ABSTRACT
Attention focused on the adverse consequences of PCB exposure on the developing fetus
following poisoning episodes in Taiwan (1-4) and Japan (5). Ingestion of rice oil,
contaminated with PCBs, dibenzofurans and dibenzodioxins, by women before or during
pregnancy resulted in infants with hyperpigmentation, mental retardation, and other overt
effects at high exposures, and cognitive impairment and behavior problems at lower
exposures. It was clear from these unfortunate incidents that the fetus was much more
sensitive to these chemicals than were adults.
