Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCB's, can make children's diphtheria and tetanus vaccinations less effective, a new report suggests.
Toxicological studies and limited human studies have demonstrated associations between exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and adverse developmental and reproductive health effects.
A dose response of IHD mortality in association with exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins and dibenzofurans was observed in a German herbicide-producing plant (Flesch-Janys et al. 1995).
Risk assessment of human environmental exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDFs) and other dioxin-like compounds is complicated by several factors, including limitations in measuring intakes because of the low concentrations of these compounds in foods and the environment and interspecies differences in pharmacokinetics and responses.
In numerous cross-sectional studies performed during the last decade, associations between type 2 diabetes and exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), brominated flame retardants (polybrominated diphenylethers [PBDEs]), and some organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were observed (1– 8).
It is possible that the effects observed in these three studies were mostly attributable to the exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans, which are usually higher in urban settings than in isolated populations mostly exposed to environmental contaminants through fish and marine mammal consumption.
All those interested should find the review by Rideout et al. (2004) of value, as it explores the possibility of accumulating human exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans through sewage sludge recycling as a nutrient source in agriculture.
We aimed to assess the association between cryptorchidism and prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).
Schramm and colleagues (Schramm 1997; Schramm et al. 1992) were among the first scientists to recognize the potential utility of hair analysis for the assessment of human exposure to polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs).
We chose a cross-sectional study design to measure the internal exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) as well as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) of individuals working on one of the largest EWRSs of Africa, located at Agbogbloshie, Accra, Ghana, and in controls from a suburb of Accra without direct exposure to EWRS activities.
Several studies support a plausible association of human exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
