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Immunotoxicity of PCBs (Aroclors) in Relation to Great Lakes
Helen Tryphonas
Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are among the most widespread environmental pollutants and a prominent contaminant of the Great Lakes basin. Due to their resistance to biodegradation and lipophilic properties, PCBs bioaccumulate in fish tissues and in fish-eating humans. PCBs are also known to cross the placenta and to be excreted into the mother's milk, thus predisposing the infant to potentially adverse health effects. For example, a higher incidence of bacterial infections was reported for breast-fed infants born to mothers who consumed large amounts of Great Lakes fish compared to the incidence in control infants whose mothers ingested low amounts of fish. While data regarding the PCB-induced immunotoxic effects in humans are scarce, data derived from the use of experimental animals, including nonhuman primates, indicate that the immune system is a potential target for the immunotoxic effects of PCBs. Such studies have used the commercially available PCB mixtures alone. However, PCBs have the potential of partially antagonizing the effects of other structurally related compounds including the highly toxic dioxins, which are also present in small amounts in the Great Lakes. Thus, to fully evaluate the magnitude of the immunotoxic risk PCBs pose to humans, consideration should be given to investigations in which the interactive effects of PCBs are combined with other contaminants present in the Great Lakes. -- Environ Health Perspect 103(Suppl 9):35-46 (1995)
Key words: PCB immunotoxicity, environmental contaminants, immune effects, Great Lakes
This paper was prepared for the Great Lakes Health Effects Program which is part of a Canadian Department of Health Initiative established in 1989. Manuscript received 24 October 1994; manuscript accepted 6 April 1995.
Excerpts of this manuscript were used for the preparation of the Canada-U.S. Position Paper on Great Lakes Health Effects (Environmental Health, Directorate, Health Canada).
Address correspondence to Helen Tryphonas, PL2202D1 Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, Health Protection Branch, Dept. of Health, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0L2. Telephone: (613) 957-0996. Fax: (613) 941-6959. E-mail: htryphonas@hpb.hwc.ca
