Placental markers of human exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzofurans

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.877679· OSTI ID:5067928

Lucier, G W; Nelson, K G; Everson, R B; Wong, T K; Philpot, R M; Tiernan, T; Taylor, M; Sunahara, G I

These studies have evaluated biochemical changes in placentae from humans exposed to rice oil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in Taiwan. Placentae were obtained from nonsmoking women 4 to 5 years after the exposure had occurred. The exposed individuals ingested approximately 1 to 3 g PCBs and 5 mg PCDFs, and many exhibited symptoms characteristic of PCB poisoning. This disease was termed Yu-Cheng in Chinese. Based on data from experimental animals models, the authors examined a number of parameters in placentae from control and exposed women, including arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity, cytochrome P-450 isozymes, epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor binding properties and actions, and Ah receptor. They also quantified concentrations of various PCB and PCDF congeners known to be present in the contaminated rice oil. The results revealed a dramatic elevation in placental AHH activity in samples from PCB/PCDF-exposed women. This increase in enzyme activity was associated with a parallel increase in placental microsomal protein immunochemically related to cytochrome P-450 form 6. EGF receptor-mediated autophosphorylation capacity was significantly diminished in PCB/PCDF placentae, but this effect was not associated with changes in plasma membrane EGF receptor binding properties. Two PCDF congeners were detected in Yu-Cheng placentae but not controls. Several PCBs were also detected in much higher concentrations in Yu-Cheng placentae. Surprisingly, placental concentrations of PCBs correlated better with effects than did the PCDFs. The findings are discussed in relation to the risk assessment process.

• Research Organization: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5067928
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States) Vol. 76; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550601 -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOLS
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BENZOFURANS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
COLLOIDS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
FEMALES
FETAL MEMBRANES
FURANS
GROWTH FACTORS
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROLASES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE 125
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
KINETICS
MAMMALS
MAN
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
MEMBRANES
MITOGENS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORYLATION
PLACENTA
PRIMATES
PROTEINS
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTION KINETICS
RECEPTORS
RESIDUES
SMOKES
SOLS
TOBACCO SMOKES
VERTEBRATES
WOMEN