Developmental dental defects in children exposed to PCBs in eastern Slovakia

The effects of long-term exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on developmental dental defects of deciduous and permanent teeth in children in eastern Slovakia, where PCBs from a chemical plant manufacturing Delors contaminated the surrounding district were evaluated. Four hundred and thirtytwo children, lifelong residents, aged 8–9 years were examined. Children’s caries susceptibility and gingival health was assessed by standard dental indices, and developmental enamel defects by the FDI index. Data from the PCBRISK project data set and questionnaires completed by the parents provided information on exposure and various confounding factors. The proportion of teeth with different types and extensions of developmental enamel defects correlated with serum PCB concentration. The proportion of deciduous teeth affected with enamel defects was significantly higher in higher exposed children (χ2 = 8.35; p = 0.03) according to their serum PCB concentration (group 0: <200; group 1: 200–600; group 2: >600 ng PCBs g−1 serum lipids). The proportion of permanent teeth affected with any enamel defect was significantly higher in higher exposed children (χ2 = 7.237; p = 0.027). Furthermore, the extent of the enamel defects was also greater (χ2 = 10.714; p = 0.005). In multivariate linear regression analysis PCB exposure was significantly related to developmental enamel defects of permanent teeth only. No associations between PCB exposure and caries susceptibility, gingival health or number of teeth were observed. This study demonstrated a dose–response relationship between PCB exposure and developmental enamel defects of permanent teeth in children, the evidence for deciduous teeth was not conclusive.