Conjugal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons that have attrac ted much public health attention. Having been used in industry since the 1930s, PCBs were found to be almost ubiquitous in the environment by 1966.1 Owing to their excellent dielectric and insulating properties, PCBs have been used in transformers and capacitors, hydraulic systems, paints and other sur face coatings, and as a constituent in carbonless copy ing paper. Manufacture of PCBs was discontinued in the United States in 1977 because of concern over potential adverse health effects. Their use, storage, and disposal have subsequently been strictly regulated.2 Adverse health effects from accidental exposure to PCBs and their toxic contaminants, notably poly chlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), have been reported from Japan and Taiwan in connection with two episodes involving ingestion of contaminated rice cooking oil. The clinical syndromes, known as "yusho" (Japanese: oil disease) and "yu-cneng" (Chi nese: oil disease) included chloracne, abnormalities in liver function in severely affected subjects, and raised concentrations of serum triglyc?rides.3 More recent studies of occupationally exposed populations have reported less severe clinical manifestations despite the presence of high serum concentrations of PCBs.4 In 1935 chloracne was reported in family members of a worker employed in a factory in which chlo rinated biphenyls and chlorinated naphthalenes were manufactured and it was suggested that household exposure had occurred through chemical laden clothes.5 In the present two cases there is analytical chemical evidence of transmission of PCBs from transformer maintenance workers to their wives.