Polychlorinated biphenyls and their hydroxylated metabolites (OH-PCBS) in pregnant women from eastern Slovakia.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim in the present study was to characterize and quantify the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and specific polychlorobiphenylol (OH-PCB) metabolites in maternal sera from women delivering in eastern Slovakia.


METHODS
During 2002-2004, blood samples were collected from women delivering in two Slovak locations: Michalovce district, where PCBs were formerly manufactured, and Svidnik and Stropkov districts, about 70 km north.


METHODS
A total of 762 and 341 pregnant women were sampled from Michalovce and Svidnik/Stropkov, respectively, and OH-PCBs were measured in 131 and 31. EVALUATION/MEASUREMENTS: We analyzed PCBs using gas chromatography (GC)/electron capture detection. OH-PCBs and pentachlorophenol (PCP) were determined as methyl derivatives using GC-electron capture negative ionization/mass spectrometry. We characterized distributions in the full cohort using inverse sampling weights.


RESULTS
The concentrations of both PCBs and OH-PCB metabolites of Michalovce mothers were about two times higher than those of the Svidnik/Stropkov mothers (p < 0.001). The median weighted maternal serum levels of the sum of PCBs (sigmaPCBs) were 5.73 ng/g wet weight (Michalovce) and 2.82 ng/g wet weight (Svidnik/Stropkov). The median sum of OH-PCBs (ZOH-PCBs) was 0.55 ng/g wet weight in Michalovce mothers and 0.32 ng/g wet weight in Svidnik/Stropkov mothers. 4-OH-2,2',3,4',5,5',6-Heptachlorobiphenyl (4-OH-CB187) was a primary metabolite, followed by 4-OH-2,2',3,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (4-OH-CB146). Only four PCB congeners-CBs 153, 138, 180, and 170--had higher concentrations than 4-OH-CB187 and 4-OH-CB146 (p < 0.001). The median ratio of the sigmaOH-PCBs to the sigmaPCBs was 0.10.


CONCLUSIONS
Mothers residing in eastern Slovakia are still highly exposed to PCBs, and their body burdens of these pollutants and OH-PCB metabolites may pose a risk for adverse effects on health for themselves and their children.
Park
June-Soo
JS
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, USA. jpark@dtsc.ca.gov
Linderholm
Linda
L
Charles
M Judith
MJ
Athanasiadou
Maria
M
Petrik
Jan
J
Kocan
Anton
A
Drobna
Beata
B
Trnovec
Tomas
T
Bergman
Ake
A
Hertz-Picciotto
Irva
I
D000328:Adult; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006900:Hydroxylation; D010416:Pentachlorophenol / Q000097:blood; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D018154:Slovakia
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D010416:Pentachlorophenol