Document kzE15Qnk89Nng5DaRNEnEkNO

REFERENCE MATERIAL FOR THE SUMMARY OF THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF PCBS NOVEMBER 1981 BY ECOLOGY A$D ENVIRONMENT, INC. XN REFERENCE TO DOCKET NUMBERS OPTS-62013 AND CPTS-S20H HONS 015928 TABLB Of CONTENTS NOVEMBER IE, 1981 1. The Epidemiology of PCBs" by William Oaffey, Monsanto publication, (1981). 2. "A Review end Evaluation of Carcinogenicity Studies in Mice end Rate and Mutagenicity Studies with Polychlor inated Biphenyls* by George Levinskas, a Monsanto pub lication, (1981). 9. *The Toxicity of Aroclox Products 1242, 1214, and 1260 to the Liver of Albino Rats" by George Levinskas, a Monsanto publication, (1981). 4. "Hunan Health Effects of Electrical-Grade PCSs* by J. r. Brown, Jr., J. T. Coe, and K. 0. Pocock, Jr., a General Electric publication, (1981). $. 'Technical Reviaw of the Health Effects of PCSs* by Robert Janes, Morris Cranmer, and Raymond Rarbison, a New England Gas Association publication, (1981). 6. "Assessment of Carcinogenic Risks rrom PCBs in Pood" by Kenny f. Crump and Marjory Masterman. prepared for the United States Congress Office of Technology, contract I933.13SO.O, (1979). HONS 015929 The Epidemiology of PCS* by William R. Gaffey Monsanto Company saptaobar 13, 1931 I. Summary Twenty four published and unpubliahad reports covering 21 epidemiologic studies of human exposure to PCBt ware reviewed and evaluated. The studies shoved that high occupational exposures to PCBs have resulted in chloracne and dermatitis. Alterations in liver and fat metabolism were found in most studies that examined these functions, but there was no clinical illness associated with theso alterations or with level and duration of exposure to PCBs. Studies of mortality rates In exposed populations have shown no pattern of cancer deaths related to PCB exposure. MQNS 015930 II* Introduction Thi ia a review and evaluation of the 'epidemiologic evidenc.. concerning the health effect* of exposure to PCBs, particularly a level* that do not cauae acute toxic effects, k study is considered "epidemiologic evidence" if it measures, directly or indirectly, the differences in the risk of ill health among populations with different exposures to PCBs. in the past several decades there have been many clinical studies of the effects of heavy exposures to PCBs (e.g. Von wedel et el [1], Schwartz (2]). Such studies ere extremely useful in identifying the kinds of effects that should be investigated. However, they do not address the question of the risk of incurring such effects, end ere therefore not included in this review. The studies reviewed here fall into three categories. First, there ere etudlee of accidental heavy exposures and the resulting acute end chronic effects. In each case the study was prompted by an outbreak of illness or the occurrence of e death in an exposed population, after which the population wee studied. Second, there ere studies of the relationship between exposure to PCBs end the resulting body burden of FCBs in serum or edipoee tissue. Strictly epeeking these are not epidemiologic studies since they do not deal with health effects. However, if a relationship between level of exposure end body burden cannot be verified, the interpretation of epidemiologic studiee become* difficult if not impossible. HONS 015431 2 The third category is studies that were done because the populations in question were known or suspected to be exposed to FCBs, rather than because some untoward health outcome had been observed first. Many published reports combine some or all of these types of investigations. In the sections that follow, we consider first the studies of accidental overexposure, second the studies of pcs exposure versus body burden, and third the epidemiologic studies of exposed populations. In the latter section the discussion will be organised with reapect to the health affects that were investigated. These are (a) dermatologic symptoms, <b) biochemical alterations, (c) other symptoms and illnesses, (d) carcinogenic!ty. MONS 015932 III. Accidental Heavy Exposures Two epidsioi9i<s studies of accidental exposure have been reported. The first, by Merge et el [21 in 1954, deacribed an outbreak of chloracne in a plant in which a process change had introduced an unspecified PCB compound into the work environment. Breathing zone levels of pc were stated to be 0.1 mg/cuo. Seven of 14 exposed workers developed chloracne, but liver function tests were normal in six of these, with tome borderline abnormalities in the seventh. The chloracne disappeared after treatment, and the tingle borderline liver function abnormality improved, but did not disappear after 13 months. Improved process control prevented any recurrence. Although the eetimeted PCB level suet be accepted with reservation because of the state of the ert et that time, it is clear that the chlorecne resulted from the PCB exposure. Civsn the lack of controls and the email rate of abnormal liver function, it it unlikely that the PCB exposure had any connection with the liver function findings. The second incident is the now famous Yusho incident in 1968 which has been documented in many reposts (Kurattune et al [4], Brabo et al (5]), in which some thousand Japanese became ill after eating cooking oil which had been contaminated with Kanechlor 400, a PCB compound of Japanese manufacture. ......... The most common acute symptoms observed were hyperpigmenta tion and acne-like lesions, dischargt from the eyes, central nervous system symptoms, and vomiting and diarrhea. Thera was a 4 HONS 015933 dose-reeponse relationship between the amount of oil ingested and the proportion of persons reporting symptoms. Three years later about half the patients had improved, but still had symptoms, six years later many patients still reported such symptoms as headache, stomach pain, numbness of the extremities, joint pain and respiratory symptoms [5]. Out of ten live births to women effected by Yusho, nine showed hyperpigmentation and most had increased eye discharges. These symptoms later disappeared. Although there have been reports of prsmsturs eruption of teeth (two children out of s series of 13) end unusually wide fontanelles and sagittal sutures (three out of 13) it is not at all clear that these findings represent any more than the normal variation to be expected, since no control observations were made (Funetsu et si (6]). In general, laboratory tests of the Yueho victims showed elevated serum triglyceride levels, low serum chlolesterol in terioue esses, and elevated SCOT and SGPT levela in serious cates (Higuchi 17)). As of the end of 1)77, 51 deaths among Yusho patisnts had been identified IS). The percentage of cancer death* (35.4) exceeded that of the prefecture in which the death* occurred (21.1). However, the figures do not appear to be very useful for several reasons. First, afttr the original incidant, the criteria for diagnosis of Yusho had boon changed, to that it is impossible to determine the denominator which produced this number. The completeness of ascertainment of the death* is unknown, in addition, no adjustment for age appeared to have been mad* in the S HONS 015934 Above comparison. Finally, the average elapsed time From exposure to death was leaa than ten years, and cannot be calculated precisely because the dates of death' are not provided. This may vail be too short a period for cancers resulting from the exposure to show up. ........... ............ Although the Yusho incident represented a massive ingestion of PCBs, recent reanalysis of the cooking oil end of the estimated intake by tha patients shows that tha exposure to polychlorinated dibenxofurans (PCOFs) and polychlorinated guater-phenylt (pegs) was about equal to tha axposura to PCBs, and currant determinations of PCQs in blood and othar tissues of Yusho patients have shown lavals similar to that of PCBs {8]. It is thersfors doubtful whsthsr any generalization can ba made from this incident to lower level environmental or occupational exposures to PCBs. 8 HONS 015935 IV. Environmental Levels and Body Burdens Two studies of the relationship between ingestion of pcbs and blood levels of FCBs have been reported (Michigan Dept, of Public Health [9] and Kreiss et al [10]}. In eaeh ease the study was concerned with ingestion of fish known to contain relatively high levels of PCBs. In the first, an association was found between blood FCBs and exposure level as estimated by the amount of Lake Michigan sport fish consumed. In the second the relationship between blood PCBs and a complex of factors was examined in a population in an area with high levels of environmental contamination. Age, sex and fish consumption, in that order of importance, were associated with blood levels of PCBs. To the extent that fish consumption measures ingestion of PCBs, these studies confirm that blood FCBs are a function of ingestion of FCBs as well as of age and sex. Other associated variables were examined in {10] but will be discussed in the following section. A number of studies of blood FCBs and exposure to atmospheric FCBs have been made, most of them in conjunction with studies of health effects. The portions of the studies relevant to this section axe reviewed here. There are three types of studies. The first compares groups which have had different exposure levels as estimated from process considerations or environmental measurements. For convenience such a study design will be called Type A. The second, which we will designate Type B, measures the change over time in a single group after FCBs have been removed from the environment (or after 7 MONS 015936 the group has left ths environment). Tha third. Type c, compares groups that have had different durations of exposure. Often the saae report will contain more than one type of study. For example, an exposed group may be compared with an unexposed group (Type A) and within the exposed group long term exposed workers may be compared with short term workers (Type C). The measure of body burden has in most cases been a single number representing, depending on the study, blood PCBs, plasma ?CBs, serum PCBs (all of which are called "blood" PCBs in this review), or level of PCBs in adipose tissue. Analytic methods have varied over time and among investigators. More recently measures of body burden have sought to determine separately the levels of higher chlorinated biphenyls (5 or more chlorine atoms ( per molecule) and lower chlorinated biphenyls. Table 1 lists the studies considered in this section, with the type of design and whether or not separate determinations of higher end lower chlorinated biphenyls were made. All of the studies except Baker et al are occupational. All of the Typo A studies agree in ahowing a higher body burden of PCBs in populations with higher environmental exposure, except for one anomaly in Baker et al. There, persona exposed to sludge containing PCBs had slightly lower blood levels than ths control!, on the average. However, the sludge exposed persons and the controls were not matched for age, which Kreiss et al showed to be the moat important factor associated with blood PCB level. Zt therefore appears unequivocal that higher exposure to PCBs means a higher body burden, all other things being equal. HONS 015937 Th Type B studies appear at first glance to be more equivocal (Table 2). Two studies show a decrease when exposure ceased or decreased and two do not. However, the studies shewing no decrease remeasured their study groups within t month or two after exposure changed. The ones showing a decrease remeasured after three months and one year. The fact that Ouv et al found no decrease after two months while Kitaaura et al found over a $0 percent decrease after three months gives rise to some uneasiness. However, in the former study exposure w^s decreased but still present, while in the latter study PCB use had ceased. Ouw et al also suggest that after exposures in their study plant had decreased, workers did not wear gloves as recommended, so that the blood PCB levels may have resulted from skin contact. Table 3 shows the findings for the Type C studies other than Maroni et al and Smith et al that is, for those that compared duration of exposure with a single measurement of blood PCB level. The results are not consistent. The study of Baumgarner et al found very low levels (average 4 ppb) in exposed workers, which may have accounted for their failure to find a relationship with duration. On the other hand the exposed workers in Hasegawa et al had an average level of 370 ppb and still showed no relationship with duration. The studies of Maroni et al and Smith et al suggest a possible explanation. Maroni et al made separate comparisons of high chlorinated FCBs and low chlorinated PCBs between workers with present and past exposures. They found differences in the 9 HONS 015938 low chlorinated PCBs but not in the high chlorinated compounds. Even though their analysis did not idjust for age, it suggests that the relationship between blood PCB levels and duration and recency of exposure may be a function of the level of chlorination of the PCBs. smith et al however, in an elaborate analysis of high and low chlorinated blood PCBs versus present and past exposure, found no "evidence either to support or refute different accumulation kinetics in humans for the lower and higher chlorinated biphenyls". Nevertheless, they found a significant correlation between current personal air PCB levels and low chlorinated blood PCBs, but no significant correlation with high chlorinated blood PCBs. In summary, body burdens of PCBs are clearly related to the level of exposure to environmental PCBs. Observations of a decrease in the burden of PCBs after exposure is eliminated or decreased are not consistent. The lack of consistency may be due to the short periods of observation of some of the studies, or possibly to differences in the average chlorination of the PCBs involved. Studies of the relationship of PCB burden to duration of exposure again are not consistent. There is a suggestion that this mmy be due to the confounding effects of age and sex, or to differences in the metabolism of high and low chlorinated PCBs, with the higher PCBs being more likely to accumulate in adipose tissue. HONS 015939 V. Epidemiologic Studio* of PCBs and Health Excluding mortality studies, there are 17 epidemiologic studies of health effects related to PCB exposure. The accident report of Meigs et al is included since it did not differ in design from many of the studies that were not motivated by accident reports. These studies are listed in Table 4 with a summary of the findings by major category. Five of the reports are in Japanese [13,14,15,16,16]. The details of those studies are taken from the NIOSS criteria document for PCBs [34]. Two of the studies, Kappanen and Kolhol and south Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control are not specific as to health effects. The first of these is a comparison of groups with different work exposures and different blood PCB levels (74-1900 ppb in the 12 persons with the greatest exposure) in which the authors simply state that all persons studied were in good health. The second is a study of 32 workers in a capacitor plant, 10 of whoa were exposed regularly to PCBs. The authors state that there is "no evidence of physical harm resulting from working with PCBs*. The rasaining 15 studies in Table 4 are reviewed below with respect to their findings in each major category of health effects. The studies are considered in the order of their publication. Dermatologic effect*. There are 11 studies of dermatologic effects associated with PCB exposure. The first is Meigs et al MONS 015940 11 described in Section II above, who found that 7 of 14 exposed worker* got chioracne where the PCD concentration in their breathing zones averaged 0.1 mg/cum. Hasegawa et al reported an unstated number of cases of hyperpigmentation of the hands, and acne-like lesions of the jaw, back and thighs in exposed workers. The average blood PCBs in the workers was 370 ppb. However, the authors state that skin complaints were unrelated to blood pcb levels and appeared to be due to skin contact. Kitamura et al reported a range of skin disorders in 10 of 13 exposed workers with an average blood level of 820 ppb. The disorders occurred on parts of the body not normally in direct contact with PCBs. Bara et al reported that about 45 percent of 118 capacitor workers complained of blackheads and other acne-like symptoms while working with PCBs. The complaints were not related to blood levels of PCBs, and virtually disappeared within a year after exposure had ceased. Inoue et al reported one case of chioracne in an exposed worker whose blood PCBs were in the 190-210 ppb range, but no symptoms in the rest of a small work force whose blood PCBs ranged from 130 to 520 ppb. The Michigan Department of Public Health reported no relationship of any Yusho symptoms to consumption of fish with high levels of PCBs. ouw et al reported 14 cases of dermatitis, eye irritation or burning sensations on the skin out of 34 exposed workers, where air levels of PCBs ranged from 0.32 to 2.22 mg/cum. The complaints appeared to occur more often in those with higher blood PCB levels. Fischbein et al reported that about 50 percent of 326 capacitor manufacturing workers reported a HONS 015941 12 history of dermatological symptom*, th# mo*t common symptom being * rash. Thoss with symptoms had highsr blood levels of high chlorinated PCBs. Baker et al reported no chloraene m 18 exposed workers (average blood PCBs 75.1 ppb) or 19 members of their families (average blood PCBs 33.6 ppb). Maroni et al reported 10 cases of dermatitis (5 diagnosed as active or past chloraene) out of 80 exposed workers. The average blood PCS level in the study was 342 ppb. Smith et al found no chloraene in a study population of 324 exposed workers in capacitor manufacturing and transformer repair, whose average blood PCBs ranged from 38 to S46 ppb. However, there was a significant association of skin rash or dermatitis with blood levels of high chlorinated PCBs. f Interpretation of this mass of data is complicated by the difficulty of diagnosing chloraene, the uncertainties of blood PCB determinations, and the changing technology for making such determinations. Nevertheless, the data suggest strongly that when PCB blood levels exceed about 150-200 ppb chloraene can occur. However, most studies have shown that the occurrence of chloraene is not further associated with blood PCB levels. This suggests that (a) personal idiosyncratic factors may be involved and/or (b) that the high blood levels are an indicator of the existence of environmental contamination which actually produces chloraene by skin contact. * The reports of dermatitis other than chloraene suffer from an additional complication. According to the national Health survey, about one-third of all Americans of working age have at least one current skin condition serious enough to warrant evaluation by a HONS 015942 13 physician [25). Clsarly, substantially mors than one-third must have either a current condition or a history of such a condition in the past. The prevalence figures reported by Maroni et al and Fischbein et al are therefore not in themselves remarkable, but the agreement of Fischbein et al and Smith et al on the relationship between dermatitis and high chlorinated blood ?CSs suggests that this association may be real. Liver Function. Nine studies examined liver function. Meigs et al found one borderline abnormal liver function in 14 exposed workers, lasegawa et al found mild disturbances in exposed workers (increased SCOT, SGPT, SAP. decreased serum cholinester ase) which they did not consider to be clinically significant. Ouw et al, Kitamura et al, Fischbein et al and Baker et al (a non-occupational study) found no abnormalities associated with exposure, except that ouw et al found a high BSP retention in 4 out of 7 workers with blood levels above 500 ppb. Maroni et al found IS out of 80 workers with abnormalities in GGT, OCT and transaminases. Their blood PCB levels were higher than those in the workers with normal liver function. Kreiss et al (non-occupational study) found no relation between livar function and blood PCBs when age and alcohol consumption were taken Into account. Smith et al found elevated SCOT and GCT levels in persons with higher blood PCB levels. ... in summary, S studies of the 9 found some mild liver function abnormalities, none of which were associated with any measurable adverse health effects. The two non-occupational studies. Baker et al and Kreiss et al, found no abnormalities associated with 14 HONS 015943 blood PCS level. Fischbein et al, in their study of capacitor manufacturing workers, noted that "there was a paucity of abnormal results in the biochemical studies". Fat Metabolism. Six studies considered fat metabolism, one, Bumgarner et al, found no relationship between blood cholesterol and blood PCBs. One of the remaining 5, Basegawa et al, found a decrease in cholesterol, glycerides, phospholipids and beta-lipoprotein in exposed workers. Of the remaining 4, Hara et al, Baker et al (non-occupational study), and Smith et al found increased triglyeride levels with increased blood PCBs. Kreiss et al found no association of triglycerides and blood PCBs when cholesterol level was taken into account. Smith et al and Kreiss et al also present contradictory findings with respect to HDL cholesterol levels; the former found an inverse relationship of HDL to blood PCBs; the latter found no relationship, but found a positive association between total cholesterol and blood PCBs. Most studies, including one non-occupational study (Baker et al) have associated increased tryglycerides with PCB exposure. The data on cholesterol are not consistent; an increase, a decrease and no change were found (one study each). HDL cholesterol either decreased or was unchanged (one study each). Even if PCB exposure has some effect on fat metabolism, it appears to be without any apparent clinical significance. Blood and Blood Pressure. There are five studies of blood chemistry; Bumgarner et al, Kitamuxa et al, Fischbein et al. Baker et al, and Maroni et al. None of them report any relationship of blood chemistry to PCB levels. HONS 015944 IS Bumgarner et al and Kreiss at al measured blood pressure in exposed persons. Bumgarner et al found no association with PCBs, but Kreiss et al found a statistically significant association between diastolic blood pressure and blood PCBs. Since there was no control group and since Kreiss et al are the only investigators to report this finding, its significance is not clear at this time. symptoms. Illness and Other Conditions. Six studies investi gated reported symptoms in persons exposed to PCBs. Two of them reported allegedly increased symptoms of various Kinds. Fischbein et al reported a history of gastrointestinal symptoms in 13 percent of 326 capacitor manufacturing workers, a prevalence of from 3.0 to IS.2 percent of various musculoskeletal symptoms, and a prevalence of from 4.8 to 27. of various neurological symptoms. These were, however, unrelated to duration of employment or to level of blood PCBs. Maroni et al reported 8 cases of gastrointestinal complaints in 80 exposed workers, with no indication of whether there was a relationship to deration of employment. They also reported two bleeding haemangiomas and one case of chronic myelocytic leukemia. These findings do not appear to have any significance, since they apparently are unrelated to the circumstances of exposure, and since the following 4 studies reported no syqptom* related to PCBs........... .............. The Michigan Department of Public Health compared a group of persons who consumed sport fish contaminated with PCBs to a group of unexposed controls. The incidence of 18 conditions, many of them the ones reported for Yusho disease, was measured in the two 18 HONS 015945 group*. There were no health condition* that could be correlated with blood FCB level* or fish consumption. Baker et al reported that none of the following conditions were associated with blood PCB levels in a community study; fever, weight loss, anorexia, fatigue, headache, eye irritation, cough,..shortness of breath,.... nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, arthralgia, and persistent skin rash. The community study of Kreiss et al reported the same thing for prevalence of illness or weight loss in the preceding year, us* of medication, us* of medical care, history of heart disease, and percentage of pregnancies ending in miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death. Finally, Smith et al reported an increased prevalence of general malaise and possibly altered peripheral sensation with increased blood PCB levels among occupationally exposed workers, but found no clinical abnormalities on physical examination. The weight of evidence, as Smith *t al conclude, is that no studies to dste "have shown that occupstionsl exposurs to FCBs is sssocisted with any adverse health outcome, to be distinguished from demonstrable subclinical biochemical alterations'*. Two studies considered other conditions in persons exposed to PCBs. Warshaw et al reported decreased vital capacity in capacitor manufacturing workers. However, the pulmonary function values in the study population, most of whom wars current or ex-smokers, were evaluated in comparison with s standard population of non-smokers, so that the sffsct of smoking as t confoundes was not allowed for. MONS 015946 Alvares et al reported that in 5 workers occupationally exposed to PCBs, the rate of drug metabolism was significantly higher than in a group of controls matched for age, sex, and smoking and drinking habits. There appear to be no significant clinical effects associated with the occupational or environmental exposures studied in these reports. Carcinogenicity. It is generally agreed that epidemiologic evidence for carcinogenicity should fulfill certain requirements in order to be acceptable. These requirements deal with the study design, the logic of the observed pattern, and the repeatibility of the results. Table S lists these requirements as given by Doll [2*1 There are four studies directed solely or primarily to the question of the carcinogenicity of PCBs. Table 6 lists the studies and their findings. They are reviewed here keeping in mind Doll's requirements. The most obvious feature of Table 6 is that no study agrees with any other. That is, the requirement of repeatibility is not met. Thm first study, by Bahn at al, observed three melanomas in a group of 92 research and development and refinery workers. These workers had an unkhown exposure to other possible carcinogens, so that there could have been confounding. In any ease the study was withdrawn for revision in the definition of the exposed population, and has not yet been released [34]. HONS 015947 2ack and Mutch studied 89 workers exposed for at least six months between 1945 and 1965 Inclusive. There ware no deaths from cancer of the liver or cirrhosis. The excess in respiratory cancer was based on four deaths and was not statistically significant. At with Bahn. at al there wag confounding because of other chemical exposure at the plant and, in this case, possibly cigarette smoking. Brown and Jones studied 2,567 workers in a capacitor plant. About half the cohort had a latency period of 20 years or mors. Although there was an excess of liver cancer deaths, it wee inversely related to duration and latency of exposure, which does not support an occupational explanation. These was also an excess of rectal cancer. However, the two plants studied are located in an area whose mortality from rectal cancer is greeter than the U.s. average [35]. Since 17.S. population rates ware used as a basis for comparison, the rectsl cancer excess is at least partly an artifact. Bertazzi at al studied 1,310 workers with at least six months employment in capacitor manufacturing between 1946 and 1970. Although excess digestive cancer was observed, there were no liver cancer deaths. The total number of deaths was small (27) and the excess cancer observed wee based on two or three deaths for each of the two major sites involved. There is no indication of the duration or latency of exposure for the cancer deaths. The authors state that there were no other major expoauraa at the plant, and propose to continue the study with a larger cohort, m spite of the atatietieal significance of the excesses from all 19 MOHS 015948 cancers, this study must b considered a preliminary report, particularly since it shares with the other studies a failure to agree on any particular pattern of mortality. The existing mortality studies of occupational exposure do not show the agreement that would lead one to infer an excess risk of cancer. Much of the conflicting findings can be attributed to the possible effect of confounding exposures, and to the "noise level" of sporadic excesses which would be expected in the absence of any occupational hazard. HONS Q15^9 VZ. Summary and conclusions The epidemiologic studies of exposure to PCBS show that the body burden in exposed persons, whether the exposure is by ingestion, inhalation or skin contact, is related to the environmental levels and distribution of PCS. The relation of body burden to duration of exposure is less clear, and appears to differ depending on the degree of chlorination of the pcbs. nevertheless, the evidence is clear that higher exposures mean higher blood PCB levels, and that persons with occupational exposures have blood PCB levels that say be an order of magnitude greater than that of environmentally (that is, non~occupationally) exposed persons. Occupational exposure to PCBs at high levels has been associated with the occurrence of chloracne, but the relationship is not straightforward, suggesting that the actual risk of chloracne is also a function of individual susctptibility and psrsonal work habits, as wall ss possible exposure to other contaminants. Dermatologic problsss other than chloracne are associated with occupational axposure, and may be related to exposure to high chlorinated PCs. Alterations of liver function and fat metabolism associated with PCB exposure have been observed in several studies, but are characterized by investigators as mild and of no clinical significance. HONS 015950 21 The one fact on which all occupational studies of health effects agree is that there has been no clinical illness associated with ?CB exposure other than dermatitis. Studies of non-occupationally exposed populations have found neither dermatitis nor other clinical evidence of exposure-related effects, with the exception of a single study which suggests that diastolic blood pressure may be related to blood level of ?CBs. Mortality studies concerned primarily with cancer present problems of interpretation due to the small sample size of some of the studies, and to the confounding effect of other exposures. However, they do exhibit a pattern, which is that none of the studies agree on the cancer sites at which an excess mortality was found, and the excesses that were found are in general not statistically significant. One must conclude that the findings of the mortality studies reflect a sporadic pattern of excess mortality at different sites which is not consistent with a carcinogenic effect of PCBS. In addition, where an examination of duration and latency of exposure was possible, no association with these variables was*found [32]. Taken as a whole, the epidemiologic studies find that high occupational exposures to PCBs may cause dermatitis of various kinds, but that there are no other clinically observable effects, including the occurrence of cancer. MOWS 015951 References 1. Von Wedel, H et el. observations on the toxic effects resulting from exposures to chlorinated naphthalene and chlorinated phenyls with suggestions for prevention. Rubber Age 54:419, 1943 2. Schwartz, L. Dermstitis from synthetic resins and waxes AJPH 26:586, 1936 ' 3. Meigs, JW et el. Chloracne from an unusual exposure to Arachlor. JAMA 154:1417, 1954 4. Kuratsune, M et tl. Epidemiology study on Yusho. Environ Health Persp 1:119, 1972 5. Urabe, H et al. Present State of Yusho Patients. Ann. H.Y. Acad. sci. 320; 273, 1979 6. Punatso, 1 et al. Polychlorobiphenyls (PCS) induced feto pathy I. Clinical observation (abstract Ho. 72-2360) Kuruae M.J. 19:43, 1972 7. Higuchi, K (ed.) PCB Poisoning and Pollution. Academic Press, NY 1976 8. Kimbrough, R. (ed) Halogenated biphenyls, terphsnyls, naphthalenes, dibenzodioxins and related products. Chapter 9 Bl, Elsevier/North Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam, I960. 9. Michigan Department of Public Heelth. Final Report on FDA Contract 223-73-2209. Evaluation of Changes in the Level of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (FCBs) in Human tissue, 197$ 10. Kreiss, K et al. Association of Blood Pressure and Poly chlorinated Biphenyl Levels. JAMA 245, 250$, 1931 11. Baker, E et al. Metabolic consequences of exposure to poly chlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in sewage sludge. Amer. J. Epid. 112:553, 1980 12. Bumgarner, JE at al. Polychlorinated biphenyl residues in refuse workers. Research triangle Park, nc, usdhew, phs, NXCHS, June 1973, 10 pp. (as reported in M10SH criteria document) 13. Hare, I et al. Follow-up study of condenser factory after use of PCB discontinued. Fart I. Jap. J. Ind. Health 16:365, 1974 14. Rara, 1 et al. Follow-up study of condenser factory after use of PCB discontinued. Fart III. Jap. J. Ind. Health 17:371, 1975 23 HONS 015952 IS. Hasegawa, H et al. Report on survey of work area environ ment where PCS is handled and of the health of workers handling PCB. Special report on prevention of environmental pollution by PCB-iike substances. Japan, Research Coordmation Bureau, Science and Technology Agency, 1972, pp. 141- 16. Inoue, Y et al. Discovery of PCB pollution in a textile factory 1. PCB in blood serum of laborers and results of physical examination. Jap. J. Pub. Health 22:461, 197$ 17. Karppanen, S et al. The concentration of PCB in human blood and adipose tissue in three different research groups: PCB Conference II. Stockholm, 1972 National Swedish Environmental Protection Board {Pub. 1973; 4E) PP. 124-126 18. Kitamura, M et al. PCB in blood of workers employed in an electrical parts manufacturing plant. Jap. J. Ind. Health 15:539, 1973 19. Maroni, M et al. Occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls in electrical workers. X. Environmental and blood polychlorinated biphenyls concentrations. Brit. J. Ind. Med. 38:49, 1981 20. Ouv, HK et al. Use and health effects of arochlor 1242, a polychlorinated biphenyl, in an electrical industry. Arch. Environ. Health 31:189, 1976 21. Smith, AB et al. Metabolic and health consequences of occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Submitted for publication 22. S.C. DHEC Study of Pick!ns sc plant of Sangamo Capacitor Division (news report) Jan. 1978 23. Fischbein, et al. clinical findings among PCB exposed capacitor manufacturing workers. Ann. NYAS 320:203, 1979 24. Maroni, M et al. Occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls II. Health effects Brit. J. ind. Mad. 38:55, 1981 25. national Center for Health statistics. Skin Conditions and Related Meed for Medical Care Among Persons 1-74 years, U.S. 1971-1974. DHEW Pub. MO. <?HS) 79-1660 26. Warshaw et al. Decrease in vital capacity in FCB-exposed workers in a capacitor manufacturing facility. Ann. NYAS 320*277, 1979 27. Alvares, AP et al. Alterations in drug metabolism in 24 HONS 015953 workers exposed to polychlorinated biphenyl*. Clin pharm end Ther. 22;140, 1977 '` 28. Doll. Richard. Relevance of epidemiology to policies for the prevention of cancer, Cehrman Lecture Annual Meeting, AOMA and AIKA, San Francisco, CA Oct. 18, 1980 29. Bahn, AK et al. Melanoma after exposure to PCBe. New Engl. J. M*d. 295:4S0, 1976 ................. 30. Bahn, AK et al. PCB? and melanoma, New Engl. J. Med. 296:108, 1977 31. Zack, JA et al. Mortality of PCB Workers at the Monsanto Plant in sauget, Illinois, in preparation 32. Brown, DP et al. Mortality and Industrial Hygiene study of Workers Exposed to Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Arch. Envir. Health 36:120, 1931 33. Bertaxxi, PA et al. Mortality Study of Male and Female Workers Exposed to FCBs. Int. Symposium on Prev. of Occup. Cancer, Helsinki, Finland April 21-24, 1981 34. NIOSH criteria for a recommended standard - occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) USDHEW, NIOSH Pub. No. 77-225, September 1977 35. Mason, TJ et al. Atlas of Cancer Mortality for U.S. Counties, 1950-1969 DHEW Pub. No. (NIH) 75-780 HONS 015954 25 Table 1 Studies of Environmental Levels and Body Burden of PCBs by Type of Body Burden Measure Study Study Type* Baker, E et al [11] Bumgarner, JE et al [12] Hare, 1 et al [13,14] Basegawa, H et al [IS] Inoue, Y et al [16] Karppanen, E, Kolho, L [17] Kitenure, M et al [11] Maroni, M et al [19] Ouw, HX et al [20] Smith, AB et al [21] A C B, C A,B,C A,C A B A, C A,B A,C High & Low Chlorinated PCBs No NO NO No No No NO Yes Yes Yes Adipose PCBs No NO NO NO NO Yes No No No No * A comparison* of groups with different exposure levels B evaluation of result* of decreasing or removing exposure C * comparisons of groups with different durations of exposure. MOMS 015955 Table 2 Studies of Blood PCB Levels Before and After Exposure Levels Changed, and Interval from Exposure Change to Remeasurement ........ Study Exposure Change Interval to Decrease m Blood Remeasurement PCB Leval Bara et al (13,141 Hasegawa et al (15} Kitaaura et al (IB} Ouv et al (20} Ceased Ceased Ceased Decreased 1 year 1 month 3 months 2 months -75% None >50% None NONS 015956 Table 3 Studies of PCS Levels by Duration of Exposure Study Relationship of Blood PCI to Duration of Exposure Age Race Bumgarner et *1 (12] No No No Bare et el [13,14] Yes Hasagave et el [IS] No Znoue et el {16] Yes HONS 01595 Table 4 VCB Ipidseiology Studies (other titan Mortality) and Sunnary of Finding** 1 Hematologic Physiological Syeptoee Other Finding* Parameters and Illness Alvars* et al (271 Baknr et al (111 . Buegarner et al (12) Y M YM N Fischbein et al (231 YYY Bara et al (13.14] YY Hasegawa et al (IS] YY .lnooe et al (14] Karppanen. Kolho (17] Kitastura et al I IS] Y YM M Kreise et al 110] YNM Maroni et al (24| YYY Meigs et al (3) YY Michigan Dept of Public Health (9] N N Ouv et al [20] YN Seith et al (21] MYY South Carolina Dept, of Health and Environmental Control (22) N Warshaw et al (26) YY HONS 015958 Y Findings associated with exposure N = No findings associated with exposure Ho entry No data presented Tablt 5 REQUIREMENTS FOR ESTABLISHING CARCINOGENICITY FROM EPIDEMIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE Positive Associations in groups of individuals with known axposura (casa-control or cohort studiss). That ara not axplainad by bias in racording or dataction. That ara not axplainad by confounding. That ara not axplainad by chanca. nut vary approprlataly with dosa. That vary appxopriataly with pariod of axposura. That ara obsarvad rapaatadly in diffarant circunstancas. HONS 015959 Table 6 Inconsistencies in Studies of Ctnesr in PCB Exposed Populations, with Findings study No. Studied Findings Bahn et al [29,30] Zack, Nuseh (31) Brown, Jones [32] Bertazzi et al [33] 92 89 2,367 1,310 Melanoma** Lung Uver Rectus Digestive* Lymphatic and hematopoietic * Significant at S percent level ** Significant at 1 percent level MONS 015960