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Harold E.B. Humphrey,¹ Joseph C. Gardiner,² Jasma R. Pandya,² Anne M. Sweeney,³ Donna M. Gasior,² Robert J. McCaffrey,⁴ and Susan L. Schantz⁵

¹Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA; ²Department of Epidemiology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA; ³School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA; ⁴Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA; ⁵Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA

Abstract

The State of Michigan has a long history of research into human exposure to environmental contaminants through consumption of recreationally caught fish. A large cohort of Lake Michigan residents who eat fish (fish-eaters) and those who do not eat fish (nonfish-eaters) established in 1980 served as the basis for the congener-specific polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure evaluation reported here. In this paper we present the serum PCB congener profile for a subset of this cohort who were over 50 years of age. Serum samples were collected in 1993-1995 and were evaluated by a dual column capillary column gas chromatography procedure capable of detecting over 90 PCB congeners. This evaluation demonstrated significant PCB exposure in the fish-eaters (mean serum PCB of 14.26 ppb ; n = 101) . This elevated exposure allowed the establishment of a detailed profile of the PCB congeners found in humans exposed by this route. Twenty-two congeners of varying concentrations were the most prevalent and constituted over 95% of the total PCB present in most subjects. Four congeners, 138/163 (2,2´,3,4,4´,5-PCB/2,3,3´,4´,5,6-PCB) , 180 (2,2´,3,4,4´,5,5´-PCB) , and 153 (2,2´,4,4´,5,5´-PCB) , accounted for 55-64% of the total PCB load. Other congeners, some of toxicologic significance, were also detected by this analytical protocol. Nonfish-eaters had lower total serum PCB levels (mean = 4.56 ; n = 78) , but the same general pattern of PCB congeners was present. It was demonstrated that careful selection of a subset of prevalent PCB congeners could provide a cost-effective assessment of exposure without losing critical scientific information. Key words: aging, capillary column gas chromatography, fish-eaters, Great Lakes, Lake Michigan, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener profile. Environ Health Perspect 108:167-172 (2000) . [Online 10 January 2000]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2000/108p167-172humphrey/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to S.L. Schantz, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001 S. Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802 USA. Telephone: (217) 333-6230. Fax: (217) 244-1652. E-mail: schantz@uiuc.edu

This research was funded by grant H75/ATH598339 from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Great Lakes Health Effects Research Program.

Received 18 May 1999 accepted 14 September 1999.