Hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs), among the most common breakdown products of PCBs, are detected in sediment, surface and rain water, and human specimens. Some of these congeners have been reported to be more toxic than their parent PCBs with the potential to alter thyroid hormone homeostasis and disrupt the endocrine system. As part of Airborne Exposure Semi-Volatile Organic Pollutants (AESOP) Study, we collected blood from adolescents and their mothers living in and around industrial East Chicago, IN in southwest corner of Lake Michigan and rural Columbus Junction, IA between 2010 and 2011. We extracted sera and quantified for 65 OH-PCB congeners using gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. For quality assurance and quality control purposes, we included surrogate injections in each sample, evaluation of sera standard reference materials, and background correction from method blanks. Here, we report the prevalence of OH-PCB congeners in human sera. We observed statistically significant difference in sum OH-PCBs between generations in Columbus Junction (p<0.01) but no significant difference between generations in East Chicago (p=0.12). Although adolescents in East Chicago had significantly higher sum OH-PCBs than those in Columbus Junction (p<0.01), no such difference was observed for mothers (p=1.00). In addition, we observed low levels of lesser chlorinated OH-PCBs, suggesting that these congeners do not stay in OH-PCB form but further metabolize (Figure 1). Other PCB metabolites may better serve as human biomarkers for lower chlorinated PCB congeners.

Hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls in human sera from adolescents and their mothers living in East Chicago, IN and Columbus Junction, IA

248th National Meeting (2014)

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