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Review
. 2022 Jul 1;10(7):365.
doi: 10.3390/toxics10070365.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Environment: Occupational and Exposure Events, Effects on Human Health and Fertility

Luigi Montano  1   2 , Concetta Pironti  3 , Gabriella Pinto  4   5 , Maria Ricciardi  3 , Amalia Buono  6 , Carlo Brogna  7 , Marta Venier  8 , Marina Piscopo  9 , Angela Amoresano  4   5 , Oriana Motta  3
Affiliations
Review

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Environment: Occupational and Exposure Events, Effects on Human Health and Fertility

Luigi Montano et al. Toxics. .

Abstract

In the last decade or so, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) garnered renewed attention in the scientific community due to new evidence pointing at their continued presence in the environment and workplaces and the potential human risks related to their presence. PCBs move from the environment to humans through different routes; the dominant pathway is the ingestion of contaminated foods (fish, seafood and dairy products), followed by inhalation (both indoor and outdoor air), and, to a lesser extent, dust ingestion and dermal contact. Numerous studies reported the environmental and occupational exposure to these pollutants, deriving from building materials (flame-retardants, plasticizers, paints, caulking compounds, sealants, fluorescent light ballasts, etc.) and electrical equipment. The highest PCBs contaminations were detected in e-waste recycling sites, suggesting the need for the implementation of remediation strategies of such polluted areas to safeguard the health of workers and local populations. Furthermore, a significant correlation between PCB exposure and increased blood PCB concentrations was observed in people working in PCB-contaminated workplaces. Several epidemiological studies suggest that environmental and occupational exposure to high concentrations of PCBs is associated with different health outcomes, such as neuropsychological and neurobehavioral deficits, dementia, immune system dysfunctions, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In addition, recent studies indicate that PCBs bioaccumulation can reduce fertility, with harmful effects on the reproductive system that can be passed to offspring. In the near future, further studies are needed to assess the real effects of PCBs exposure at low concentrations for prolonged exposure in workplaces and specific indoor environments.

Keywords: environment; fertility; health effects; human exposure; occupational exposure; persistent organic pollutants; polychlorinated biphenyls.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
General structure and formula of PCBs. Chlorine atoms can replace hydrogens in different positions of the aromatic rings.
Figure 2
Figure 2
PCB sources and routes for human exposure.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Representation of the main targets of PCBs with related disorders in humans.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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