Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on Animal Reproductive Systems and Epigenetic Modifications

He, Qi-Long; Zhang, Lin; Liu, Shuzhen

doi:10.1007/s00128-021-03285-6

Cited by 24 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 60 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Several studies have shown that PCBs can interfere with endocrine processes and persistent exposure to them can considerably decrease animal and human fertility and reproductive quality [181]. In fact, the reproductive toxicity of PCBs was proved in both animal and human studies [182,183]. However, their role and mechanism of action are still poorly understood and current evidence is still inconclusive.…”

Section: Endocrine Disrupting Activity and Effects On Reproductive Or...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Montano

Pironti

Pinto

et al. 2022

Toxics

110

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

Section: Endocrine Disrupting Activity and Effects On Reproductive Or...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Montano

Pironti

Pinto

et al. 2022

Toxics

110

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Persistent environmental pollutants such as PCBs exert a variety of toxic effects in animals, including disturbances of sexual development and reproductive function (He et al, 2021). Reports have shown that ovarian cells exposed to different concentrations of PAHs resulted in ovarian tumor growth and primary ovarian insufficiency (Sumanasekera et al, 2018;Priya et al, 2021).…”

Section: The Contribution Of Environmental Pollution To Reproductive ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Pollutants and Oxidative Stress in Terrestrial and Aquatic Organisms: Examination of the Total Picture and Implications for Human Health

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There is current great international concern about the contribution of environmental pollution to the global burden of disease particularly in the developing, low- and medium-income countries. Industrial activities, urbanization, developmental projects as well as various increased anthropogenic activities involving the improper generation, management and disposal of pollutants have rendered today’s environment highly polluted with various pollutants. These pollutants include toxic metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides and diesel exhaust particles most of which appear to be ubiquitous as well as have long-term environmental persistence with a wide range of toxicities such as oxidative stress among others. Oxidative stress, which may arise from increased production of damaging free radicals emanating from increased pollutant burden and depressed bioavailability of antioxidant defenses causes altered biochemical and physiological mechanisms and has been implicated in all known human pathologies most of which are chronic. Oxidative stress also affects both flora and fauna and plants are very important components of the terrestrial environment and significant contributors of nutrients for both man and animals. It is also remarkable that the aquatic environment in which sea animals and creatures are resident is also highly polluted, leading to aquatic stress that may affect the survival of the aquatic animals, sharing in the oxidative stress. These altered terrestrial and aquatic environments have an overarching effect on human health. Antioxidants neutralize the damaging free radicals thus, they play important protective roles in the onset, progression and severity of the unmitigated generation of pollutants that ultimately manifest as oxidative stress. Consequently, human health as well as that of aquatic and terrestrial organisms may be protected from environmental pollution by mitigating oxidative stress and employing the principles of nutritional medicine, essentially based on antioxidants derived mainly from plants, which serve as the panacea of the vicious state of environmental pollutants consequently, the health of the population. Understanding the total picture of oxidative stress and integrating the terrestrial and aquatic effects of environmental pollutants are central to sustainable health of the population and appear to require multi-sectoral collaborations from diverse disciplinary perspectives; basically the environmental, agricultural and health sectors.

show abstract

“…9 These hydrophobic contaminants can subsequently magnify through aquatic and terrestrial food chains to reach appreciable levels in humans and high trophic level animals. 10 Long term exposure to PCBs has been linked to numerous adverse effects such as immune 11 or reproductive system 12 dysfunction and neurodevelopmental disorders. 13,14 Therefore, ambient PCBs pose a potential risk to human and wildlife health.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These hydrophobic contaminants can subsequently magnify through aquatic and terrestrial food chains to reach appreciable levels in humans and high trophic level animals . Long term exposure to PCBs has been linked to numerous adverse effects such as immune or reproductive system dysfunction and neurodevelopmental disorders. , Therefore, ambient PCBs pose a potential risk to human and wildlife health. In particular, the detrimental impacts of PCBs have been implicated in the critical endangerment of two Canadian whale populations, the Southern resident killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) , and the St. Lawrence Estuary beluga whales ( Delphinapterus leucas ). , These whale populations struggle to sustain their numbers despite many conservation efforts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Passive Air Sampling Networks Combined with Multivariate Statistics Reveal Widespread Non-Aroclor Polychlorinated Biphenyl Sources to the Canadian Atmosphere

Oh,

Shunthirasingham,

Zhan

et al. 2024

ACS EST Air

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the North American atmosphere were originally thought to arise through volatilization of commercial Aroclor mixtures, but there is growing evidence of atmospheric emissions of non-Aroclor, i.e., unintentionally produced, PCBs. Here, we report on measurements of all 209 PCB congeners in 169 passive air samples collected between 2019 and 2022 using networks established around the Salish Sea, British Columbia (BC), and along the St. Lawrence River and Estuary, Quebec (QC), in Canada. Hierarchical cluster analysis and positive matrix factorization were employed to identify, distinguish, and quantify different PCB sources to the atmosphere. PCBs were detected at every single site, with elevated levels found in the urban centers of the region (Vancouver, BC; Montreal, Quebec City, QC), including in the vicinity of a municipal waste incinerator. We found evidence that suggests legacy Aroclor emissions, e.g., associated with electrical equipment storage in Pointe-Claire, QC, and building emissions in Burnaby, BC. We also identified several locations (e.g., in Sept-I ̂les and Alma, QC) where non-Aroclor sources are estimated to contribute over 40% of PCBs. In particular, PCB congeners 47, 51, and 68, known byproducts of 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl peroxide (2,4-DCBP) decomposition during silicone rubber and polyester production, were strongly associated with PCB-7 and -25. Although Aroclors were estimated to remain the main contributors of PCBs to the Canadian atmosphere, unintentional production is making a non-negligible contribution (estimated to be at least 10%). Of the known non-Aroclor sources, 2,4-DCBP is likely still used in North America with little to no regulation.

show abstract

Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on Animal Reproductive Systems and Epigenetic Modifications

Cited by 24 publications

References 60 publications

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

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

Environmental Pollutants and Oxidative Stress in Terrestrial and Aquatic Organisms: Examination of the Total Picture and Implications for Human Health

Passive Air Sampling Networks Combined with Multivariate Statistics Reveal Widespread Non-Aroclor Polychlorinated Biphenyl Sources to the Canadian Atmosphere

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About