Canine Serum Levels of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Use of Animal Sentinels in Environmental Health

Abstract

To evaluate the potential for using domestic animals in the surveillance of environmental exposures, we collected serum samples for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) analysis from nine dogs in Monroe County, Indiana, where people had been shown to have been exposed to PCBs. Nine dogs in Atlanta, Georgia, served as comparisons. Results indicated that canine serum PCB levels in contaminated areas (median = 3.0 ppb) tend to be greater than those in uncontaminated areas (median = 1.7 ppb [p = .06, Mann-Whitney U test]). This finding suggests that pet dogs may serve as sentinels of human exposure to environmental PCB contamination.