Toxicology PCBs

The polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) are indnstrial chemicals that do not occur naturally in the environment. The properties, uses, and toxicology of the PCBs are described in detail in Safe (1984), Robertson and Hansen (2001), and Environmental Health Criteria 140. PBBs are described in Safe (1984) and Environmental Health Criteria 152. 

The toxicology of PCBs is complex and not fully understood. Coplanar PCBs interact with the Ah-receptor, with consequent induction of cytochrome P4501A1/2 and Ah-receptor-mediated toxicity. Induction of P4501A1 provides the basis of valuable biomarker assays, including bioassays such as CALUX. Certain PCBs, for example, 3,3, 4,4 -TCB, are converted to monohydroxymetabolites, which act as thyroxine antagonists. PCBs can also cause immunotoxicity (e.g., in seals). 

Environmental Health Criteria 140(1993). Polychlorinated B iphenyIs and Terphenyls—A detailed reference work giving much information on the environmental toxicology of PCBs. 

Levin, M., De Guise, S., and Ross, P. (2004). Association between lymphocyter proliferation and PCBs in free-ranging harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) pups from British Columbia. Canada Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 24, 1247-1252. 

Robertson, L.W. and Hansen, L.G. (Eds.) (2001). PCBs Recent Advances in Environmental Toxicology and Health Effects—A wide ranging collection of articles arising from a meeting held at the University of Kenmcky in 2000. 

Safe, S. (1990). An authoritative account of the toxicology of PCBs, and the development of toxic equivalency factors. 

Arenal, C.A., Halbrook, R.S., and Woodruff, J.J. (2004). European starling avian model and monitor of PCB contamination at a superfund site. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 23, 93-104. 

Bosveld, A.T.C. (2000). Biochemical and developmental effects of dietary exposure to PCBs 126 and 153 in common tem chicks. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19, 719-730. 

Bowerman, W.M., Best, D.A., and Giesy, J.P. et al. (2003). Associations between regional differences in PCBs and DDE in blood of nestling bald eagles and reprodnctive prodnctiv-ity. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 22, 371-376. 

Davis, D. and Safe, S.H. (1990). Immunosuppressive activities of PCBs in C57BL/ 6N mice structure-activity relationships as Ah receptor agonists and partial agonists. Toxicology 63, 97-111. 

Fernie, K.J., Smits, J.E., and Bortolotti, G.R. et al. (2001). Reproduction success of American kestrels exposed to dietary PCBs. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20, 776-781. 

Gage, J.C. and Hohn, S. (1976). The influence of molecular structure on the retention and excretion of PCBs by the mouse. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 36, 555-560. 

Giesy, J.P., Jude, D.J., andTillitt, D.E. etal. (1997). PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs, and 2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalents in fish from Saginaw Bay, Michigan. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 16, 713-724. 

Hontela, A., Rasmussen, J.B., and Andet, C. et al. (1992). Impaired cortisol stress response in fish from environments polluted by PAHs, PCBs, and Mercury. A rchives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 22, 278-283. 

Kannan, K., Tanabe, S., and Borrell, A. et al. (1993). Isomer specific analysis and toxic evaluation of PCBs in striped dolphins affected by an epizootic in the western Mediterranean sea. Archives Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 25, 227-233. 

Klasson-Wehler, E., Kuroki, H., and Athanasiadou, M. et al. (1992). Selective retention of hydroxylated PCBs in blood. In Organohalogen Compounds Vol 10 Toxicology, Epidemiology, Risk Assessment, and Management, Helsinki Finnish Institute of Occupational Health 121-122. 

McCarty, J. and Secord, A.L. (1999). Reproductive ecology of tree swallows with high levels of PCB contamination. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 18, 1433-1439. 

Safe, S. (2001). PCBs as aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists. In PCBs Recent Advances in Experimental Toxicology and Health Effects. L.W. Robertson and L.G. Hansen (Eds.) Lexington University of Kentucky Press, 171-178. 

Tillett, D.E.G., Ankley, D.T., and Giesy, J.R et al. (1992). PCB residues and egg mortality in double crested cormorants from the Great Lakes. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 11, 1281-1288. 

The relative biodegradability of components in complex mixtures such as PAHs and PCBs, since some of the less readily degraded components may be the least desirable from an environmental and toxicological viewpoint. 

ATSDR. 1993b. Toxicological Profile for PCBs. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Division of Toxicology, Atlanta, GA. 

Data from Parkinson, A. and S. Safe. 1987. Mammalian biologic and toxic effects of PCBs. Pages 49-75 in S. Safe (ed.). Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Mammalian and Environmental Toxicology. Environ. Toxin Ser. 1. Springer-Verlag, New York. 

Kamrin, M.A. and R.K. Ringer. 1996. Toxicological implications of PCB residues in mammals. Pages 153-163 in W.N. Beyer, G.H. Heinz, and A.W. Redmon-Norwood (eds.). Environmental Contaminants in Wildlife Interpreting Tissue Concentrations. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 

Robertson, L.W., A. Parkinson, S. Bandiera, L. Lambert, J. Merrill, and S.H. Safe. 1984. PCBs and PBBs biologic and toxic effects on C57BL/6J and DBA/2J inbred mice. Toxicology 31 191-206. 

Safe, S. 1984. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) biochemistry, toxicology, and mechanism of action. Crit. Rev. Toxicol. 13 319-393. 

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