Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are man-made, hazardous, toxic chemicals that pose fatal side effects on human health and the environment at large. These chemicals stay in nature for a long time and can also travel through water and air to greater distances.
The chemicals also accumulate in fatty tissues and can cause several health problems. There are close to 209 types of PCBS, of which 13 are counted as dioxin-like persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Exposure to PCBs leads to a vast array of ailments, such as liver, breast, brain, and endocrine cancer.
However, recent research has shown that fetal exposure to this harsh chemical also results in hearing loss. In this article, we will discuss this and other symptoms of PCB exposure.
PCB Exposure and Hearing Loss: Understanding the Link
Recently, researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology stated that early exposure to PCBs can make it challenging for people to recover from hearing issues later in life.
Simply put, PCBs can be categorized as carcinogenic compounds that were previously used in consumer and industrial products. Even though their use was banned in the United States back in 1979, the stable chemical structure doesn’t allow PCBs to move away from the environment completely. Often, this chemical is found in old buildings, which results in unwanted exposure to this chemical. Also, for a developing fetus, this exposure can be harmful.
According to Dr. Daniel Llano, an associate professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, women in the early stages of pregnancy are vulnerable to this exposure. The chemical can cross the placenta and get inside the brain. Hence, it’s rather dangerous for all stages of pregnancy.
Researchers stated that if a person gets exposed to PCBs in utero, it leads to sustained acoustic trauma at a later stage in life. The hearing issue might not completely recover as they would expect.
However, the researchers shifted from studying the auditory cortex and started to focus on the lower brain area, which is called the inferior colliculus. Here, they could recognize damage that was a direct blend of noise and PCB exposure.
Going forward, the team of researchers has decided to study the correlation between PCB exposure, hearing loss, and noise. Even though oxidative stress seems to be a principal mediator of this effect, it is necessary that they also evaluate oxygen radicals in the tissues to confirm this.
PCB Exposure Can Affect Hormones and Immune System
Other than hearing loss, PCB exposure also results in disrupted or imbalanced hormones. PCBs that come with minimal chlorine atoms can replicate natural hormones of the human body, mostly estrogen. Research showed that women who ate contaminated fish caught from Lake Ontario witnessed shortened menstrual cycles.
Other PCB exposure symptoms include premature puberty, altered sex organs, and reduced sperm counts. Additionally, the PCBs that are highly chlorinated function as dioxin, which can alter the sex steroid metabolism in the body, thereby altering the standard levels of testosterone and estrogen.
PCB Exposure Effects on the Thyroid and Immune System
A study done on adolescent Mohawk males residing in New York State revealed that PCB exposure imbalanced their thyroid hormones. It could have affected their behavioral and intellectual development. PCBs tend to get attached to the receptors, controlling the immune system and affecting the T cells and lymphocytes.
Therefore, if you notice any of these symptoms, it is necessary to check whether you have been exposed to this chemical in any form. Usually, bloodwork establishes the connection between PCB exposure and the health hazard you are facing.
There are chances of you getting exposed to PCB at your place of work or any other area that you might have to visit regularly.
TorHoerman Law states that remnants of PCBs can be found in older electrical equipment, construction materials, fluorescent light fixtures, coatings and paintings, and industrial machinery. Once you feel that you have been exposed to this chemical because of someone else’s negligence, you can file a lawsuit and get compensated to cover all the economic and non-economic damages you experienced.
In conclusion, people must stay aware of the symptoms of PCB exposure so that they know the root cause of their problems. Care should be taken so that pregnant women don’t get exposed to this toxic chemical during their pregnancy. Therefore, if you are aware that a certain place or region could still be contaminated with PCB particles, it’s best to avoid it. That way, you will stay away from a wide range of health hazards, including hearing loss.
