US EPA

470978 

Journal Article 

Polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and neuropsychological status among older residents of upper Hudson River communities 

Fitzgerald, EF; Belanger, EE; Gomez, MI; Cayo, M; McCaffrey, RJ; Seegal, RF; Jansing, RL; Hwang, SA; Hicks, HE 

2008 

Yes 

Environmental Health Perspectives
ISSN: 0091-6765
EISSN: 1552-9924 

116 

2 

209-215 

English 

18288320 

10.1289/ehp.10432 

WOS:000252831800032 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2235204/
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BACKGROUND: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may accelerate the cognitive and motor dysfunction found in normal aging, but few studies have examined these outcomes and PCB exposure among older adults. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated neuropsychological status and low-level PCB exposure among older adults living along contaminated portions of the upper Hudson River in New York. METHODS: A total of 253 Persons between 55 and 74 years of age were recruited and interviewed, and provided blood sample 3 for congener-specific PCB analysis. Participants also underwent a neuropsychological battery consisting of 34 tests capable of detecting subtle deficits in cognition, motor function, affective state, and olfactory function. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounders, the results indicated that an increase in serum total PCB concentration from 250 to 500 ppb (lipid basis) was associated with a 6.2% decrease in verbal learning, as measured by California Verbal Learning Test trial I score (p = 0.035), and with a 19.2% increase in depressive symptoms, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that exposure to PCBs may be associated with some measures of memory and learning and depression among adults 55-74 years of age whose current body burdens are similar to those of the general population. Although the results are useful in delineating the neuropsychological effects of low-level exposure to PCBs, further studies of whether older men and women are a sensitive subpopulation are needed. 

adult; affective symptoms; hazardous waste; neurobehavioral; manifestations; neuropsychological tests; polychlorinated biphenyls; dioxin-like compounds; great-lakes fish; pcb exposure; depression; memory; blood; lead; serotonin; disease; humans