A longitudinal examination of factors related to changes in serum polychlorinated biphenyl levels.

Abstract

Consumption of sport-caught fish from the Great Lakes is a recognized source of human exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Understanding temporal changes in PCB body burden is crucial for evaluating exposure levels and augmenting validity of studies investigating their relationship to adverse health effects. Using data collected from 1980 to 1995, we evaluated longitudinal changes in serum PCB levels among 179 fisheaters and non-fisheaters of the Michigan Fisheater Cohort. Participants identified as fisheaters in 1980 ate 26 lb or more of sport-caught fish per year, whereas non-fisheaters ate less than 6 lb per year. We found a monotonic decline in serum PCB levels among all participants from a mean value of 24 ppb in 1980 to 12 ppb in 1994. This was paralleled by an 83% decrease in mean fish consumption among all participants over the same period. We combined demographic, lifestyle, and fish consumption information with PCB data and evaluated the data using regression models to identify predictors of PCB body burden over a 16-year period. Results of the mixed-effects linear regression model suggest that consumption of Lake Michigan fish before 1980, amount of sport-caught fish eaten in the past year, age, and year of data collection were significant determinants of current PCB body burden over the 16-year study period. PCB levels were particularly elevated for males who were classified as fisheaters in 1980, which may reflect higher levels of sport-caught fish consumption compared with female fisheaters.

Determinants of temporal variability in NHEXAS-Maryland environmental concentrations, exposures, and biomarkers

“…Human activities not only affect these mechanisms but also determine contact with the resulting concentrations. Longitudinal investigations of the activities that influence changes in contaminant levels over time are scarce but are necessary to increase our understanding of the role they might play in the risk of adverse health outcomes (Tee et al, 2003).…”

Potential exposure to PCBs, DDT, and PBDEs from sport-caught fish consumption in relation to breast cancer risk in Wisconsin.

“…In contrast, findings from a cohort of older participants (≥ 50 years of age in 1992) recently demonstrated that a reduction in current fish consumption was associated with a monotonic decline in PCB levels in blood serum (Tee 2003). Although self-reported fish consumption has substantially declined over time, sport-caught fish intake continues to be one of the key predictors of serum PCB levels Humphrey et al 2000;Tee 2003 breast milk, or adipose tissue in various populations (Dallaire et al 2002;Fitzgerald et al 1999;Hovinga et al 1992;Konishi et al 2001;Noren and Meironyte 2000;Robinson et al 1990;Smith 1999). According to Noren and Meironyte (2000), the level of organochlorine compounds in 1997 was approximately one-tenth of the 1972 level in breast milk from Swedish mothers living in the Stockholm region.…”

“…The level of PCBs in serum sampled from a general population of men and women in Michigan significantly declined from 1979 to 1989 (Humphrey et al 2000); however, levels remained virtually unchanged in sport-caught fish consumers. In contrast, findings from a cohort of older participants (≥ 50 years of age in 1992) recently demonstrated that a reduction in current fish consumption was associated with a monotonic decline in PCB levels in blood serum (Tee 2003). Although self-reported fish consumption has substantially declined over time, sport-caught fish intake continues to be one of the key predictors of serum PCB levels Humphrey et al 2000;Tee 2003 breast milk, or adipose tissue in various populations (Dallaire et al 2002;Fitzgerald et al 1999;Hovinga et al 1992;Konishi et al 2001;Noren and Meironyte 2000;Robinson et al 1990;Smith 1999).…”

“…In particular, recall of past fish-consumption patterns might not have been a valid method to assess body burden of PCBs, DDT, and PBDE. However, the reported fish-consumption levels in healthy populations as well as in case-control studies have consistently correlated with body burden of PCBs, DDT/DDE, and PBDEs as determined from serum, adipose tissue, or breast milk analysis (Anderson et al 1998;Falk et al 1999;Fein et al 1984;Fiore et al 1989;Fitzgerald et al 1999;Gerstenberger et al 2000;Hanrahan et al 1999;Hovinga et al 1993;Kiviranta et al 2002;Kosatsky et al 1999;Kostyniak et al 1999;Kreiss et al 1981;Ohta et al 2002;Schantz et al 2001;Schwartz et al 1983;Stewart et al 1999;Tee et al 2003). In addition, selective recall for cases versus controls was perhaps limited because there is little social suspicion of fish consumption in relation to breast cancer risk.…”

Off to a good start: the influence of pre- and periconceptional exposures, parental fertility, and nutrition on children's health.

“…In the Hanrahan study conducted in 1993-1994, male fish-eaters had a mean serum PCB level of 4.8 ppb compared with 1.5 ppb among their nonconsuming counterparts (Hanrahan et al 1999), whereas female fish-eaters had levels of 2.1 ppb versus 0.9 ppb among female non-fish-eaters. Participants in the Michigan fish-eaters cohort, which consists of individuals who were consuming ≥ 26 pounds of sport-caught fish per year (fish-eaters) and those eating < 6 pounds per year (non-fish-eaters), when enrolled in 1980, had considerably higher serum PCB levels (Tee et al 2003).…”