Marker Polychlorinated Biphenyls Research Articles

Monitoring of polychlorinated biphenyls in Belgian human adipose tissue samples

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were monitored in Belgian human adipose tissue samples from deceased individuals ( n = 100). Their mean age was 52, ranging from 2 to 91 years. There were 57 men and 43 women. Other known variables were date of autopsy and place of residence. No information about diet or occupation was available. The seven marker congeners PCB 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180 were analysed in the samples with a GC–MS/MS method validated according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Extracted fat was cleaned-up over a glass column filled with n-hexane, acid silica, deactivated alumina and anhydrous sodium sulfate. The whole procedure was subjected to a rigorous quality control programme with retention times, ion chromatograms and intensity ratios of the monitored product ions as identification criteria. The total PCB concentration ranged between 10 and 1640 ng g −1 fat, with a mean value of 658 ng g −1 fat. In the age groups of 0–9 ( n = 1), 10–19 ( n = 4), 20–29 ( n = 11), 30–39 ( n = 13), 40–49 ( n = 15), 50–59 ( n = 14), 60–69 ( n = 14), 70–79 ( n = 20), 80–89 ( n = 6) and 90–99 ( n = 2), the mean total PCB concentrations were 10, 134, 253, 445, 557, 687, 807, 962, 959, and 1191 ng g −1 fat, respectively. So, there was an increase of PCB body burden with age. For the male subjects ( n = 57; mean age of 53) the mean total PCB concentration was 633 ng g −1 fat. For the female subjects ( n = 43; mean age of 52) it was 690 ng g −1 fat. There was no significant sex-related difference in the concentrations of marker PCBs.

Immunologic biomarkers in relation to exposure markers of PCBs and dioxins in Flemish adolescents (Belgium).

In this study, we investigated 17- to 18-year-old boys and girls to determine whether changes in humoral or cellular immunity or respiratory complaints were related to blood serum levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxin-like compounds after lifetime exposure in Flanders (Belgium). We obtained blood samples from and administered questionnaires to 200 adolescents recruited from a rural area and two urban suburbs. Physicians recorded medical history and respiratory diseases. We measured immunologic biomarkers such as differential blood cell counts, lymphocyte phenotypes, and serum immunoglobulins. As biomarkers of exposure, we determined the serum concentrations of PCBs (PCB 138, PCB 153, and PCB 180) and dioxin-like compounds [chemical-activated luciferase expression (CALUX) bioassay]. The percentages of eosinophils and natural killer cells in blood were negatively correlated with CALUX toxic equivalents (TEQs) in serum (p = 0.009 and p = 0.05, respectively). Increased serum CALUX TEQs resulted in an increase in serum IgA levels (p = 0.05). Furthermore, levels of specific IgEs (measured by radioallergosorbent tests) of cat dander, house dust mite, and grass pollen were also significantly and negatively associated with the CALUX TEQ, with odds ratios (ORs) equal to 0.63 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.42-0.96], 0.68 (0.5-0.93), and 0.70 (0.52-0.95), respectively. In addition, reported allergies of the upper airways and past use of antiallergic drugs were negatively associated with CALUX TEQs, with ORs equal to 0.66 (0.47-0.93) and 0.58 (0.39-0.85), respectively. We found a negative association between IgGs and marker PCBs in serum (p = 0.009). This study shows that immunologic measurements and respiratory complaints in adolescents were associated with environmental exposure to polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs). The negative correlation between PHAHs and allergic responses in adolescents suggested that exposure may entail alterations in the immune status.