Abstract #: 258-S

SERUM POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL (PCB) LEVELS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PERCEPTIONS IN ANNISTON, ALABAMA. C. Campagna*, D. Cibula, P. Rosenbaum, (SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, U.S.A.)

The relationship between perception of environmental quality and PCB exposures remain poorly understood. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2005-2007 to study health outcomes, PCB exposure, and environmental perceptions in Anniston, Alabama. Data was collected using the Anniston Community Health Survey (ACHS), with serum PCB levels obtained by blood draw among 774 residents who attended a clinic visit. Descriptive statistics and multifactorial ANOVA were used to assess associations between serum PCB levels (log transformed) and perceptions of environmental quality. Two-tailed results are reported unless noted. Participants were 69% female, 46% African American, with 75% reporting annual household incomes of <$35,000. Twenty percent of residents rated the Anniston environment as excellent, very good, or good, whereas 33% and 26% rated the environment as poor or very poor, respectively. Mean age was 54.8 (SD = 15.9) and mean serum PCB level (sum of 35 PCB congeners in ppb, wet weight), 6.6 (SD = 11.9). Mean PCB levels (ppb) by perception level were: 6.1 (good), 4.5 (fair), 7.7 (poor). After controlling for age, race, and educational attainment, there was a significant effect of environmental perceptions on mean serum PCB levels (p <. 05). Planned comparisons revealed a difference in mean PCB levels of participants who reported poor and good environmental perceptions (p < .05, one-tailed). Hochberg's GT2 post hoc test revealed that mean PCB levels were significantly higher in participants with poor environmental perceptions compared to those with good (p < .001) and fair perceptions (p < .001). Anniston residents with the poorest environmental perceptions had the highest serum concentrations of PCBs. Funded by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry U50/ATU473215. P. Rosenbaum for the Anniston Environmental Health Research Consortium.