[Serum polychlorinated biphenyls levels in some reproductive aged men in Wuhan and the influencing factors in 2013]

Objective: To measure polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) concentrations in serum of some reproductive aged men in Wuhan and explore the influencing factors of PCBs exposure.

Methods: Based on a cross-sectional study in 2013 on the association between exposure to environmental pollutants and adverse male reproductive health, which was conducted in Wuhan. Levels of dioxins-like PCBs(dl-PCBs) and non-dioxin-like PCBs(ndl-PCBs) in 101 serum samples of men with childbearing age were analyzed via high-resolution gas chromatograph tandem high-resolution mass spectrometer(HRGC-HRMS) method. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the associations between PCBs levels and influencing factors.

Results: Total concentrations of twelve dl-PCBs(Σdl-PCBs) were in range of 177.85-7271.48 pg/g lipid, the median value was 1530.71 pg/g lipid, and CB-118 was the predominant congener. For six ndl-PCBs, total concentrations(Σndl-PCBs) were in range of 1463.23-40561.47 pg/g lipid, the median value was 5498.37 pg/g lipid, and CB-153 was the predominant congener. The World Health Organization toxicity equivalent(WHO_(2005)-TEQ) of dl-PCBs(ΣTEQ_(dl-PCBs)) were 0.02-162.29 pg TEQ/g lipid, the median value was 1.77 pg TEQ/g lipid. The age was positively correlated with Σmono-ortho PCBs(β=0.01, 95%CI 0.00-0.02), ΣTEQ_(mono-ortho PCBs)(β=0.01, 95%CI 0.00-0.02) and Σndl-PCBs(β=0.02, 95%CI 0.00-0.03). Men who drank alcohol tend to show higher exposure to ΣTEQ_(dl-PCBs)(β=0.56, 95%CI 0.13-1.00) than those did not drink alcohol. And higher levels of Σndl-PCBs(β=0.15, 95%CI 0.04-0.26) was found in the men who reside in urban areas as compared to rural one.

Conclusion: There were PCBs exposure in some reproductive aged men in Wuhan. Age, drink alcohol status, and residence were influencing factors on PCBs.