Grantee Research Project Results
Polychlorinated Biphenyl and Polychlorinated Dibenzofuran Biomarkers of Risk Assessment in Adolescent Children and their Mothers
EPA Grant Number: R825386Title: Polychlorinated Biphenyl and Polychlorinated Dibenzofuran Biomarkers of Risk Assessment in Adolescent Children and their Mothers
Investigators: Lambert, George H. , Guo, Yueleong Leon , Humphrey, Hal , Needham, Larry
Institution: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: February 17, 1997 through February 16, 2000
Project Amount: $472,830
RFA: Exposure of Children to Pesticides (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Children's Health , Human Health , Pesticides , Safer Chemicals
Description:
This is two cohort comparison study of endocrine and cytochrome P450 family 1 biomarkers for risk assessment of polychlorinalted biphenyls (PCBs)/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) induced developmental toxicities in the human. The subjects will be sexually mature adolescents exposed to high levels of PCBs/PCDFs since conception and their mothers. One cohort exposed to PCBs and PCDFs during childhood experienced diminished neurobehavioral function, birth defects, and abnormal sexual maturation; while the other cohort was not so severely affected during childhood. Each exposed subject and their mothers will be compared to their previously identified matched control subjects.The cytochrome P450 family 1 biomarkers include in vivo activity of cytochrome P4501A2 as determined by the [13 C] caffeine breath test, Ah receptor levels in blood lymphocytes, cytochrome P43501A1 inducibility as well as the polymorphism of the CYP1A1 gene. The endocrine biomarkers included serum T4, T3, TSH, estrogen, testosterone, FSH & LH levels. The adverse human health effects that will be examined for or are already documented in these subjects are, abnormal or delayed sexual maturation including penis size and areolar width, sperm counts, abnormal ectodermal tissue development (chloracne, hyperpigmentation, dentition), growth, tympanic membrane perforations and scarring, medical history of recurrent illnesses including respiratory illnesses and otitis media, menstrual abnormalities, and abnormal neurobehavioral development.
The data will be analyzed to determine the relationship between the biomarkers and health effects, and the congener specific PCB/PCDF serum levels and biomarker level or human health outcome. Also, the effects of time of life when the exposure occurred (in utero or adult) and/or gender on biomarker level and human health outcome will be determined.
This study should assess the capacity of these most promising biomarkers to be predictive of human health risk and thereby help to reduce the uncertainty of risk assessment in some of the most sensitive organ systems (endocrine and liver) and in the most precious and sensitive population, the developing human.
Supplemental Keywords:
RFA, Scientific Discipline, Health, Toxicology, Environmental Chemistry, Health Risk Assessment, Genetics, Endocrine Disruptors - Environmental Exposure & Risk, endocrine disruptors, Risk Assessments, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Children's Health, genetic susceptability, Endocrine Disruptors - Human Health, birth defects, health effects, pesticide exposure, risk assessment, sensitive populations, abnormal sexual maturation, cytochrome P450, biomarkers, adolescents, mothers, measuring childhood exposure, PCBs, estrogen, endocrine disrupting chemicals, human malformation, children, assessment of exposure, children's vulnerablity, furans, insecticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, toxicity, human exposure, pesticide residues, environmental toxicant, biological markers, growth & development, menstrual abnormalities, blood lymphocytes, developmental disorders, comparison study, maternal exposure, environmental hazard exposuresProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.