Study Background

Between 1959 and 1984, the Chemko Inc. plant located in Michalovce, Slovakia produced polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in form of Delors, and discharged the waste in the surrounding environment. The extent of environmental contamination has been well documented (see references). These investigations documented elevated levels of PCBs in soil, sediment, air and wildlife; human blood, adipose tissue, and breastmilk; and food products from locally-raised animals or locally-caught fish.

Compared with other PCB data from various regions of the globe, the exposures in the Michalovce region appear to be among the highest in the world today. Therefore, the launching of a comprehensive longitudinal study of a large birth cohort is significant.