The release of 260 kg of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by a military radar station into Saglek Bay (Labrador) in the eastern Canadian Arctic contaminated adjacent marine sediments, and some fish, seabirds, and ringed seals. However, attributing the PCBs found in high trophic level and highly mobile marine mammals to any point source is, in most cases, impossible. This thesis demonstrated the extent to which a local PCB source at Saglek Bay led to the contamination and health effects in ringed seals. The dominance of PCBs at this contaminated marine site afforded a unique opportunity to evaluate the effects of this single class of industrial chemical in a manner that has not been previously possible in marine mammals. We used a variety of tools to characterize the contribution of local PCB contamination in the Labrador ringed seal food web. These tools included: 1) univariate and multivariate statistical exploration of contaminant patterns; 2) stable isotope ratios and fatty acid signatures to describe feeding ecology; and 3) satellite telemetry to track the movements of seals on the coast. Divergent PCB congener profiles and contaminant ratios enabled an assignment of seals into either ‘local’ or ‘long-range’ categories, with up to 60% of ringed seals sampled exhibiting patterns consistent with the local source. PCB concentrations in locally-contaminated adult males were 2-fold higher than in those exposed only to long-range PCB sources. Seals with smaller home ranges had an increased likelihood of feeding on prey contaminated by the local PCB source. Similar fatty acid profiles between those seals with ‘local’ PCB profiles and those with ‘long-range’ or background profiles indicate little support for the possibility that differential feeding ecologies explained the divergent PCB profiles. Ringed seals fed predominantly on zooplankton (Mysis oculata and Themisto libellula), dusky snailfish (Liparis gibbus) and arctic cod (Boreogadus saida). Heavier PCB profiles in the Saglek food web, compared to the same species exposed to only background contaminants, provided additional insight into the mechanisms of localized PCB contamination of some Labrador ringed seals. In addition to ascertaining the importance of a point source to contamination in ringed seals, we assessed the effects of PCBs on their health through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. Levels of mRNA transcripts for five gene targets, including aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr), interleukin-1 beta (Il1b), estrogen receptor alpha (Esr1), insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (Igf1) and glucocorticoid receptor alpha (Nr3c1), correlated with increasing levels of PCBs, indicating an effect of this persistent organic pollutant (POP) in these seals. Threshold values were calculated for these five genes, with the most conservative value being 1,380 ng/g lipid weight (lw). Approximately 14% of the seals sampled exceeded this threshold, suggesting a risk of adverse effects in a proportion of the local population attributed to PCBs. While the implications for these sublethal molecular changes at the individual or population level are unclear, contaminant-related changes in endocrine, immune, and molecular endpoints have been observed in ringed seals from the Baltic Sea exhibiting reproductive and developments abnormalities, and virus epizootics. Results of this study improve our understanding of the effects of PCBs in free-ranging marine mammals and provide new information needed to inform mitigation and monitoring efforts, both for ringed seals in the north and other seals around the world. / Graduate / 0306 / 0768 / 0383 / tanya@raincoast.org

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2008. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Biotechnology)-Dept. of Biotechnology, Durban University of Technology, 2007 xxi, 117 leaves / The aromatic compounds Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are one of the largest groups of environmental pollutants. The greatest concern is the release of PCBs in the water systems by industrial effluent, accidental spillages or leaks. PCBs are able to bioaccumulate in the fatty tissues of animals, fish and humans. The impact on human health due to PCBs has prompted interest in their degradation. The application of microbial degradation of PCBs can transform many PCB metabolites. There are a wide variety of microorganisms that can degrade PCBs or utilise them as sole carbon sources. This study focused on isolating microrganisms from industrial wastewater capable of aerobic degradation of PCBs. The degradation potential of the selected isolates were investigated by using different analytical techniques viz. ultra violet or visible spectrophotometer (UV/Vis), thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas chromatography electron capture detector (GC-ECD).

Les lacs d'altitude sont soumis à des retombées atmosphériques de polluants organiques persistants (POP) issus pour la plupart des activités humaines malgré leur éloignement des sources d'émissions de ces composés. Si les mécanismes de transport atmosphérique de ces polluants jusqu'aux sites d'altitude sont désormais bien connus (« global distillation » ou « grasshopper effect »), on dispose en revanche de très peu d'informations quant à leur devenir dans ces écosystèmes montagnards. Le travail présenté a pour objectif de déterminer les processus internes au lac influençant le devenir de ces polluants, avec un accent plus particulier sur leurs interactions avec les phases organiques et leur intégration dans les réseaux trophiques. En raison de leurs propriétés physico-chimiques très variables entre congénères (e.g., peu à très hydrophobes), les polychlorobiphényles (PCB) ont été choisi comme modèles de POP.L'étude a été conduite sur deux lacs alpins du Parc National des Ecrins (Isère, France): le lac de la Muzelle (2110 m) et le lac de Plan Vianney (2250 m). Le suivi en 2012 et 2013, à fréquence saisonnière,des concentrations en PCB des composants biologiques, des fractions particulaires et dissoutes et des flux atmosphériques déposés sur les lacs a permis d'évaluer à la fois les variations saisonnières, interannuelles, et entre les lacs, de la contamination de la faune piscicole et de les relier aux intrants atmosphériques et aux processus biogéochimiques lacustres.Nos résultats identifient la fonte du manteau neigeux comme vecteur rapide et important de transfert des PCB atmosphériques aux lacs d'altitude (40% des apports annuels en seulement 2 à 3 semaines). Le bilan de masse révèle aussi que les flux de PCB entrants sont supérieurs aux flux sortants des lacs et met ainsi en évidence leur rôle de puits de PCB atmosphériques. La distribution des PCB entre les phases "particules" et "eau" varie à la fois entre lacs et saisons, révélant une succession d'équilibre et de non-équilibre thermodynamiques. En effet, la couverture de glace en hiver isole les lacs de l'atmosphère et donc des sources de polluants, permettant aux PCB d'atteindre l'équilibre thermodynamique de partition entre les phases particulaire et dissoute. A l'opposé, en périodes d'eaux libres, les paramètres d'influence de l'adsorption des PCB sur la matière particulaire (température, concentration et nature des particules, concentration de PCB) répondent à la variabilité environnementale, empêchant l'atteinte de l'état d'équilibre. Enfin, si la contamination de la faune piscicole varie tant entre lacs qu'entre saisons, l'absence de relation entre concentrations en PCB et divers indicateurs trophiques (composition en isotopes stables du carbone ou biomarqueurs lipidiques) révèle que cette contamination ne dépend ni de l'habitat ni de la variabilité trophique des individus. Au contraire, la contamination de la faune piscicole est liée à la concentration des polluants en phase dissoute. Dans les lacs d'altitude, les POP, même s'ils sont présents à faible concentration, seraient donc essentiellement transférés à la faune piscicole par un phénomène de bioconcentration et non par un mécanisme de bioaccumulation.Nos résultats mettent en évidence la nécessité de mieux connaître l'éco-dynamique des POP, y compris dans les milieux faiblement contaminés. Dans un contexte de changement global pour lequel les intrants dans les écosystèmes d'altitude risquent de varier en intensité ou en temporalité, ces connaissances permettront (i) d'évaluer le rôle futur des lacs comme puits ou sources secondaires de POP pour l'atmosphère et (ii) prévoir l'évolution des niveaux de contamination de la faune piscicole dans les écosystèmes aquatiques éloignés des sources de production. / Altitude lakes undergo atmospheric deposition of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) resulting mainly from human activities despite their distance from emission sources. If the mechanisms driving the atmospheric transport of these pollutants to altitude environment are now fairly known ("global distillation" or "grasshopper effect"), there is still few information about their fate in these mountain ecosystems. This work aims to identify the internal lake processes influencing the fate of POPs, with a particular focus on their interaction with the organic phases and their integration into food webs. Due to their variability of physico-chemical properties between congeners (e.g., less to more hydrophobic), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been chosen as POP models.The study was conducted on two alpine lakes from the National Park of Ecrins (Isère, France): Lake Muzelle (2110 m) and Lake Plan Vianney (2250 m). A monitoring was conducted in 2012 and 2013 to assess PCBs concentration in aquatic organisms, particulate and dissolved fractions and atmospheric PCBs inputs. Thus, seasonal, interannual and inter-lakes variability of PCBs level in fish have been assessed and linked to atmospheric inputs and biogeochemical lake processes.Our results show that snowmelt corresponds to an important and sudden flux of PCBs to altitude lakes (40% of annual contributions during the few weeks of spring thaw). Mass balance also reveals that PCBs inputs are higher than outputs, highlighting the role of altitude lakes as atmospheric PCBs sinks. PCBs partition between particulate and dissolved phases varies both between lakes and seasons, revealing a succession of thermodynamics equilibrium and non-equilibrium. In fact, when lakes are ice-covered, the water column is isolated from the atmosphere and therefore from sources of pollutants, allowing to reach a thermodynamic equilibrium partition of PCBs between the particulate and dissolved phases. On the contrary, when lakes are ice-free, parameters affecting PCBs adsorption on particulate matter (temperature, concentration and nature of the particles, PCBs concentration) are subject to environmental variability, preventing chemicals to reach thermodynamic equilibrium. Finally, even though PCBs fish contamination varies both between lakes and between seasons, the lack of relationship between PCBs concentrations and trophic indicators (stable isotope composition of carbon or lipid biomarkers) highlights that fish level of PCBs does not depend on habitat use and inter-individual trophic variability. In contrast, the PCBs concentration in fish is related to the concentration of pollutants in the dissolved phase. In altitude lakes, even though POPs are presented at low concentrations, these chemicals are mainly transferred to the fish compartment by bioconcentration rather than bioaccumulation.These results highlight the need to improve our knowledge on POPs ecodynamics even in low contaminated environments. In a context of global change for which pollutant inputs in altitude ecosystems might vary in intensity or temporality, this research appears essential to (i) assess the future role of altitude lakes as atmospheric POPs sinks or secondary sources and (ii) predict any modification of PCBs levels in fish in remote aquatic ecosystems.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) production and trading are prohibited in whole world, due its high toxicity. These aromatic compounds were industrially used since the 30 s decade. Significant physics characters, as a high temperature and electric current tolerance, are responsible for the PCBs large employment and worldwide production. Mainly due for the old electric equipments inappropriate discard, a large part of this production came in to the environment, contaminating the soil and water. They are non-biodegradable compounds that becoming accumulated in the environment and in the food chain. They toxic human effects was evidenced from realized studies, and the contaminated food ingestion is the mainly route of exposure to PCBs. The cereals are an essential part of our nutrition, due this human survives historical significance. The corn receives a large notability among the cereals, being the most consumed grain in the world. Due to this, and to the PCBs persistent and malignant effects to human, the objective of this work was to determinate the PCBs levels in corn and cornflour from different regions of Rio Grande do Sul State, collected on 2009 and 2010 years, checking the connect of these levels with the collected region, year of harvest, lipid content and the flour type. The PCBs residues were determinate by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer (GC-MS), using electron impact ionization and a negative chemical ionization, before ultrasonic extraction of the compounds. The mean values detected were 0.01 ng g-1 to the PCB 10, 0.04 ng g-1 to the PCB 28, 0.10 ng g-1 to the PCB 52, 0.14 ng g-1 to the PCB 153, 0,40 ng g-1 to the PCB 138 and 0,38 ng g-1 to the PCB 180. The most frequent was the PCB 138, which was detected in 63,47% of the samples, followed by the PCBs 180 (58.27%), 52 (41.72%), 153 (41.05%), 28 (20.52%) and 10 (7.28%). The samples from the northeast and metropolitan regions showed the higher concentrations. Besides it, there was a decrease in the contamination on the year of 2010 when compared with 2009. Another significant factor was the high contamination detected in the cornflours in relation to the grain, with significantly differences for the PCBs 52, 138, 153 and 180. Concerning about the flour analyses, the fact of the PCBs have a great fat attractive force was confirmed, with all the PCBs congeners showed significant difference in the correlation with their lipid levels. / Devido a alta toxicidade, a produção e comercialização dos bifenilos policlorados (PCBs) estão proibidas em todo mundo. Esses compostos aromáticos foram utilizados industrialmente desde a década de 30. Propriedades físicas interessantes, tais como a resistência a altas temperaturas e correntes elétricas, são responsáveis pela grande utilização e produção mundial dos PCBs. Sendo que desta produção grande parcela entrou para o meio ambiente, principalmente devido ao descarte inadequado de equipamentos eletro-eletrônicos antigos, contaminando a água e o solo. São compostos não biodegradáveis, que se acumulam no meio ambiente, influenciando todos os organismos da cadeia alimentar. A partir de estudos realizados, constatou-se o seu efeito nocivo no homem, sendo a ingestão através de alimentos contaminados a principal via de exposição. Sabe-se, pela sua importância histórica na sobrevivência humana, que os cereais são parte essencial em nossa alimentação. Dentre os cereais, o milho recebe amplo destaque, sendo o grão mais consumido no mundo. Diante disso, aliado com a persistência dos PCBs e seus efeitos maléficos ao homem, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi determinar os níveis de PCBs em milho e farinha de milho de diferentes regiões do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, coletados nos anos de 2009 e 2010, correlacionando os níveis destes compostos a região de coleta, ano de produção, teor de gordura e tipo de farinha. A determinação dos resíduos de PCBs foi realizada por cromatógrafo a gás acoplado a espectrometria de massas (GC-MS), usando modos de ionização por impacto de elétrons e ionização química negativa, após a extração dos compostos através do uso de ultrassom. Foram encontrados valores médios de 0,01 ng g-1 para o PCB 10, 0,04 ng g-1 para o PCB 28, 0,10 ng g-1 para o PCB 52, 0,14 ng g-1 para o PCB 153, 0,40 ng g-1 para o PCB 138 e 0,38 ng g-1 para o PCB 180. O PCB 138 foi o mais freqüente, sendo detectado em 63,57% das amostras, seguido dos PCBs 180 (58,27%), 52 (41,72%), 153 (41,05%), 28 (20,52%) e 10 (7,28%). As amostras provenientes das regiões nordeste e metropolitana foram as que apresentaram as maiores contaminações. Além disso, houve uma diminuição das contaminações no ano de 2010 quando comparado com o ano de 2009. Outro fator relevante foi a maior contaminação encontrada nas farinhas de milho em relação ao grão. Diferença que se mostrou significativa para os PCBs 52, 138, 153 e 180. No que diz respeito às análises das farinhas houve uma diferença significativa para todos os congêneres na correlação com os percentuais de gordura.

A reação de hidrodescloração catalítica (HDC) de bifenilas policloradas (PCB) foi estudada em diversos sistemas reacionais: solventes orgânicos, dióxido de carbono supercrítico, presença e natureza de aditivos (bases e co-solventes) a temperaturas na faixa de 25 °C a 100 °C e pressões de 1 bar até 250 bar. Os reagentes utilizados foram um composto modelo (2,4- diclorobifenil), misturas comerciais de PCB (Aroclor, Ascarel) e outros compostos halogenados (clorobenzenos e bromoclorobenzeno). Os catalisadores avaliados, paládio suportado em carvão ativo (Pd/C), paládio suportado em sílica mesoporosa (Pd/SiO2), nanopartículas ferromagnéticas de paládio (FFSiNH2Pd), e nanopartículas ocas de paládio (PdNP) e de platina (PtNP), mostraram-se versáteis nas mais diversas condições, quer sejam condições supercríticas, presença ou não de água, presença e natureza da base e diferentes doadores de hidrogênio. Em dióxido de carbono, dois regimes reacionais foram avaliados: dióxido de carbono subcrítico, onde o gás atua como agente expansor da fase líquida ao se dissolver nela permitindo que a reação ocorra em uma fase líquida rica em gás hidrogênio; e dióxido de carbono supercrítico, sistema onde a temperatura influencia fortemente a reação e a pressão tende a ter efeito negativo sobre a velocidade de reação, devido a efeitos de diluição e de competição das moléculas do gás com as moléculas dos reagentes. A condição reacional ótima foi determinada para o regime supercrítico e dados cinéticos foram obtidos para os regimes sub- e supercrítico. / The catalytic hydrodechlorination reaction (HDC) of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) was studied in several reactional systems: organic solvents, supercritical carbon dioxide, presence and nature of additives (bases and co-solvents), in temperatures of 25 °C to 100 °C and pressures of 1 bar to 250 bar. The reagents used were: a model compound, 2,4-dichlorobiphenyl, commercial mixtures of PCB (Aroclor, Ascarel) and other halogenated compounds (chlorobenzenes and bromochlorobenzene). The catalysts evaluated, palladium supported in activated carbon (Pd/C), palladium supported in mesoporous silica (Pd/SiO2), palladium ferromagnetic nanoparticles (FFSiNH2Pd), and hollow palladium ((PdNP) and platinum (PtNP) nanoparticles, showed to be versatile in several conditions, either supercritical conditions, presence or not of water, nature of the base, and different hydrogen donors. In carbon dioxide, two reaction regimes were evaluated: subcritical carbon dioxide, where the gas acts as an expansion agent of the liquid phase when it dissolves in it, allowing that the reaction happens in a liquid phase rich in hydrogen; and supercritical carbon dioxide, a system where the temperature has a strong influence over the reaction and the pressure has a negative effect on the rate of the reaction, due to dilution and the competition of gas molecules with the reagents molecules for the catalyst. The optimal reaction condition was determined for the supercritical regime and kinetic data were obtained for both the sub and supercritical regimes.

Bifenilas policloradas (PCBs) foram produzidas comercialmente entre 1929 e meados da década de 1980 para propósitos industriais. As mesmas propriedades que despertaram o interesse industrial, tais como: inércia química, alta constante dielétrica, resistência à queima; foram responsáveis pelo espalhamento dos PCBs em todos os compartimentos ambientais, de tal forma que são encontrados em amostras de tecidos adiposos de animais e humanos, leite, sedimentos dentre outras matrizes. Enormes quantidades de PCBs continuam em uso ou estão estocadas a espera de uma destinação final. No presente estudo demonstramos o uso da reação de hidrodescloração catalítica como forma de destruição/destoxificação de bifenilas policloradas. Para tanto, a reação foi estudada em amostras reais de PCBs (óleo dielétrico - Ascarel®), amostras comerciais (Aroclor® 1242 e 1254) e amostra sintética (2,4-diclorobifenila). O estudo se baseia no uso de solventes orgânicos como meio reacional e paládio suportado em carvão ativado como catalisador, devido à sua seletividade para a reação desejada, bem como sua baixa capacidade de hidrogenar compostos aromáticos. xii A condição experimental ótima para a hidrodescloração foi determinada a partir da aplicação de planejamento experimental do tipo Doehlert. Esta condição ótima foi aplicada com sucesso a PCBs contidos em outras matrizes. A cinética da reação é apresentada para o 2,4-diclorobifenila como estudo de caso e uma proposta de mecanismo da reação de hidrodescloração de PCBs é apresentada baseada nos resultados experimentais. / Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were produced between 1929 and the 1980s for industrial applications. The same properties that make it a chemical of interest for industrial applications, such as: chemical inertness, high dielectric constant, fire resistance; were responsible for the widespreading of PCBs over all enviornmental compartments. They can be found in samples of fat tissues of humans and animals, milk, sediments, among other matrices. Enormous quantities of PCBs are still in use or stocked waiting for a final destination. In the present study, we have shown the use of catalytic hydrodechlorination as an alternative for the destruction/detoxification of polychlorinated biphenyls. For this, the reaction was studied in real samples of PCBs (dielectric oil - Ascarel®), commercial samples (Aroclor® 1242 e 1254) and pure chlorinated biphenyls (2,4-dichlorobiphenyl). The study is based in the use of organic solvents as reactional media and palladium supported in activated carbon as catalyst, due to its selectivity for the desired reaction and to its low capacity to hydrogenate aromatic compounds. xiv The optimal hydrodechlorination condition was determined through the application of a Doehlert experimental planning. This optimal condition was applied with success to PCBs contained in other matrices. The reaction kinetics for 2,4-dichlorobiphenyl was presented as a case study and a mechanistic proposal was presented for the hydrodechlorination of PCBs based on these experimental conditions.

No description available.

Due to the risk for human health associated to the presence of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) residues in foods, there is an interest in knowing the different factors that could reduce such contamination. Previous research has demonstrated that food processing modifies both qualitative and quantitatively, the organochlorine contamination, specially PCBs, of the raw material. Further, microorganisms of technological interest in food industry could play an important role in the degradation process. The growth of the meat starter Staphylococcus xylosus in liquid media containing PCBs (10, 28, 52, 138, 153 and 180), and its ability to degrade PCBs during 168 h of incubation in liquid media and meat mixture was investigated. PCBs did not affect the growth of the starter microorganism in nutritive (brain heart infusion, BHI) or mineral salt medium (MSM) when compared to control (no PCB). The microorganism was able to degrade some of the PCB congeners tested. PCBs 138 and 153 were degraded both in BHI (78% and 68%, respectively; p<0.05) and in MSM (71% and 66%, respectively; p<0.05), with maximal being observed within 24 hours. Highly significant negative exponential relationships were observed between incubation time and PCB 28 and 180 in BHI, as well as to PCBs 52 and 180 in MSM. In the meat mixture highly significant negative exponential relationships were observed between incubation time and the concentration of PCB 10. These results indicate that fermentation by Staphylococcus xylosus in meat products can reduce some PCB residues and the meat starter can be used to obtain foods with lower toxicological risk. / É de grande importância o conhecimento dos diversos fatores que podem reduzir a contaminação causada por bifenilos policlorados (PCBs) em alimentos, já que resíduos destes compostos podem trazer graves riscos à saúde humana. Diversas investigações têm demonstrado que o processamento dos alimentos modifica, tanto qualitativa quanto quantitativamente, a contaminação organoclorada, especialmente de PCBs, presente na matéria prima. Além disso, os microrganismos de interesse tecnológico na indústria alimentícia poderiam ser de grande importância no processo de degradação. Investigou-se o crescimento do microrganismo starter Staphylococcus xylosus em meio de cultura líquido contendo PCBs (10, 28, 52, 138, 153 e 180), e sua capacidade degradativa em meio liquido e massa cárnea durante 168 horas de incubação. A presença de PCBs não afetou o crescimento do microrganismo em meio de cultura nutritivo (BHI) ou meio de cultura salino (MSM) quando comparados com o controle (sem a presença de PCBs). O microrganismo demonstrou capacidade de degradar alguns dos congêneres de PCBs testados. Os PCBs 138 e 153 foram degradados em meio nutritivo (78% e 68%, respectivamente; p<0,05) e em meio salino (71% e 66%, respectivamente; p<0,05), sendo observada uma máxima degradação nas primeiras 24 horas de incubação. Relação exponencial significativa foi observada entre o período de incubação e os PCBs 28 e 180 em BHI, assim como para os PCBs 52 e 180 em meio salino. Relação exponencial significativa foi observada entre o período de incubação e as concentrações do PCB 10 em massa cárnea. Estes resultados indicam que a fermentação realizada por Staphylococcus xylosus em produtos cárneos pode reduzir resíduos de PCBs e o microrganismo starter pode ser usado na obtenção de alimentos com menor risco toxicológico.

The overall objective of the research presented in this dissertation was to assess exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), phthalates, and bisphenol A (BPA) in the general population and evaluate their associations with adverse reproductive health effects, including cancers, in women. Given the proven contribution of unopposed estrogens to the risk for endometrial neoplasia or breast cancer, renewed health concerns have aroused about estrogen mimicking EDCs found in food, personal care products or as environmental contaminants. Our meta-analysis showed that exposure to estrogen mimicking PCBs increased summary risk of breast cancer and endometriosis. We further evaluated the relationship between endometriosis and breast cancer, and EDCs using a bioinformatics method. Our bioinformatics approach was able to identify genes with the potential to be involved in interaction with PCB, phthalates and BPA that may be important to the development of breast cancer and endometriosis. Therefore, we hypothesized that exposure to EDCs such as PCBs, phthalates, and BPA, results in adverse reproductive health effects in women. Using subject data and biomarkers available from the Center for Disease Controls National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database we conducted a cross-sectional study of EDCs in relation to self-reported history of endometriosis, uterine leiomyomas, breast cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer. Significantly higher body burdens of PCBs were found in women diagnosed with breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer compared to women without cancer. PCB 138 was significantly associated with breast cancer, cervical cancer, and uterine cancer, while PCBs 74 and 118 were significantly associated with ovarian cancer. The sum of dioxin-like PCBs were significantly associated with ovarian cancer (OR of 2.02, 95% CI: 1.06-3.85) and the sum of non-dioxin-like PCBs were significantly associated with uterine cancer (OR of 1.12, 95%CI: 1.03-1.23). Significantly higher body burdens of PCBs were also found in women diagnosed with endometriosis and uterine leiomyomas. Documenting the exposure to EDCs among the general U.S. population, and identifying agents associated with reproductive toxicity have the potential to fill research gaps and facilitate our understanding of the complex role environmental chemicals play in producing toxicity in reproductive organs.