“A Persistent Problem: PCB Exposure and Adverse Health Effects” by Dr. Hans-Joachim Lehmler

When: October 23, 2024, from 12:30-1:20 p.m.

Where: Callaghan Auditorium (N110 CPHB) and Zoom for those outside of Iowa City

Reception to follow in the CPHB atrium.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of 209 chemically related persistent organic pollutants that have been used in various industrial and commercial applications, such as capacitors and transformers. Despite being banned from production over 40 years ago due to their toxic effects, PCBs continue to be inadvertently produced as byproducts in manufacturing paint pigments and other industrial products.

PCBs pose significant human health risks, primarily through inhalation and dietary exposure. PCBs and their metabolites have been detected in human and animal tissues, including the brain, where they can cause various adverse health effects. For example, both laboratory and population-based studies have demonstrated that prenatal and early-life exposure to PCBs is associated with cognitive deficits, memory and learning impairments, and attention disorders in children.

Despite these well-documented effects, many questions remain about the specific mechanisms by which PCBs affect brain function. Recent studies have begun exploring the cellular and molecular pathways involved in PCB-induced neurotoxicity by focusing on brain regions and individual cells. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted strategies to protect vulnerable populations, such as children and pregnant women, from the harmful effects of PCB exposure.

About Dr. Lehmler

Dr. Hans-Joachim Lehmler has been named the 2024 College of Public Health Distinguished Faculty Lecturer. He is a professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health in the University of Iowa College of Public Health, and the director of the Environmental Health Sciences Research Center (EHSRC).

Dr. Lehmler received an MS and PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Bonn, Germany, in 1993 and 1995, respectively. He then served in several roles at the University of Kentucky before coming to the University of Iowa in 2003.

Dr. Lehmler is an internationally recognized authority on the chemical synthesis and toxicology of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). He is at the forefront of environmental research with approximately 300 peer-reviewed publications, documenting PCBs’ toxicity, mechanisms of action, toxicokinetics, and environmental persistence.

He has directed the EHSRC since 2020. Through research and engagement, the center addresses the adverse health effects of current and emerging environmental contaminants, especially among rural and agricultural populations. He has served as deputy director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences-funded Iowa Superfund Research Program since 2020. In this role, Dr. Lehmler employs a multi-disciplinary approach to tackle public health problems associated with airborne PCBs. He also leads a highly productive chemical toxicology laboratory, supervising multiple student and postdocs. We are delighted to celebrate his creative approach to solving complex health issues through interdisciplinary research.

This article was originally published on the UI College of Public Health Website