<p>Humans are exposed to chemicals such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs) at unprecedented levels, and a wide variety of health effects are attributed to such exposures. However, the biological mechanisms that link exposures to its consequences remain unknown. An industrial accident in the 1970's exposed over 4000 individuals in rural Michigan to polybrominated biphenyl (PBB), a BFR that was present in the food supply for years prior to detection and management. Health effects are still evident in these individuals and their children. Because this population has been assessed regularly since the exposure, it is an ideal group in which to examine the molecular mechanisms that contribute to susceptibility, vulnerability and health effects. The goal of this project is to identify the genetic variants that associate with the rate of PBB elimination over time and integrate genetic and epigenetic datasets and identify complex gene-environment relationships in PBB exposed individuals. We will leverage data generated as part of past and ongoing studies in the Michigan Polybrominated Biphenyl Registry. We anticipate that this study will provide insight into how genetic variants and the environment interact in relation to PBB exposure and its health effects. We also anticipate the results of this study will be informative for studies of BFRs and other endocrine disrupting compounds with similar chemical properties.</p> <p>Note that methylation array data is available from NCBI GEO under <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE116339"> GSE116339: Exposure to Polybrominated Biphenyl (PBB) Associates with DNA Methylation Differences Across the Genome</a></p>

Michigan Polybrominated Biphenyl (PBB) Exposure Registry

Exposure to polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) associates with genome-wide DNA methylation differences in peripheral blood

Intergenerational effects of endocrine-disrupting compounds: a review of the Michigan polybrominated biphenyl registry

Environmental exposure to polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) associates with an increased rate of biological aging

Exposure to polybrominated biphenyl and stochastic epigenetic mutations: application of a novel epigenetic approach to environmental exposure in the Michigan polybrominated biphenyl registry