Children who are exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which were
commonly used in a range of industrial products, could be at risk of an
increase in asthma symptoms, according to new research.
The study will be presented in a
poster discussion this week (Sunday 2 September 2012) at the European
Respiratory Society’s Annual Congress in Vienna.
PCBs were regularly used between
1930s and 1970s in a range of electrical equipment, lubricants and paint
additives. They were eventually phased out due to the harm they were causing to
the environment and animals.
Although they are not widely used
now, the toxic substance does not break down easily. It can be transported in
water and air and it can exist in the environment, particularly at waste sites,
for a number of years.
Researchers from the University
of Queensland in Australia examined 240 children to assess the impact PCBs are
having on asthma symptoms. They measured the levels of PCBs found in their
blood, along with three pesticides, and also assessed prevalence of wheeze, a
common symptom of asthma.
The results found that overall,
those with higher levels of PCBs were more likely to report wheeze (odds ratio
1.61). The findings also suggest that the link between PCBs and wheeze was
stronger in non-atopic (non-allergic) asthma.
Lead author, Professor Sly, from
the University of Queensland, said: “Despite PCBs being banned from use in many
countries, people are still suffering from the effects of these toxic
substances. Our findings suggest that people with high levels of the chemicals
in their blood stream are suffering from higher levels of wheeze, a common
asthma symptom.
“This could be due to high
concentration levels being passed from a mother to a baby while in the womb, or
PCBs may be ingested if a person consumes contaminated food. They could also be
inhaled from contaminated hazardous waste sites.”
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