CHRONIC POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS EXPOSURE ON 3 GENERATIONS OF OLDFIELD MICE (PEROMYSCUS-POLIONOTUS) - EFFECTS ON REPRODUCTION, GROWTH, ANDBODY RESIDUES

Effects of chronic dietary exposure to low levels of PCBs (polychlorin ated biphenyls) on reproduction, growth and whole body burdens were in vestigated in three generations of Peromyscus polionotus. Mated pairs were maintained on a diet containing 5 mg/kg PCBs (Aroclor 1254(R)) fo r 12 months, beginning exposure as young adults; matched controls rece ived a similar diet without PCBs. Offspring were maintained on the par ental regime and paired at maturity with non-siblings in the same grou p. In first and second generation offspring, birth and weaning weights were significantly lower in PCB-exposed animals; in the second genera tion, there were also significantly fewer mice born/month, longer inte rvals prior to birth of the first litter, and decreased survival to we aning (25 days) among exposed mice. Whole body residue of PCBs increas ed significantly with each generation of exposure. This study clearly shows that chronic exposure to PCBs at a dosage of 5 mg/kg depressed f ertility, growth and survival in Peromyscus, and that these effects we re amplified through multigenerational exposure.