CREAL researchers conclude PCBs impairs fetal growth

The collaboration between ENRIECO and Obelix has published a study that suggests that low-level exposure to PCB (or correlated exposures) impairs fetal growth, while DDE (DDE arises from the metabolism of the DDT pesticide) exposure does not. The study adds to mounting evidence that low-level exposure to PCBs is inversely associated with fetal growth.

Exposure to high concentrations of persistent organochlorines may cause fetal toxicity, but the evidence at low exposure levels is limited. In this paper we examine the hypothesis that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) adversely affects birth weight.

Maternal and cord blood and breast milk samples were collected from 7,990 women enrolled in 15 study populations from 12 European birth cohorts between 1990 and 2008.
PCBs are compounds that were used primarily in the electrical industry. The main routes of ingestion of PCBs in humans are inhalation and food, especially food as likely to be contaminated as seafood.