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. 2014 Nov 18;48(22):13459-67.
doi: 10.1021/es502490w. Epub 2014 Oct 29.

Variability in PCB and OH-PCB serum levels in children and their mothers in urban and rural U.S. communities

Rachel F Marek  1 , Peter S Thorne, Jeanne DeWall, Keri C Hornbuckle
Affiliations

Variability in PCB and OH-PCB serum levels in children and their mothers in urban and rural U.S. communities

Rachel F Marek et al. Environ Sci Technol. .

Abstract

Environmental exposures that affect accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in humans are complex and not fully understood. One challenge in linking environmental exposure to accumulation is determining variability of PCB concentrations in samples collected from the same person at different times. We hypothesized that PCBs in human blood serum are consistent from year to year in people who live in the same environment between sampling. We analyzed blood serum from children and their mothers from urban and rural U.S. communities (n = 200) for all 209 PCBs (median ∑PCBs = 45 ng/g lw) and 12 hydroxylated PCBs (median ∑OH-PCBs = 0.09 ng/g fw). A subset of these participants (n = 155) also had blood PCB and OH-PCB concentrations analyzed during the previous calendar year. Although many participants had similar levels of PCBs and OH-PCBs in their blood from one year to the next, some participants had surprisingly different levels. Year-to-year variability in ∑PCBs ranged from -87% to 567% and in ∑OH-PCBs ranged from -51 to 358% (5th-95th percentile). This is the first study to report variability of all PCBs and major metabolites in two generations of people and suggests short-term exposures to PCBs may be a significant component of what is measured in human serum.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
∑PCBs correlate with ∑OH-PCBs (R = 0.48, p < 0.0001). Each point represents one participant. One leverage point with ∑PCBs and ∑OH-PCBs much higher than the other samples was removed. Concentrations are given in units of ng/g fresh weight so PCB and OH-PCB concentration could be compared.
Figure 2
Figure 2
PCB concentrations are similar between East Chicago and Columbus Junction mothers and East Chicago and Columbus Junction children. The 31 congeners detected in at least 20% of a subgroup are shown. Concentrations are given in units of ng/g lipid weight.
Figure 3
Figure 3
OH-PCB concentrations are similar between East Chicago and Columbus Junction mothers and East Chicago and Columbus Junction children. The nine congeners detected in at least 20% of a subgroup are shown. Concentrations are given in units of ng/g fresh weight.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Change in concentration (left: ng/g lw; right: %) of total, low, and high PCBs, where low PCBs are the sum of homologues 1–5 and high PCBs are the sum of homologues 6–10. A positive value indicates an increase in concentration from year 1 to year 2. EC M and EC C represent East Chicago mothers and children, respectively. CJ M and CJ C represent Columbus Junction mothers and children, respectively.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Change from year 1 to year 2 of each PCB congener in mothers and children. A positive value indicates concentration increased. Error bars represent the 5th–95th percentile ranges of change in concentration.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Change in concentration (left: ng/g fw; right: %) of sum of four OH-PCBs. A positive value indicates an increase in concentration from year 1 to year 2. EC M and EC C represent East Chicago mothers and children, respectively. CJ M and CJ C represent Columbus Junction mothers and children, respectively.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Change from year 1 to year 2 of each OH-PCB congener in mothers and children. A positive value indicates concentration increased. Error bars represent the 5th–95th percentile ranges of change in concentration.
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