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A congener analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls accumulating in rat pups after perinatal exposure

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Abstract

Rat pups were exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from conception to weaning. Exposure occurred via feeding dams adulterated certified chow that was designed to contain 0, 3, 30, and 300 Μg/gm Aroclor® 1254. Tissue samples from rat pups and dams were analyzed for 67 different PCB congeners at birth and weaning to describe their accumulation during gestation and lactation. Bioaccumulation of PCB congeners was calculated as a function of their concentration in feed or milk. These data indicated that PCB congeners could be divided into three different groups. The “a” group was not avidly bioaccumulated. Congeners in the “b” group accumulated to widely different concentrations. This group contained primarily penta- and hexachlorinated biphenyls. The analysis of two families of pentachlorobiphenyls containing one ring with −2,3,4, or −2,4,5 chlorine substitutions indicated that molecular structure and not physico-chemical properties,e.g., gas Chromatographic retention time, determined bioaccumulation. The “c” group were all highly chlorinated congeners and bioaccumulated to nearly equal levels. Most congeners were concentrated in the milk when compared to the feed. When bioaccumulation data from pups at birth and weaning were compared, exposure was much greater during lactation than during gestation. The congener analysis showed that the same congeners were most avidly bioaccumulated during the periods of gestation and lactation, indicating that the increased accumulation during lactation was due to a higher effective dose.

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Author notes

  1. Stephen R. Overmann

    Present address: Department of Biology, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Giradeau, Mo

Authors and Affiliations

  1. New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center for Laboratories and Research, 12201, Albany, New York

    William Shain, Stephen R. Overmann, Lloyd R. Wilson, Jeanne Kostas & Brian Bush

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  1. William Shain
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  3. Lloyd R. Wilson
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  4. Jeanne Kostas
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Shain, W., Overmann, S.R., Wilson, L.R. et al. A congener analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls accumulating in rat pups after perinatal exposure. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 15, 687–707 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01054916

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01054916

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