Laboratory and Human Studies on Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Related Compounds

• Published in: Environmental Health Perspectives [ENVIRON. HEALTH PERSPECT.]. 1985 Vol. 59; pp. 99 - 106
• Main Author: Kimbrough, Renate D.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. National Institutes of Health. Department of Health, Education and Welfare 01.02.1985
• Subjects: Accidents; Adipose tissues; Animals; Blood; Body Burden; Carcinogens; Chemical hazards; Dosage; Female; Fetal Diseases - chemically induced; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - toxicity; Hypertension - chemically induced; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes - chemically induced; Isomers; Liver; Mice; Michigan; Milk - analysis; Neoplasms - chemically induced; Occupational and Environmental Exposures; Occupational Diseases - chemically induced; Polybrominated biphenyls; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - poisoning; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - toxicity; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - toxicity; Pregnancy; Rats; Sweden; Teratogens; Time Factors; United States; USA
• ISSN: 0091-6765; 1552-9924
• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.59-1568093

Similar qualitative toxic effects have been observed in animals for a class of halogenated aromatic compounds, which include the halogenated biphenyls, naphthalenes, dibenzodioxins, and dibenzofurans. All of these compounds are lipid soluble and persist in the environment and in mammals. The polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) are the most persistent. They are predominantly stored in fatty tissue; they pass the placenta and are excreted in milk. Some isomers of the halogenated biphenyls are more toxic than others. With some exceptions, the more toxic isomers are retained longer in tissues and are also the carcinogenic components of the mixture. Most of these chemicals seem to be promoters of carcinogenesis in animals rather than initiators. An array of toxic effects in laboratory animals has been ascribed to these compounds and numerous reviews summarizing this information are available. Less information is available on the human health effects of environmental and occupational exposure. Results of recent studies in animals to further elucidate the effects of these chemicals are presented, and results from some human studies conducted in the United States are reviewed.