Title:Polychlorinated Biphenyls: A Review of Recent Updates on Food Safety
and Environmental Monitoring, Health and Toxicological Implications,
and Analysis
Volume: 23
Issue: 13
Author(s): Elahe Zarerad, Kimia Niksalehi, Maryam Armandeh, Mahmood Alizadeh Sani, Mahshid Ataei, Taraneh Mousavi, Armin Salek Maghsoudi*Shokoufeh Hassani*
Affiliation:
- Department of Toxicology and
Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
- Department of Toxicology and
Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
- Toxicology and Diseases Group (TDG), Pharmaceutical Sciences Research
Center (PSRC), The Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS),
Tehran, Iran
Keywords:
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), environmental pollutant, toxicity, food contaminants, analytical methods, health implications.
Abstract: A class of organic chemicals known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) consists of
chlorine, hydrogen, and carbon atoms. High boiling points, chemical stability, non-flammability,
and insulating properties have enabled them to be used in various industries. Because of their high
toxicity, PCBs were one of the first industrial compounds to be banned from production. These
compounds have high-fat solubility with bioaccumulation and biomagnification properties in the
environment, food chain, and individuals. Hence, they may have an impact not only on individual
organisms but ultimately on whole ecosystems. The main sources of PCB exposure are food and
environmental pollutants. In the toxicology of PCBs, oxidative stress plays the most influential
function. The induction of CYP1A1 due to the high affinity of PCBs for aryl hydrocarbon receptors
is considered a trigger for oxidative stress. Production of reactive oxygen species and depletion of
glutathione occur due to phase Ⅰ and Ⅱ metabolism, respectively. Thus, cellular redox balance may
be disrupted in the presence of PCBs and their metabolites. Chronic and long-term exposure to these
compounds can often lead to life-threatening diseases, like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular and
neurological diseases, cancer, and reproductive and endocrine disorders. We present the current
knowledge of the routes of PCB exposure and bioaccumulation, the outlook regarding environmental
and food safety, the potential role of PCBs in various diseases, the principal mechanisms responsible
for PCB toxicity, and the main detection techniques used for PCBs.
