Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are everywhere — from  the natural environment to inside your home and even in your school. They are invisible and odorless, and you might not even know that they are there. But PCBs are toxic. They cause negative health effects like cancer, brain developmental delays, and even liver disease. PCB52 is a congener that is prominent in the indoor air of older school buildings. This comic focuses on a fight in the liver between PCB52 and her arch nemesis, the hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes “CYP”. CYP has the powers of metabolism which can convert PCBs into metabolites with the goal of making them less potent. What happens when these two powerful women go head-to-head in battle? Find out in “The Adventures of Science Ky: Trouble in Hepato-City"! 

This science communication was part of a project with the University of Iowa Connecting Science to Society (CSTS) group. One of the goals of CSTS is to bridge the gap between scientists and the general public. "The Adventures of Science Ky: Trouble in Hepato-City" attempts to make an advanced topic like PCB metabolism in the liver more digestible to the general population and engage with a younger generation of potential scientists through a fun format. My hope is that this comic book will excite high school students and encourage their interest in relevant real-world science topics such as exposure to environmental toxicants.

Keywords

polychlorinated biphenyls, pcbs, liver, metabolism, comic, hepatic, cytochrome p450

How to Cite

Helm-Kwasny, B. K., (2025) “The Adventures of Science Ky: Trouble in Hepato-City”, Synthesis: A Digital Journal of Student Science Communication 6(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.17077/2643-8410.33887