PCB Sulfates in Serum from Mothers and Children in Urban and Rural U.S. Communities

Abstract

Serum samples from 24 subjects (6 mother–daughter and 6 mother–son dyads) in a rural community (Columbus Junction, Iowa) and 24 subjects (6 mother–daughter and 6 mother–son dyads) in an urban community (East Chicago, Indiana) were analyzed for 74 sulfated metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). We detected significantly higher mean concentrations of total assessed PCB sulfates in the urban group (110–8900 ng/g fresh weight of serum, mean = 3400 ng/g, standard error = 300) than in the rural cohort (530–6700 ng/g fresh weight of serum, mean = 1800 ng/g, standard error = 500). Eight PCB sulfate congeners (4-PCB 2 sulfate, 4′-PCB 2 sulfate, 2′-PCB 3 sulfate, 4′-PCB 3 sulfate, 4-PCB 11 sulfate, 4′-PCB 18 sulfate, 4′-PCB 25 sulfate, and 4-PCB 52 sulfate) contributed over 90% of the total assessed PCB sulfates in most individuals. The serum samples were enriched in PCB sulfates with fewer than 5 chlorine atoms, and this congener distribution differed from those of PCBs and hydroxylated PCBs in previous studies in the same communities. Regression analysis indicated several significant congener-specific correlations in mother–child dyads, and these relationships differed by location and by mother–daughter or mother–son dyads. This is the first study reporting a broad range of PCB sulfates in populations from urban and rural areas.

Toxicity Impacts on Human Adipose Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Acutely Exposed to Aroclor and Non-Aroclor Mixtures of Polychlorinated Biphenyl

“…Our data show that exposure to these mixtures at adipose-tissue-relevant concentrations results in significant toxicity and functional disruption of adipose MSCs, an important stem/mesenchymal cell population. In reality, PCB profiles found within current U.S. school air show contributions from all three of these investigated sources, but only specific congeners are detectable within the serum of students . Regardless, these findings have potential implications for the health of school-aged children, especially those attending schools that were built during Aroclor production.…”

“…In reality, PCB profiles found within current U.S. school air show contributions from all three of these investigated sources, but only specific congeners are detectable within the serum of students. 60 Regardless, these findings have potential implications for the health of school-aged children, especially those attending schools that were built during Aroclor production. Adipose MSCs are particularly important during adolescence as the number of adipocytes goes through massive expansion before plateauing and maintaining numbers throughout adulthood.…”

Toxicity impacts on human adipose MSCs acutely exposed to Aroclor and non-Aroclor mixtures of PCBs

“…In reality, PCB profiles found within current U.S. school air show contributions from all three of these investigated sources, but only specific congeners are detectable within the serum of students. 53 Regardless, these findings have potential implications for the health of school-aged children, especially those attending schools that were built during Aroclor production. Adipose MSCs are particularly important during adolescence, as the number of adipocytes goes through massive expansion before plateauing and maintaining numbers throughout adulthood.…”

Structure–Activity Relationship of Lower Chlorinated Biphenyls and Their Human-Relevant Metabolites for Astrocyte Toxicity

“…PCBs constitute 209 structurally similar chlorinated biphenyls, each referred to as a congener . Despite the ban on commercial manufacturing of PCBs, inadvertent PCB production continues even today, which predominantly comprises lower-chlorinated PCBs (LC-PCBs, PCB congeners containing ≤4 chlorine atom substituents). − Due to their volatility as compared to higher-chlorinated PCBs, LC-PCBs have been detected in indoor air samples collected from U.S. schools and outdoor air samples collected from different regions globally. ,− PCBs also undergo metabolism in humans, and PCB metabolites have been detected in various human tissue samples; ,− however, significant gaps regarding the potential human adverse outcomes of the metabolites remain.…”