Transgenerational line transfer properties of hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs): implications for maternal-infant food safety

PCBs and their metabolites are ubiquitous in environmental media and thus constitute a serious threat to ecosystems and human health. OH-PCBs, as the main metabolites of PCBs, are suspected to have greater toxicity effects than their parent compounds. Owing to their high hydrophilicity, they are stably retained in animal bodies and may be transferred from mothers to eggs, resulting in secondary food-borne risks. In order to evaluate the transgenerational characteristics and exposure risks of OH-PCBs and their precursor compounds, an experiment was conducted. The authors used a dietary exposure model of animals to simulate the population's intake of aquatic products, thus demonstrating whether maternal exposure to OH-PCBs could be transferred to offspring via the placental barrier. Moreover, a cross-breastfeeding experiment was performed, which demonstrated the lactation transmission characteristics. In summary, this study revealed for the first time that OH-PCBs can be transmitted intergenerationally through both placental and lactational routes, highlighting the potential health risks to infants and children caused by second-generation persistent organic pollutants. However, this study has several limitations, such as shorter exposure durations, which limits the effective long-term assessment of the contaminants.