title: Serum concentrations and profiles of polychlorinated biphenyls in Taiwan Yu-cheng victims twenty years after the incident.
abstract: In 1979, about 2000 people in central Taiwan were intoxicated via rice oil consumption that was contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). This "Yu-cheng" incident was one of the two known major human PCB intoxication episodes. Twenty years after the intoxication, serum samples of 435 Yu-cheng victims, 414 adults and 21 children, were collected. Sixteen PCB congeners were analyzed with a gas chromatograph-electron capture detector. We found the median concentration of total PCBs in the adult serum was 1500 ng/g lipid, still substantially higher than that of the general population in Taiwan (3.7-fold) and most seafood consumers in the world. Most of analyzed PCB congeners in children were below or around the detection limits. Congener #138, however, had the highest concentrations, approximately accounting for 55% and 29% in the child and adult groups, respectively. Given that PCBs are persistent organic pollutants and endocrine disruptors, the concentrations and congener-specific profiles regarding the Yu-cheng victims provide valuable information for the investigation of such chemicals in humans.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan 115.
authors.forename: Shih-Chun Candice
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lung
authors.forename: Yue-Liang Leon
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ho-Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood* / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D012275:Oryza; D010938:Plant Oils; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood* / Q000506:poisoning; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010938:Plant Oils; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls