (3, 5, 10km) exposure metrics reflecting distance to the nearest facility and estimated intensity of exposure with a distance- and toxicity-weighted average emissions index (AEI [ng TEQ/km2]). We used linear regression models to evaluate associations between proximity metrics and log-transformed sums of serum PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs, and TEQ and used logistic regression to determine the extent these metrics predicted high (top quartile) serum levels.Results: Overall, 16%, 30%, and 53% of participants lived within 3, 5, or 10km of one or more facility, respectively. No consistent associations were observed between serum levels and simple proximity metrics reflecting distance to nearest facility. Mean serum concentrations of total PCDDs/PCDFs/PCBs and total TEQ were highest among participants in the top AEI5k quartile; an increasing trend was statistically significant only for PCBs (p&lt;0.01). In adjusted models, participants in the highest AEI5k quartile had increased odds of having high levels of total PCBs (OR=1.8; 95%CI:1.3-2.5) and TEQ (OR=1.6; 95%CI:1.0-2.5) compared to those with no facilities within 5km.Conclusion: In this nationally representative population, we demonstrated that residential proximity to emissions was positively associated with serum total PCBs and TEQ. Findings from this effort support the use of distance- and emissions-based exposure proxies to estimate personal exposure.

Concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls in serum from New Jersey biomonitoring study: 2016–2018

The first statewide New Jersey Biomonitoring (NJBM) of serum polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was conducted from 2016 to 2018. Forty ortho-substituted PCBs were measured in serum samples collected from 920 NJ residents in compliance with the CDC method. The lipid adjusted geometric mean (GM) of ∑40PCB concentration for all the 920 measured subjects was 65.5 ng/g lipid (95% CIs: 56.9–75.4 ng/g lipid). Age stratified serum concentration showed that the lowest GM (33.3 ng/g lipid) was observed in the 20–39 years age group (n = 282), followed by a concentration of 76.05 ng/g lipid (n = 382) in the 40–59 years age group, and the highest GM (168.4 ng/g lipid) was found in the 60–74 years age group (n = 256). A survey regression model revealed that ∑40PCBs was significantly associated with age, moderately associated with geographic region, and not significantly associated with sex. The comparison of serum PCB levels in NJBM with the sequential National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data suggested that the serum PCBs in NJ adults declined 52–59% at all age groups over the last decade. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) suggests that ongoing and recent exposure to lower molecular weight PCBs contributes about 15% to total serum PCB levels and more in younger subjects, while higher molecular weight PCBs contribute 52% of the total serum PCB levels and more in older subjects.

Case study: Electrochemical Geo-Oxidation (ECGO) treatment of Massachusetts New Bedford Harbor sediment PCBs

An electrochemical remediation technology, referred to as Electrochemical Geo-Oxidation (ECGO) was tested in field to assess its potential to treat polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contaminated sediments from New Bedford Harbor (NBH), Massachusetts. The primary objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of ECGO for reducing PCB levels under the anaerobic conditions typical of saturated and submerged sediments. The ECGO treatment of aerated and un-aerated (anaerobic) samples of the NBH sediments began on November, 2003 and lasted over four-years until early July, 2008. During 2003–2006 seven sampling events occurred, and the last sampling was done on March, 2010, about 20 months after the treatment power was turned off on July 12, 2008. Full PCB congener analyses (EPA 22 1668A) and partial PCB scans (EPA Method 8082) were performed on samples collected from the ECGO test cells and the control cell. At the end of the first 30-month period, the sample analyses indicated about 30% reduction in total PCB levels in un-aerated ECGO test cell compared to the control. The eighth and final sampling in March 2010 showed that total PCBs had been greatly reduced in the un-aerated test cell, from about 40,000 μg/kg (ppb) to 200 μg/kg (ppb). Conversely, PCB levels in sediments contained in the aerated ECGO test cell remained relatively unchanged compared to the pre-test level and control. This represented a greater than 90% reduction in total PCBs relative to the 2003 starting levels and the control sample average. The final results indicated that ECGO was effective at degrading PCBs in a reducing environment.

Examining Reproductive Health Outcomes in Females Exposed to Polychlorinated Biphenyl and Polybrominated Biphenyl

In 1973, accidental contamination of Michigan livestock with polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) led to the establishment of a registry of exposed individuals that have been followed for > 40 years. Besides being exposed to PBBs, this cohort has also been exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a structurally similar class of environmental pollutants, at levels similar to average US exposure. In this study, we examined the association between current serum PCB and PBB levels and various female reproductive health outcomes to build upon previous work and inconsistencies. Participation in this cross-sectional study required a blood draw and completion of a detailed health questionnaire. Analysis included only female participants who had participated between 2012 and 2015 (N = 254). Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used to identify associations between serum PCB and PBB levels with each gynecological and infertility outcome. Additionally, a generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was used to evaluate each pregnancy and birth outcome in order to account for multiple pregnancies per woman. We controlled for age, body mass index, and total lipid levels in all analyses. A p-value of <0.05 was used for statistical significance. Among the women who reported ever being pregnant, there was a significant negative association with higher total PCB levels associating with fewer lifetime pregnancies ( β = −0.11, 95% CI = −0.21 to −0.005, p = 0.04). There were no correlations between serum PCB levels and the self-reported gynecological outcomes (pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, or uterine fibroids). No associations were identified between serum PCB levels and the prevalence of female infertility in women reporting ever having sexual intercourse with a male partner. There were no associations identified between serum PCB levels and pregnancy outcomes (singleton live births or miscarriages) or birth outcomes (preterm birth, birth weight, birth defects, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, or gestational diabetes). PBB was not associated with any outcome. Further research is needed to determine if and how PCB may reduce pregnancy number.

Polyurethane foam disk passive sampler derived air concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in an agricultural region with hot climate

Polyurethane foam (PUF) disks passive air samplers were deployed in an agricultural region with hot climate to determine atmospheric concentrations of 22 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and 15 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Sampling rates (2.39–15.9 m3.day−1) increased with rising ambient air temperatures. Total OCP and PCB concentrations were 0.884–97.0 pg.m−3 and nd-213 pg.m−3, respectively. The most prominent OCPs in the samples were hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, chlordane compounds, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) derivatives, and endosulfan isomers. The isomer ratios of DDT and Chlordane in the samples indicated older usage while endosulfan ratios showed recent input of technical endosulfan in the region. Total PCB levels were dominated by low chlorinated congeners. The contaminant levels in air samples were mainly lower or similar by comparison to other studies conducted at agricultural regions worldwide. Although the production and use of these chemicals have been banned, results of this study show that some of the chemicals could still be found in agricultural areas. Presence of these chemicals in environmental samples may be result of the degradation of formerly used chemicals, atmospheric transport or illegal use of banned chemicals.

An Altered DNA Methylation Status in the Human Umbilical Cord Is Correlated with Maternal Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Maternal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) results in abnormal fetal development, possibly because of epigenetic alterations. However, the association between PCB levels in cord serum with fetal DNA methylation status in cord tissue is unclear. This study aims to identify alterations in DNA methylation in cord tissue potentially associated with PCB levels in cord serum from a birth cohort in Chiba, Japan (male neonates = 32, female neonates = 43). Methylation array analysis identified five sites for female neonates (cg09878117, cg06154002, cg06289566, cg12838902, cg01083397) and one site for male neonates (cg13368805) that demonstrated a change in the methylation degree. This result was validated by pyrosequencing analysis, showing that cg06154002 (tudor domain containing 9: TDRD9) in cord tissue from female neonates is significantly correlated with total PCB levels in cord serum. These results indicate that exposure to PCBs may alter TDRD9 methylation levels, although this hypothesis requires further validation using data obtained from female neonates. However, since the present cohort is small, further studies with larger cohorts are required to obtain more data on the effects of PCB exposure and to identify corresponding biomarkers.

Polychlorinated biphenyl serum levels, thyroid hormones and endocrine and metabolic diseases in people living in a highly polluted area in North Italy: A population-based study

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants produced until the 1980s, which they are still present worldwide. They have been associated with metabolic and endocrine diseases and hypertension in humans, but definite evidence is lacking. A chemical factory producing PCBs caused a heavy pollution in an urban area in Northern Italy. We aimed to evaluate present PCBs serum levels according to demographic and lifestyle variables and their associations with endocrine and metabolic diseases and hypertension in the resident general population. A random sample of 816 adults aged 20–79 years (mean ± SD: 49.1 ± 16.5 years) was enrolled in a cross-sectional population-based study. The participants provided a fasting blood sample for laboratory analysis and were face-to-face interviewed about the presence of chronic diseases. The serum level of total PCBs was computed as the sum of 33 PCB congeners. The median serum level of lipid-adjusted total PCBs was 435.2 and 95th centile was 2154.9 ng/g lipid. Medium and high chlorinated PCBs with immunotoxic and endocrine disrupting activity contributed most to total PCB serum levels, particularly PCBs 138, 153, 170, 180 and 194. The serum levels of total PCBs and of PCB functional groups were positively associated with age and negatively with female gender, education, smoking habit and BMI, and not associated with serum levels of thyroid hormones and TSH and glycaemia and with presence of endocrine diseases, diabetes and hypertension by multivariable analysis. Subgroup analyses according to gender, age and BMI provided similar results. In conclusion, this study shows a long-term persistence of past exposure to PCBs and does not support the hypothesis of an association between PCB exposure and prevalence of endocrine and metabolic diseases and hypertension.

Distribution of polychlorinated biphenyl along the course of the Buffalo River, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, and possible health risks

Humans and wildlife are vulnerable to the toxicity of semi-volatile and persistent organic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Neither the distribution of these pollutants nor their seasonal variation has ever been determined in the Buffalo River. Thus, the occurrence and concentration of 19 PCBs was assessed in King William’s Town (KWT), Izele (IZ), Zwelitsha (ZW), Maden (MD), Mdantsane (MSN) and Buffalo River estuary (BRE), all on the Buffalo River in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Water samples were subjected to liquid-liquid extraction for PCBs, after which the compounds were separated and quantified on gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The PCBs differ in concentration from below detection limit (BDL) to 482 ng·L−1 in summer and BDL to 2 383 ng·L−1 in autumn. While the order of congeners increases during the summer from KWT &gt; IZ &gt; ZW &gt; MD &gt; MSN &gt; BRE, the distribution in autumn followed the order BRE &gt; IZ &gt; ZW &gt; KWT &gt; MSN &gt; MD. The total levels of PCBs at all the sites during summer were below the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible level of 500 ng·L−1 recommended for humans, but were exceeded at all the sampling sites in autumn except at MD. The evaluated risk with respect to cancer was lower than the acceptable threshold (10-6), whereas hazard quotients were slightly higher than the maximum threshold (of 1) stated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The compounds are known to be toxic to humans and animals. The results appear to show that the exposure levels of the compounds were safe for humans and animals. Further studies are recommended in order to make a definitive conclusion.