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Inhalation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) Produces Hyperactivity in Rats
John P Lombardo1, David F Berger1, Anne Hunt2
1a Department of Psychology , SUNY College at Cortland , Cortland , New York , USA.
Insights
Inhaling persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may cause hyperactivity in children. Studies show PCB inhalation in rats led to ADHD-like behaviors, especially in males.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Neuroscience
- Toxicology
Background:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral syndrome more prevalent in males.
- Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), specifically polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), is increasingly linked to ADHD risk.
- While ingestion is a known exposure route, inhalation of PCBs from contaminated air, particularly in indoor environments like schools, is a growing concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neurobehavioral effects of inhaling PCB-contaminated air.
- To compare the impact of Aroclor 1248 and PCB-contaminated sediment inhalation on operant behavior in rats.
- To examine sex-specific differences in behavioral responses to PCB inhalation.
Main Methods:
- Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to vapor-phase PCBs via inhalation.
- Exposure sources included Aroclor 1248 and PCB-contaminated sediment from the St. Lawrence River.
- Operant behavior was assessed to measure hyperactivity and impatience.
Main Results:
- Inhalation of PCB-contaminated air, from both Aroclor 1248 and sediment, induced hyperactivity and impatience in rats.
- These behavioral changes were more pronounced in male rats compared to females.
- Control groups did not exhibit the same behavioral alterations.
Conclusions:
- Inhalation of PCBs, even from environmental sources like contaminated air and sediment, can lead to neurobehavioral changes.
- These findings support the hypothesis that inhalation exposure to PCBs may contribute to ADHD-like behaviors in children.
- Sex-specific susceptibility to PCB-induced behavioral effects warrants further investigation.
Abstract:
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a serious behavioral syndrome seen in children, and more common in males than females. There is increasing evidence that prenatal and/or early life exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POP) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) is associated with increased risk of ADHD occurrence. While PCB exposure is usually attributed to ingestion of contaminated food, recent reports of elevated PCB concentrations in indoor air, especially in schools, raised concern regarding inhalation as an important route of exposure to PCB with consequent effects on neurobehavior. The effects of exposure to air contaminated with Aroclor 1248 or contaminated sediment (SED) from the St. Lawrence River were examined on operant behavior of male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Data showed that relative to controls, vapor-phase inhalation of PCB, whether from blowing air over Aroclor 1248 or from blowing air over sediment contaminated with PCB, resulted in hyperactivity and impatience in rats, more pronounced in males than females. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that inhalation of PCB may contribute to behavioral abnormalities in children.
