The prevalence of serum polychlorinated biphenyls and their association with blood pressure in a community environmentally exposed

Elevated blood pressure is a known risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic heart disease. Within the last few years, positive associations between exposure to Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and blood pressure have been reported. As a result, concern about hypertension due to PCB exposure has been raised in communities with environmental sources of PCB contamination. In response to this concern, a community-wide epidemiologic investigation was conducted.

The three goals of this study were (1) to document serum levels of PCBs in a community with no known occupational risk of exposure; (2) to identify possible pathways of human exposure; and (3) to determine if there was an association between hypertension and PCB exposure.

The mean total PCB level for males was 8.1 ug/l and 7.8 ug/l for females. Approximately 3.6 percent of the study population had serum PCB levels greater than or equal to 20 ug/l.

There were statistically significant trends between increasing systolic and diastolic blood pressure and PCB level. After adjustment for other variables in the multivariate regression analysis models, PCB exposure was not associated with either diastolic or systolic blood pressure.

There was no association between high or low density cholesterol and PCB level. No statistically significant associations between PCB level and gender, race, educational level, employment status, dietary consumption of game and vegetation, or recreational activities were identified.

The results of this study indicate that in spite of the great potential for exposure due to PCB contaminated media, individuals living in the community were generally not at increased risk as indicated by serum PCB levels.