Immunotoxicity and thyrotoxicity of polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBS] in human and experimental animals

ABSTRACT

Since polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs] are among the most persistant and abundant chlorinated hydrocarbon contaminants that create a potential health hazard for human beings and animals, it was the aim of the present study to shed light on the effects of PCBs on some important immune factors in workers and experimental animals and evaluate the effects of PCBs on the level of thyroid hormones that may alter the neurodevelopmental process in human. The level of immunoglobulins [IgG and IgM] were detected in the sera of workers exposed to PCBs in their blood and also the level of IgG and IgM were detected in the sera of albino rats after exposure to PCBs with detection of IgE that bind to specific cell surface receptors on tissue mast cells. Serum IgG and IgM level were estimated by an Enzyme Linked immuno Sorbant Assay [ELISA]. Rats were sacrificed to study mast cell degranulation .The level of thyroid hormones Triiodothyronine [T3], Thyroxine [T4] and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone [TSH] were detected on workeres and experimental animals as an indicator for thyrotoxicity of PCBs. The results had shown a significant decrease in IgG and IgM with increased degranulation of mast cells as an indicator of immunotoxicity and decrease in thyroid hormones levels as an indicator of thyrotoxicity