Association between polychlorinated biphenyls and Parkinson's disease neuropathology

► GC-MS methods quantified eight PCB congeners in brain tissue of PD, AD and controls. ► PCB congeners 153 and 180 were elevated in brain tissue of PD patients. ► Female PD patients exhibited significantly higher PCB levels compared to controls. ► Elevated PCB levels were also detected in brains with nigral depigmentation. ► Results demonstrate an association between brain PCB levels and PD pathology.