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Occurrence and distribution of PCB metabolites in blood and their potential health effects in humans: a review

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Abstract

In recent years, attention has been directed to chemicals with possible endocrine-disrupting properties. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and their metabolites belong to one group of environmental contaminants that have been shown to interact with the endocrine system in mammals, including humans. Although recent developments have been made in terms of determination of PCB metabolites in blood samples, still limited number of studies have been able to elucidate their profiles and toxicological and health effects in humans. This review aims to evaluate and compare the levels of hydroxylated PCBs (OH-PCBs) and methyl sulfone PCBs (MeSO2-PCBs) in blood and their relationship to parent compounds and also address the potential risks and adverse health effects in humans. Levels of OH-PCBs varied between 0.0002 and 1.6 ng g−1 w/w in human serum/plasma from the selected literature, correlating well with ∑PCBs. In contrast, ∑OH-PCB/∑PCB ratio in animals did not show a significant correlation, which might suggest that the bioaccumulation plays an even more important role in the concentration of OH-PCBs compared to PCB metabolism. Highest levels of MeSO2-PCBs were reported in marine mammals with high selectivity retention in the liver. Health effects of PCB metabolites included carcinogenicity, reproductive impairment, and developmental neurotoxicity, being more efficiently transferred to the brain and across the placenta from mother to fetus in comparison to the parent PCBs. Based on the lack of knowledge on the occurrence and distribution of lower chlorinated OH-PCBs in humans, further studies to identify and assess the risks associated to human exposure are essential.

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  1. Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

    Natalia Quinete, Thomas Schettgen, Jens Bertram & Thomas Kraus

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  1. Natalia Quinete
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Fig. 1S

Correlation between ∑OH-PCBs congeners and ∑PCBs in human blood (References: Dallaire et al. 2009; Hovander et al. 2006; Park et al. 2007; Meironyté Guvenius et al. 2003; Soechitram et al. 2004; Fängström et al. 2002; Sjödin et al. 2000; Dirtu et al. 2010; Sandau et al. 2000; Fängström et al. 2005; Nomiyama et al. 2010a, b; Park et al. 2009b; Weiss et al. 2006; Eguchi et al. 2012; Marek et al. 2013) (PDF 205 kb)

Fig. 2S

∑OH-PCBs profile in blood from wildlife and terrestrial mammals (References: Kunisue and Tanabe 2009; Mizukawa et al. 2013; Campbell et al. 2003; Nomiyama et al. 2010a, b, 2011). (PDF 146 kb)

Fig. 3S

Correlation between average ∑OH-PCBs congeners and ∑PCBs in wildlife (References: Kunisue and Tanabe 2009; Mizukawa et al. 2013; Campbell et al. 2003; Nomiyama et al. 2010a, b, 2011; Bytingsvik et al. 2012; Gebbink et al. 2008; Klasson-Wehler et al. 1998; Verreault et al. 2007; Houde et al. 2006) (PDF 205 kb)

Fig. 4S

∑MeSO2-PCB tissue composition pattern in several animal species (References: Zhang et al. 2012; Karlson et al. 2000; Gebbink et al. 2008) (PDF 150 kb)

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Quinete, N., Schettgen, T., Bertram, J. et al. Occurrence and distribution of PCB metabolites in blood and their potential health effects in humans: a review. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 11951–11972 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3136-9

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