Editing Polychlorinated biphenyl (section)

====Humans====
The most commonly observed [[health effect]]s in people exposed to extremely high levels of PCBs are skin conditions, such as [[chloracne]] and [[rash]]es, but these were known to be symptoms of acute systemic poisoning dating back to 1922. Studies in workers exposed to PCBs have shown changes in [[blood]] and [[urine]] that may indicate [[liver]] damage. In Japan in 1968, 280&nbsp;kg of PCB-contaminated [[rice bran oil]] was used as chicken feed, resulting in a mass poisoning, known as [[Yushō disease]], in over 1800 people.<ref name="Aoki"/> Common symptoms included dermal and ocular [[lesion]]s, irregular [[menstrual cycle]]s and lowered [[immune response]]s.<ref name="Aoki"/><ref>"Yusho Disease."{{RareDiseases|8326}} U.S. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, National Institutes of Health. Gaithersburg, MD.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PCB Baby Studies Part 2|url=http://www.foxriverwatch.com/baby_studies_pcbs_2.html|website=www.foxriverwatch.com|access-date=9 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609212253/http://www.foxriverwatch.com/baby_studies_pcbs_2.html|archive-date=9 June 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Other symptoms included fatigue, headaches, coughs, and unusual skin sores.<ref name=HEALTH>{{cite web|url=http://www.healthgoods.com/Education/Health_Information/General_Health/environmental_diseases.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315152719/http://www.healthgoods.com/Education/Health_Information/General_Health/environmental_diseases.htm |archive-date=15 March 2006 |title= Environmental Diseases from A to Z}}</ref> Additionally, in children, there were reports of poor cognitive development.<ref name="Aoki"/> Women exposed to PCBs before or during pregnancy can give birth to children with lowered cognitive ability, compromised immune systems, and motor control problems.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Jacobson JL, Jacobson SW | title = Intellectual impairment in children exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls in utero | journal = The New England Journal of Medicine | volume = 335 | issue = 11 | pages = 783–789 | date = September 1996 | pmid = 8703183 | doi = 10.1056/NEJM199609123351104 | doi-access = free }}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name=ATSDR/><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Stewart P, Reihman J, Lonky E, Darvill T, Pagano J |display-authors=3| title = Prenatal PCB exposure and neonatal behavioral assessment scale (NBAS) performance | journal = Neurotoxicology and Teratology | volume = 22 | issue = 1 | pages = 21–29 | date = January 2000 | pmid = 10642111 | doi = 10.1016/S0892-0362(99)00056-2 |bibcode=2000NTxT...22...21S}}</ref>

There is evidence that crash dieters that have been exposed to PCBs have an elevated risk of health complications. Stored PCBs in the [[adipose tissue]] become mobilized into the blood when individuals begin to crash diet.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, CDC |date=1 September 2000 |title=PCBs: toxicity treatment and management |url=https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.html |access-date=29 December 2023 |archive-date=4 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204174821/http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=7&po=7 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

PCBs have shown toxic and [[mutagen]]ic effects by interfering with [[hormone]]s in the body. PCBs, depending on the specific congener, have been shown to both inhibit and imitate [[estradiol]], the main sex hormone in females. Imitation of the estrogen compound can feed estrogen-dependent [[breast cancer]] cells, and possibly cause other cancers, such as [[uterine cancer|uterine]] or [[cervical cancer|cervical]]. Inhibition of estradiol can lead to serious developmental problems for both males and females, including sexual, skeletal, and mental development issues.{{Citation needed|date=September 2016}}<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Winneke G | title = Developmental aspects of environmental neurotoxicology: lessons from lead and polychlorinated biphenyls | journal = Journal of the Neurological Sciences | volume = 308 | issue = 1–2 | pages = 9–15 | date = September 2011 | pmid = 21679971 | doi = 10.1016/j.jns.2011.05.020 | s2cid = 27726260 }}</ref> In a cross-sectional study, PCBs were found to be negatively associated with testosterone levels in adolescent boys.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Schell LM, Gallo MV, Deane GD, Nelder KR, DeCaprio AP, Jacobs A |display-authors=3| title = Relationships of polychlorinated biphenyls and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) with testosterone levels in adolescent males | journal = Environmental Health Perspectives | volume = 122 | issue = 3 | pages = 304–309 | date = March 2014 | pmid = 24398050 | pmc = 3948020 | doi = 10.1289/ehp.1205984 |bibcode=2014EnvHP.122..304S}}</ref>

High PCB levels in adults have been shown to result in reduced levels of the thyroid hormone [[triiodothyronine]], which affects almost every physiological process in the body, including growth and development, metabolism, body temperature, and heart rate. It also resulted in reduced immunity and increased thyroid disorders.<ref name=Crinnion>{{cite journal | vauthors = Crinnion WJ | title = Polychlorinated biphenyls: persistent pollutants with immunological, neurological, and endocrinological consequences | journal = Alternative Medicine Review | volume = 16 | issue = 1 | pages = 5–13 | date = March 2011 | pmid = 21438643 | url = http://www.altmedrev.com/publications/16/1/5.pdf | access-date = 1 October 2015 | archive-date = 15 November 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151115083314/http://www.altmedrev.com/publications/16/1/5.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hagmar L, Rylander L, Dyremark E, Klasson-Wehler E, Erfurth EM |display-authors=3| title = Plasma concentrations of persistent organochlorines in relation to thyrotropin and thyroid hormone levels in women | journal = International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | volume = 74 | issue = 3 | pages = 184–188 | date = April 2001 | pmid = 11355292 | doi = 10.1007/s004200000213 | bibcode = 2001IAOEH..74..184H | s2cid = 5552427 }}</ref>{{ums|date=January 2018}}