Inhalation exposure to semi-volatile polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) that ubiquitously exist in the environment has the potential to cause adverse health effects. Recently identified sources of airborne PCBs, especially non-legacy sources, stress the importance of risk assessment for inhalation exposure. However, the fate of inhaled airborne PCBs in biological systems and the resultant toxicity remain unexplored. The objective of this thesis research was to investigate the distribution and elimination of semi-volatile PCBs in biological systems after inhalation exposure and evaluate the biologic and toxicologic consequences. This objective was achieved by conducting the following inhalation studies in rats: a short-term exposure study of the body burden and elimination; a subchronic exposure toxicity study; an acute exposure study of PCB11 metabolism; and a mass balance study of [14C]PCB11 following lung exposure. PCBs found in technical Aroclor mixtures and PCB11 were readily absorbed and distributed following nose-only inhalation exposure. PCBs accumulated in adipose tissue, but decayed in other tissues with biological half-lives of several hours. Their elimination was dependent on the structure of the PCB congeners and the metabolic nature of the organ. Lower-chlorinated PCBs exhibited more rapid clearance than higher-chlorinated congeners yet differential rates of elimination were also seen within the homologue. A distinct congener pattern was found in tissues, ranging from tri- to pentachorobiphenyls after subacute and subchronic exposure. Rapid elimination of PCB11 and its metabolite, 4-OH-CB11, were detected in liver following nose-only inhalation exposure by our established methodology. Further investigation revealed that [14C]PCB11 was 99.8% absorbed in lung. Elimination of the [14C]PCB11 and products consisted of an initial fast phase followed by a slow clearance phase. [14C]PCB11 underwent rapid and extensive metabolism in liver. The major products were phase II metabolites which dominated in the non-adipose tissues and were eliminated via the large intestine and urine. Overall, differential congener elimination was found after inhalation of airborne PCBs, with minimal toxicity. Lower-chlorinated congeners were rapidly and extensively metabolized to phase II products and eliminated within hours.

Extreme flooding of rivers may contribute to increased loading of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to the Great Lakes, the Mississippi river, and other large lakes and surface waters downstream of industrial and urban areas. This study examines the fate of POPs that were mobilized during heavy flooding of the Cedar River and the small urban city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa during the summer of 2008. This study focuses polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). We hypothesize that these PCBs were mobilized by the flood water and that residues remained in the soils and sediments of the residential areas of the city. To test our hypothesis, soil samples were collected from ~200 of residential locations in the downtown Cedar Rapids area and analyzed for the three compound groups. Samples were extracted using an accelerated solvent extraction (ASE 300), and analyzed using GC/ECD, GC/MSD and GC/MS/MS.

Selected PCB congeners (PCB 52, 77, and 153) singly and in mixtures were spiked and aged in soil microcosms and subsequently planted with switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) or poplar (Populus deltoids x nigra DN34). The planted reactors showed significantly greater reductions in PCB parent compounds when compared to unplanted systems after 32 weeks, both in single congener exposures and when all three congeners were present in a mixture. There was evidence of reductive dechlorination in both planted and unplanted systems, but higher concentrations of transformation products were observed in the planted systems than the unplanted. Although planted systems resulted in greater biotransformation, this improvement in PCB-reduction was not the result of plant uptake but rather was due to transformations occurring in the root rhizosphere. Parent PCB congeners were transformed by reductive dechlorination resulting in successively less chlorinated PCB congeners. These dechlorination products accounted for approximately all of the molar mass of parent compound lost. Based on the transformation products, reductive dechlorination pathways are proposed for rhizospheric biotransformation of PCB 52, 77, and 153. Results suggest that PCB 52 transformation proceeds through PCBs 18 and 9 down to monochlorinated PCB 1. Biotransformation of PCB 77 occurs through the intermediaries PCB 35 and 37. The pathway for the rhizospheric transformation of PCB 153 is through PCB 101 and PCB 99. This study provides insight into rhizosphere biotransformation pathways for reductive dechlorination in marginally aerobic,intermittently flooded soil as evidenced by a mass balance on transformation products. Despite the marginally aerobic conditions it is likely that highly reduced microzones existed in the soil particles during flooding and provided the opportunity for reductive dechlorination. In these experiments, planted microcosms with fully developed roots and rhizospheres showed significant reductive dechlorination and greater biotransformation than unplanted reactors. In addition, planted systems that were intermittently flooded had greater transformation of the parent PCB compounds than systems that were not. A poplar planted system resulted in the complete removal of 26 of the 29 PCB congeners detected in a commercial garden soil, while the unplanted soil only had 2 congeners completely removed after 96 days. In addition, the most recalcitrant congener, PCB 52, only decreased by 0.1% in the unplanted reactors while declining by 22.3% in the planted system. There was also greater removal of a PCB 77 spike in the planted system when compared to the unplanted system, 17.2% in the planted system versus 2.8% in the unplanted system. The results suggest that phytoremediation may be an effective tool in cleaning commercially available garden soils that are lightly contaminated with PCBs.

The prevalent and ongoing exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) demands an understanding of the threat they pose and also a means in which to mitigate their potential toxicity. This thesis set out to investigate a phenomenon associated with a specific PCB congener, 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126), for the underpinnings of its mechanism, and also its usefulness as a toxin against which to establish a mitigative strategy. The phenomenon in particular is the disruption of hepatic trace elements, specifically an increase in copper and decreases in zinc, selenium, iron, and manganese in the liver. Four questions were posed to address the overarching goals: 1) When does micronutrient disruption occur in the context of liver pathology? 2) What metal transporters or chaperones are involved? 3) Can the previously shown beneficial micronutrient, zinc, alter the disruption and improve outcome? 4) What is occurring spatially within the liver acinus where micronutrients are distributed? By answering these four questions, a fundamental understanding of this occurrence will be ascertained. A chronology of PCB126-hepatotoxicity showed onset of liver pathology at 36 hours and later alterations in micronutrients at 3 days, suggesting disruption of hepatic trace elements is likely the result of liver degeneration. In addition, a key metal transport protein, metallothionein, was induced by PCB126. Utilizing a double knockout animal model, metallothionein was shown to abrogate some toxicity but had little involvement of micronutrient perturbation. Previous investigations have suggested the unique property of zinc in rescuing/preventing hepatic damage by a variety of toxic agents. Dietary zinc had a modest effect in ameliorating PCB126 hepatotoxicity and preserving micronutrient homeostasis. This suggests that the mitigative potential of zinc supplementation on PCB126 exposure is limited. Finally, a fine spatial investigation of the liver acinus was conducted to establish the levels of trace elements from the portal triad to the central vein. In addition, novel findings of high concentrations of extracellular zinc were discovered. In all, this dissertation has shown that disruption of hepatic micronutrients caused by PCB126 are likely the result of liver degeneration by means of disturbing the spatial trace element gradients and provides appropriate context for therapeutic/preventive strategies against PCBs.

<p>PCBs are well known environmental pollutants. They are also precursors to metabolites, as the hydroxy-PCBs and the methylsulfonyl-PCBs. This thesis presents a validated methodology for analysis of PCB metabolites and a structural identification of 38 hydroxy-PCBs in human blood. Further methodological development resulted in an identification of a similar number of methylsulfonyl-PCBs.</p><p>The analytical method has been applied in two extensive studies of humans, consisting of maternal and cord blood from Dutch women and of blood from humans living in Slovakia. The Dutch shows that the relative transfer of hydroxy-PCBs from the mother to the foetus is higher compared to the PCBs. Even though the chemical plant in Michalovce in Slovakia had been shut down for over 20 years, the concentrations of PCB and its metabolites were among the highest detected in European human blood.</p>

<p>This thesis focuses on the design and evaluation of the meander-line antenna geometry. One standard meander-line antenna and other two non-standard meander antennas have been studied. These printed antennas are discussed with the goal of identifying which is suitable for use in a miniaturized wireless transceiver design and which is able to provide the better performance using minimal Printed Circuit Board (PCB) space. In a word, the main objective is to characterize tradeoffs and identify which antenna provides the best compromise among volume, bandwidth and efficiency.</p><p>The performance of each antenna is evaluated based on return loss, operational bandwidth, and radiation pattern characteristics. During our measurement, return loss is measured by reading the S11-port reflection coefficient on Vector Network Analyzer (VNA). This coefficient can be used to characterize how well the antenna is able to be efficiently fed. Operational bandwidth is measured as the frequency range over which the antenna keeps the value of Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) or equivalently has -10dB return loss. Ansoft High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) is used to simulate expected characteristics which are resonant frequency, bandwidth, VSWR, and radiation pattern. HFSS is used to provide a good guide for the antenna design before the actual prototype is manufactured. Simulated results are compared with results of measurement to point out the differences and help demonstrate the practical effects on antenna performance. Radiation pattern are measured to illustrate the effects of antenna miniaturization. All the above measurements are done in the anechoic chamber.</p>

PCBs are well known environmental pollutants. They are also precursors to metabolites, as the hydroxy-PCBs and the methylsulfonyl-PCBs. This thesis presents a validated methodology for analysis of PCB metabolites and a structural identification of 38 hydroxy-PCBs in human blood. Further methodological development resulted in an identification of a similar number of methylsulfonyl-PCBs. The analytical method has been applied in two extensive studies of humans, consisting of maternal and cord blood from Dutch women and of blood from humans living in Slovakia. The Dutch shows that the relative transfer of hydroxy-PCBs from the mother to the foetus is higher compared to the PCBs. Even though the chemical plant in Michalovce in Slovakia had been shut down for over 20 years, the concentrations of PCB and its metabolites were among the highest detected in European human blood.

Abstract Electrodeposited Copper Foil (ED Foil) is the most essential conductive material to PCB. With the recession of electronic industry and the appearance of Internet Economy Bubble for printed circuit board (PCB) industry, PCB industry slowed down its productivity around 2000 and the ED Foil industry in Taiwan had to face the vicious circle as the supply exceeds the demand. As for America, because of the declination of the industry, it is now almost out of the ED Foil industry which means that the global chief city of the field has changed from the States to Japan. However, with the high production costs and labor expenses, Japan is now suspending the enlargement of productivity, Therefore, the productivity of Taiwan till 2005 already ranked the top one in the world. Unfortunately, we are now facing the biggest competitor, China, who has tried enthusiastically to attract our ED Foil and PCB companies to move to his land, especially it has aimed the ED Foil industry as his top target to enkindle. This research has consulted several diverse documents from inside and outside Taiwan through the analyses of industrial structures, ¡§Diamond System¡¨ and ¡§SWOT Analysis¡¨ to have a clear understanding towards the construction of Taiwan¡¦s ED Foil industry and its ¡§competitive advantages¡¨. Owning these accomplished advantages as the base, we can come out the cooperative strategies for ED Foil industry¡¦s future and its ¡§Anti Competition Policy¡¨ according to the ¡§scenarios¡¨. We deeply hope that with these devices, we can strengthen the industrial¡¦s efficiency in our ED Foil¡¦s industry and at the same time, our status in this field can remain competitive around the world. The research found out that in ED Foil industry¡¦s area, the early players monopolized the market and twisted the market¡¦s efficiency at the same time. Therefore, those early players got the chance to earn a huge sum of money and as a result, some potential competitors joined the market to share the benefits. Besides, because of the rising concept of globalization among the mega electronic companies, more and more module and component companies are willing to be localized to correspond to the change. Simultaneously, the demand of both PCB and ED Foil has started to increase in Asia; therefore, the ED Foil industry in Taiwan is getting more and more prosperous because of the favorable geographical position. Moreover, high performing and large-sized facilities are adapted to produce high quality and low cost merchandizes efficiently to enhance the competitiveness in the industry. Therefore, the chain that connected with the downstream industry has become more completed and moreover, the bunching effect can be elaborate thoroughly. According to the research, we have discovered that there are many uncertainties within the operation of Taiwan¡¦s ED Foil industry such as the slight increase of the demand in Taiwan and the exports are overly centered on Hong Kong and China. Other concern like the percentage of the fixed prime cost is excessively high matters the efficiency of the productivity and as a result, a price war comes out easily because of the supply exceeds the demand. In the meantime, we have come out with the conclusion that the government should actively help the integration of the industry¡¦s future development. And we suggest that the ED Foil industry in Taiwan should take the co-opetition policy as follows: 1. The buying-associations that share the supplementary values of the recycling copper wires and R&D-associations can share the R&D cost in the area of the newly applying development will be erected to largely reduce the prime costs. Furthermore, an information exchange center will be provided for those associations to utilize others¡¦ useful experiences. 2. The business cooperative operations either with the same upstream or downstream companies all necessarily needed to be constructed. Those united cooperation such as Mergers & Acquisitions should be promoted within industries, including investments. These strategies will accelerate the development of the business. 3. New and prosperous markets such as Thailand and Vietnam need to be explored to disperse our export markets to decrease our dependency on China. 4. Complementary relationship and proper division of labors should be built up within cross-Strait without making other vicious competitions.

Current Canadian policies do not adequately prevent water contamination or mitigate the effects of existing polychlorinated biphenyl pollution. There is conflict between the Canadian government and the Inuit people over how to approach the pollution problem, arising from a clash of cultural values and traditions. Legislation related to healthcare is an inherently sensitive issue and some measures that seem acceptable to westernized societies are not appropriate for the Inuit. The purpose of this thesis is to answer (a) why polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are in the Arctic, (b) what the effects of PCBs are on the Arctic people, and (c) how healthcare policy can address the issue.

In the 1950s the otter started to decline in numbers and distribution in Sweden and other parts of Europe. In 1972 a game law came into force, listing otter as a species that if found dead should be reported and sent to the authorities. The numbers of dead otters reported from different areas indicate population status and distribution. Between 1970 and 2012, 832 otters were sent to the authorities, the majority (66%) during the last ten years. Most were killed in traffic accidents or drowned in fishing gear. However, the main cause of the decline is believed to be environmental contaminants. Experimental data show that a PCB residue level in muscle tissue of 12 mg/kg lw causes reproductive impairment in mink (Neovison vison), suggesting reproductive problems also in the highly PCB-exposed otters in Sweden. Since the bans of PCB and DDT in the mid-1970s, concentrations of these substances in otter and fish have decreased and the otter population is increasing. Few pathological changes in otters have been found that can be related to high contaminant concentrations. However, we found a correlation between elevated PCB concentrations and alterations in bone mineral density. No relationship was seen between DDE and bone parameters. The decline of the otter coincided with the decline of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and white-tailed sea eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) in Sweden, all showing decreased reproductive outcome. Reproductive success started to increase for all of them around 1990 and during the same period concentrations of PCB and DDE have decreased in these species. The body condition among female otters has increased over the study period, indicating an improved health status. However, we found a high prevalence (71%) of cysts on the spermatic duct in otters collected between 1999 and 2012, possibly caused by endocrine disrupting chemicals. Although the organochlorine concentrations in otters have decreased, otters still face many problems. New threats to the otter population in Scandinavia are the perfluorinated chemicals, including PFOS and PFOA. Results in this thesis show an increasing trend for these compounds in otters up to 2011, including some extremely high concentrations of PFOS in otters from southern Sweden.