title: Determinants of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) levels in the sera of young children.
abstract: Serum samples from 285 4-year-old Michigan children were evaluated for levels of 11 environmental contaminants. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were found in half the samples tested; polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) in 13-21 percent; dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT), in more than 70 percent. Nursing (Mothers' milk) was the principal source of these exposures. Congener-specific analysis documented the presence of at least one highly toxic PCB congener, 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl. The data demonstrate the multigenerational impact of female exposure to persistent organic environmental contaminants.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Humphrey
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Schantz
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mullin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Welch
mesh_terms: D001822:Body Burden; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003634:DDT / Q000097:blood*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012424:Rural Population; D012923:Social Class
chemical_list: D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D003634:DDT; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls