The children had a variety of birth defects, including dark colored heads, faces and genitals and abnormal nails that were dark and often ridged, split or folded. They also tended to have swollen gums and teeth that chipped readily. They were shorter and lighter on average than children who were not exposed and had developmental delays as measured by standard psychological tests.
Dr. Ralph E. Kauffman of Wayne State School of Medicine in Detroit cautioned that the Taiwan experience does not prove ''one way or the other'' that lower levels of exposure to PCB's are dangerous to fetuses.