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Polychlorinated biphenyls, more commonly known as PCBs, are a widespread
and dangerous environmental toxin. Now, in addition to the many other
known adverse effects, researchers from Slovenia have found that they
are damaging children's teeth as well.
- Researchers studied 202 children, aged 8 to 14
years, who were exposed to PCBs both prenatally and during early childhood
in an area of Slovenia contaminated with PCBs.
- As a comparison, 202 children from a different
and uncontaminated region were used as controls.
- To verify exposure, levels of PCBs in material
from the children's teeth (dentine) were measured.
- The prevalence of developmental defects of enamel
was found in 71.3% of exposed children, compared to 49.5% in the control
group (a 44% increase).
- The enamel was abnormal in 21.9% of the permanent
teeth of exposed children and in 12.7% of the control children (a
72% increase).
"In conclusion, our results showed that long-term
exposure to PCBs may cause developmental defects of enamel," the authors
state.
Caries Research 2000;
34: 469-473
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