Wang, I. J.I. J.WangWU-SHIUN HSIEHGuo, Y. L.Y. L.GuoPAU-CHUNG CHENLambert G.H.Yue Leon GuoHsieh, W. S.W. S.HsiehChuang, Y. L.Y. L.ChuangLin, S. J.S. J.LinChen, P. C.P. C.Chen2018-09-102018-09-102015-02http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/25490244http://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/389982Introduction: In 1979, approximately 2000 people in central Taiwan were exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls and dibenzofurans (PCBs/PCDFs) due to ingestion of contaminated rice oil. The children born to mothers exposed to PCBs/PCDFs were called Yucheng children. We conducted a follow-up study to examine the association between gestational PCBs/PCDFS exposure and auditory function in Yucheng children's early adulthood. Methods: In 1985 and early 1992, Yucheng children and their age, gender, socio-economic matched unexposed referent children were recruited for physical examination and long-term follow-ups. In 2007, Yucheng children and referent children were invited to participate in a health examination, including assessment of pure-tone air-conduction thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) test. Gestational exposure to PCBs/PCDFs in Yucheng children were estimated by back-extrapolation of their mother's serum concentration to the time of childbirth. Results: A total of 86 Yucheng children (51.2% males) and 97 referent children (50.5% males) were included for analysis. No difference was found in demographic characteristics between two groups. Among the Yucheng children, 53 had estimated PCBs/PCDFs concentrations. We found that Yucheng children were at higher risk of having elevated hearing threshold at low frequencies in the right ear. Estimated maternal concentrations of 2,3,4,7,8-pnCDF at the time of birth were associated with increased hearing thresholds and decreased DPOAEs amplitudes at low frequencies in the right ear. Conclusion: Gestational exposure to PCBs/PCDFs caused adverse asymmetrical hearing effects detectable even in early adulthood. ? 2014 Elsevier Inc.Gestational; Hearing loss; PCBs; PCDFs; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated dibenzofurans; Prenatal; Yucheng[SDGs]SDG3benzofuran derivative; chlorinated dibenzofurans; pollutant; polychlorinated biphenyl; adolescent; adult; blood; case control study; chemically induced; environmental exposure; environmental monitoring; female; follow up; Hearing Loss; human; male; pollutant; pregnancy; prenatal exposure; Taiwan; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Benzofurans; Case-Control Studies; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hearing Loss; Humans; Male; Maternal Exposure; Polychlorinated Biphenyls; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Taiwan; Young Adultjournal article10.1016/j.envres.2014.12.002