Whole-body pharmacokinetics, maternal-placental transfer, and physiologically based modeling of inhaled 2,2’,5,5’-Tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB52) in rats and human

The commercial production of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) has been banned in the U.S. and many other countries since 1979, yet PCBs are still found everywhere in the environment, including school indoor and outdoor air. PCB exposure through breathing is a significant growing public and global health concern. This study investigates how human relevant PCB52, a specific member of the PCBs, behaves in the bodies of pregnant rats and adolescent male rats when they breathed in tracer-labeled PCB52. This study is important because exposure to PCBs during pregnancy might affect the fetal development. The findings from the adolescent rats were used to understand how PCB52 behaves in human population by using biological modeling. We found that breathing in PCB52 resulted in a quick lung uptake and distribution to different parts of the rats' bodies, especially the lungs and other important organs. Interestingly, when pregnant rats were exposed, only a small amount of PCB52 transferred to the placenta, fetus, and amniotic fluid. The study also showed that the chemical was eliminated from the body relatively quickly, suggesting that testing for PCB52 in the blood can give us information about recent exposure. The findings help us understand how these chemicals move through the body, providing valuable information for assessing health risks. This research not only aids in identifying markers for exposure but also assists in developing models to predict how similar chemicals might behave in our bodies, ultimately helping to reduce potential harmful effects.