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The Epidemiology of PCBs by William R. Gaffey Monsanto Company September IS, 1981 I. Summary Twenty four published and unpublished reports covering 21 epidemiologic studies of human exposure to PCBs were reviewed and evaluated. The studies showed 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 these 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. 1 HONS 01W33 II. Introduction This is a review and evaluation of the epidemiologic evidence concerning the health effects of exposure to PCBs, particularly at levels that do not cause acute toxic effects. A 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 Vfedel et al [1], Schwartz [2]). Such studies are 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, and are therefore not included in this review. The studies reviewed here fall into three categories. First, there are studies of accidental heavy exposures and the resulting acute and chronic effects. In each case the study was prompted by an outbreak of illness or the occurrence of a death in an exposed population, after which the population was studied. Second, there are studies of the relationship between exposure to PCBs and the resulting body burden of PCBs in serum or adipose tissue. Strictly speaking these are not epidemiologic studies since they do not deal with health effects. However, if a relationship between level of exposure and body burden cannot be verified, the interpretation of epidemiologic studies becomes difficult if not impossible. 2 HONS 01W3< The third category is studies that were done because the populations in question were known or suspected to be exposed to PCBs, rather than because some untoward health outcome had been observed first. j 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 PCB exposure versus body burden, and third the epidemiologic studies of exposed populations. In the latter section the discussion will be organized with respect to the health effects that were investigated. These are (a) dermatologic symptoms, (b) biochemical alterations, (c) other symptoms and illnesses, (d) carcinogenicity. 3 HONS 011135 III. Accidental Heavy Exposures Two epidemiologic studies of accidental exposure have been reported. The first, by Meigs et al [3] in 1954, described 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 PCB were stated to be 0.1 mg/cum. seven of 14 exposed workers developed chloracne, but liver function tests were normal in six of these, with some borderline abnormalities in the seventh. The chloracne disappeared after treatment, and the single borderline liver function abnormality improved, but did not disappear after 13 months. Improved process control prevented any recurrence. Although the estimated PCB level must be accepted with reservation because of the state of the art at that time, it is clear that the chloracne resulted from the PCB exposure. Given the lack of controls and the small rate of abnormal liver function, it is unlikely that the PCB exposure had any connection with the liver function findings. The second incident is the now famous Yusho incident in 196B which has been documented in many reports (Kuratsune et al [4], Urabe 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, discharge from the eyes, central nervous system symptoms, and vomiting and diarrhea. There was a 4 *0AS 01l736 dose-response 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 affected by Yusho, nine showed hyperpigmentation and most had increased eye discharges. These symptoms later disappeared. Although there have been reports of premature eruption of teeth (two children out of a series of 13) and 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 (Funatsu et al [6]). In general, laboratory tests of the Yusho victims showed elevated serum triglyceride levels, low serum chlolesterol in serious cases, and elevated SGOT and SGPT levels in serious cases (Biguchi [7]). AS of the end of 1977, 51 deaths among Yusho patients had been identified [5]. The percentage of cancer deaths (35.4) exceeded that of the prefecture in which the deaths occurred (21.1). However, the figures do not appear to be very useful for several reasons. First, after the original incident, the criteria for diagnosis of Yusho had been changed, so that it is impossible to determine the denominator which produced this number. The completeness of ascertainment of the deaths is unknown. In addition, no adjustment for age appeared to have been made in the HONS 011737 5 above comparison. Finally, the average elapsed time from exposure to death was less than ten years, and cannot be calculated precisely because the dates of death are not provided. This may well 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 and of the estimated intake by the patients shows that the exposure to polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated guater-phenyls (PCfts) was about equal to the exposure to PCBs, and current determinations of PCQs in blood and other tissues of Yusho patients have shown levels similar to that of PCBs [6]. It is therefore doubtful whether any generalization can be made from this incident to lower level environmental or occupational exposures to PCBs. 6 HONS 011738 IV. Environmental Levels and Body Burdens Two studies of the relationship between ingestion of PCBs and blood levels of PCBs have been reported (Michigan Dept, of Public Health [9] and Kreiss et al [10]). In each case 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 PCBs 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, 6ex 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 PCBs are a function of ingestion of PCBs 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 PCBs and exposure to atmospheric PCBs have been made, most of them in conjunction with studies of health effects. The portions of the studies relevant to this section are 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 tine in a single group after PCBs have been removed from the environment (or after 7 HONS 011739 the group has left the environment). The third. Type C, compares groups that have had different durations of exposure. Often the same 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 PCBs, 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 and lower chlorinated biphenyls were made. All of the studies except Baker et al are occupational. All of the Type A studies agree in showing a higher body burden of PCBs in populations with higher environmental exposure, except for one anomaly in Baker et al. There, persons exposed to sludge containing PCBs had slightly lower blood levels than the . controls, on the average. However, the sludge exposed persons and the controls were not matched for age, which Kreiss et al showed to be the most important factor associated with blood PCB level. It therefore appears unequivocal that higher exposure to PCBs swans a higher body burden, all other things being equal. 8 HONS 0 The 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 showing no decrease remeasured their study groups within a month or two aftjer exposure changed. The ones showing a decrease remeasured after three months and one year. The fact that Ouw et al found no decrease after two months while Kitamura et al found over a 50 percent decrease after three months gives rise to some uneasiness. However, in the former study exposure vps 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 Basegawa et al bad 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 PCBs and low chlorinated PCBs between workers with present and past exposures. They found differences in the 9 HONS 011741 low chlorinated PCBs but not in the high chlorinated compounds. Even though their analysis did not adjust 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 jthe FCBs. 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 may 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 011742 10 V. Epidemiologic Studies of FCBs and- Health Excluding mortality studies, there are 17 epidemiologic studies of health effects related to PCB exposure. The accident repprt 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 [13,14,15,16,18]. The details of those studies are taken from the MlOSH 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 whom were exposed regularly to PCBs. The authors state that there is "no evidence of physical harm resulting from working with PCBs". The remaining 15 studies in Table 4 are reviewed below with respect to their findings in each major category of health ffects. The studies are considered in the order of their publication. Dermatologic effects. There are 11 studies of dermatologic effects associated with PCB exposure. The first is Meigs et al 11 HONS 011743 described in Section II above, who found that 7 of 14 exposed workers got chloracne where the PCB 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 acnp-like lesions of the jaw, back and thighs in exposed workers. a 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. Hara 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 chloracne 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 12 HONS 011744 history of dermatological symptoms, the most common symptom being a rash. Those with symptoms had higher blood levels of high chlorinated PCBs. Baker et al reported no chloracne in 18 exposed workers (average blood PCBs 75.1 ppb) or 19 members of their families (average blood PCBs 33.6 ppb). Haroni et al reported 10 casps of dermatitis (5 diagnosed as active or past chloracne) out of BO exposed workers. The average blood PCB level in the study was 342 ppb. Smith et al found no chloracne in a study population of 324 exposed workers in capacitor manufacturing and transformer repair, whose average blood PCBs ranged from 38 to 546 ppb. However, there was a significant association of skin rash or dermatitis with blood levels of high chlorinated PCBs. t , Interpretation of this mass of data is complicated by the difficulty of diagnosing chloracne, 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 chloracne can occur. However, most studies have shown that the occurrence of chloracne 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 chloracne by skin contact. The reports of dermatitis other than chloracne 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 13 HONS 011745 physician [25]. Clearly, substantially more 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 agreement of Fischbein et al and Smith et al on the relationship between dermatitis and high chlorinated blood PCBs 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. Hasegawa et al found mild disturbances in exposed workers (increased SGOT, 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 16 out of BO 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 liver function and blood PCBs when age and alcohol consumption were taken into account. Smith et al found elevated SGOT and GGT levels in persons with higher blood PCB levels. In summary, 5 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 Oil746 blood PCB level. Fiechbein 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 s an<f blood PCBs. One of the remaining 5, Hasegawa 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, Kitamura et al, Fischbein et al. Baker t al, and Naroni et al. None of them report any relationship of blood chemistry to PCB levels. 15 HONS 011747 Bumgarner et al and Kreiss et 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 t` to 'report thi6 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 18 percent of 326 capacitor manufacturing workers, a prevalence of from 3.0 to 15.2 percent of various musculoskeletal symptoms, and a prevalence of from 4.8 to 27.8 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 duration 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 symptoms 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 16 HONS 011748 groups. There were no health conditions that could be correlated with blood FCB levels 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, f naufcea, 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, use of medication, use 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 et al conclude, is that no studies to date "have shown that occupational exposure to PCBs is associated 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 were current or ex-smokers, were evaluated in comparison with a standard population of non-smokers, so that the effect of smoking as a confounder was not allowed for. 17 MOMS 011749 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 5 lists these requirements as given by Doll [28]. 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. The first study, by Bahn et al, observed three melanomas in a group of 92 research and development and refinery workers. These workers had an unknown exposure to other possible carcinogens, so that there could have been confounding. In any case the study was withdrawn for revision in the definition of the exposed population, and has not yet been released [34]. HOAS 011750 IB Back and Musch studied 89 workers exposed for at least six onths between 1945 and 1965 inclusive. There were no deaths from cancer of the liver or cirrhosis. The excess in respiratory cancer was based on four deaths and was not statistically significant. As with Bahn et al there was confounding because of I 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 more. Although there was an excess of liver cancer deaths, it was inversely related to duration and latency of exposure,, which does not support an occupational explanation. There was also an excess of rectal cancer. However, the two plants studied are located in an area whose mortality from rectal cancer is greater than the U.S. average [35]. Since U.S. population rates were used as a basis for comparison, the rectal cancer excess is at least partly an artifact. Bertazzi et 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 was 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 exposures at the plant, and propose to continue the study with a larger cohort. In spite of the statistical significance of the excesses from all 19 MGNS 011751 cancers, this study must be 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 notf 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 011752 20 VI. 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 PCB. 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 may 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 susceptibility and personal work habits, as well as possible exposure to other contaminants. Dermatologic problems other than chloracne are associated with occupational exposure, and may be related to exposure to high chlorinated PCBs. 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 011753 21 The one fact on which all occupational studies of health effects agree is that there has been no clinical illness associated with PCB exposure other than dermatitis. Studies of non-occupationally exposed populations have folmd neither dei^aatitis nor other clinical evidence of exposure-related I effects, with the exception of a single study which suggests that diastolic blood pressure may be related to blood level of PCBs. 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 i6 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. 22 MOWS Oil 754 References 1. Von Wedel, H et al. 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. Dermatitis from synthetic resins and waxes. ^ AJPH 26:586, 1936 3t. Meigs, JW et al. Chloracne from an unusual exposure to ' Arachlor. JAMA 154:1417, 1954 4. Kuratsune, M et al. Epidemiology study on Yusho. Environ Health Persp 1:119, 1972 5. Urabe, H et al. Present State of Yusho Patients. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 320; 273, 1979 6. Funatso, I et al. Polychlorobiphenyls (PCB) induced feto pathy I. Clinical observation (abstract No. 72-2360) Kurume M.J. 19:43, 1972 7. Higuchi, K (ed.) PCB Poisoning and Pollution. Academic Press, NY 1976 8. Kimbrough, R. (ed) Halogenated biphenyls, terphenyls, naphthalenes, dibenzodioxins and related products, Chapter 9 Bl, Elsevier/North Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam, 1980. 9. Michigan Department of Public Health. Final Report on FDA Contract 223-73-2209. Evaluation of Changes in the Level of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Human Tissue, 1975 10. Kreiss, K et al. Association of Blood Pressure and Poly chlorinated Biphenyl Levels. JAMA 245, 2505, 1981 11. Baker, E et al. Metabolic consequences of exposure to poly chlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in sewage sludge. Amer. J. Epid. 112:553, I960 12. Bumgarner, JE et al. Polychlorinated biphenyl residues in refuse workers. Research Triangle Park, NC, usdhew, phs, NIEHS, June 1973, 10 pp. (as reported in NIOSH criteria document) 13. Hara, I et al. Follow-up study of condenser factory after use of PCB discontinued. Part 1. Jap. J. Ind. Health 16:365, 1974 14. Hara, 1 et al. Follow-up study of condenser factory after use of PCB discontinued. Part III. Jap. J. Ind. Health 17:371, 1975 23 HONS 011755 15. Hasegawa, H et al. Report on survey'of work area environ ment where PCB is handled and of the health of workers handling PCB. Special report on prevention of environmental pollution by PCB-like substances. Japan, Research Coordin ation Bureau, Science and Technology Agency, 1972, pp. 141 99 16. Inoue, Y et al. Discovery of PCB pollution in a textile ; factory I. PCB in blood serum of laborers and results of t physical examination. Jap. J. Pub. Health 22:461, 1975 17. Karppanen, E 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. 124-128 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. I. Environmental and blood polychlorinated biphenyls concentrations. Brit. J. Ind. Med. 38:49, 1981 20. Ouw, 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 Pickins 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. Med. 38:55, 1981 25. National Center for Health Statistics. Skin Conditions and Related Need for Medical Care Among Persons 1-74 years, U.S. 1971-1974. DHEW Pub. No. (FHS) 79-1660 26. Warshaw et al. Decrease in vital capacity in PCB-exposed workers in a capacitor manufacturing facility. Ann. NYAS 320:277, 1979 27. Alvares, AP et al. Alterations in drug metabolism in HONS 011756 24 workers exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls. Clin. Phans, and Ther. 22:140, 1977 26. Doll, Richard. Relevance of epidemiology to policies for the prevention of cancer, Gehrman Lecture Annual Meeting, AOMA and AIHA, San Francisco, CA Oct. 18, 1980 29. Bahn, AX et al. Melanoma after exposure to PCBs. New Engl. J. Med. 295:450, 1976 3QL Bahn, AK et al. PCB? and melanoma, New Engl. J. Med. ; 296:106, 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, 1981 33. Bertazzi, FA et al. Mortality Study of Male and Female Workers Exposed to PCBs. 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 25 HONS 011757 Table 1 Studies of Environmental Levels and Body Burden of PCBs by Type of Body Burden Measure f Study t - Baker, E et al [11] Study Type* A Bumgarner, JE et al [12] C Hara, 1 et al [13,14] B,C Basegawa, H et al [15] A,B,C Inoue, Y et al [16] A.C Karppanen, E, Kolho, L [17] A Xitamura, M et al [18] B Maroni, M et al [19] A.C Ouw, HK et al [20] A,B Smith, AB et al [21] A.C High & Low Chlorinated PCBs Ho No Ho No No No No Yes Yes Yes Adipose PCBs No No No No No Yes No No No No * A = comparisons of groups with different exposure levels B = evaluation of results of decreasing or removing exposure C " comparisons of groups with different durations of exposure. MQNS 011758 Table 2 Studies of Blood PCB Levels Before and After Exposure Levels Changed, and Interval from Exposure Change to Remeasurement f ' Study Exposure Change Interval to Decrease in Blood Remeasurement PCB Level Bara et al [13,14] Basegava et al [15] Kitaaura et al [18] Ouv et al [20] Ceased Ceased Ceased Decreased 1 year 1 month 3 months 2 months "75% None >50% None HONS 011759 Table 3 Studies of PCB Levels by Duration of Exposure Study Relationship of Blood PCB to Duration of Exposure Age Race Bungaraer et al [12] Mo No No Bara et al [13,14] Yes Hasegawa et al [15] Mo Inoue et al [16] Yes HONS 011760 Table 4 FCS Kpidemiology studies (other than mortality) and Summary ef~Findings* Dermatologic Findings Fhyaiological Parameters Symptoms and Illness Other Alvares et al [27] Baker et al [11] Bumgarner et al [12] Fischbein et al [23] Y N YN N YYY Hara et al [13.14] Hasegava et al [15] YY YY . Inoue et al [16] Y Karppanen, Kolho [17] Kitamura et al [IB] YN H Kreiss et al [10] Maroni et al [24] Meigs et al [3] YNN Y YY YY Michigan Dept of Public Health [9] N N Ouw et al [20] YN Smith et al [21] N YY South Carolina Dept, of Health and Environmental Control [22] Warshaw et al [26] M YY * Y Findings associated with exposure H * Ho findings associated with exposure No entry * No data presented HONS 011761 Table 5 REQUIREMENTS FOR ESTABLISHING CARCINOGENICITY . FROM EPIDEMIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE * Positive associations in groups of individuals with known exposure (case-control or cohort studies). That are not explained by bias in recording or detection. That are not explained by confounding. That are not explained by chance. That vary appropriately with dose. That vary appropriately with period of exposure. That are observed repeatedly in different circumstances. HONS 011762 Table 6 Inconsistencies in Studies of Cancer in PCB Exposed Populations, with Findings Study Mo. Studied Findinqs Bahn et al [29,30] Zacfc, Musch [31] Brown, Jones [32] Bertazzi et al [33] 92 B9 2,567 1,310 Melanoma** Lung Liver Rectum Digestive* Lymphatic and hematopoietic * Significant at 5 percent level ** Significant at 1 percent level HONS 011763