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Mothers who eat highly contaminated fish before giving birth may have children who have slower mental development. A pregnant woman can pass these chemicals to her unborn child. Developing fetuses and young children are the most vulnerable to PCBs, therefore, children and women who may become pregnant, are pregnant, or nursing should limit their exposure to PCBs. USEPA classifies PCBs as probable human carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals), but there is no evidence that PCBs cause cancer at the low levels found in the environment.īirth defects have been linked to mothers who have been exposed to PCBs. Studies of human workers exposed to high levels of PCBs for long periods have not consistently shown that PCBs cause cancer in humans. Large amounts of PCBs given to laboratory animals over a short time can cause cancer. Animal studies also have suggested that PCBs can affect the immune, endocrine and reproductive systems, but these effects are uncertain in humans. These liver changes are similar to those resulting from the consumption of alcoholic beverages or smoking cigarettes. PCBs also can cause short-term changes in the activity of the liver, but without any noticeable symptoms.
WHERE IS PCB SKIN
In people, PCBs can affect the skin and may cause chloracne-small, pale, yellow skin lesions that may last from weeks to years. Getting sick from being exposed to PCBs depends on: the amount of PCBs that entered your body, how long you were exposed to PCBs, and how sensitive your body is to PCBs. How can PCBs affect my health?Ĭoming in contact with PCBs does not mean you will get sick or have health problems. The workplace also may be a source of PCB exposure. PCB levels measured in the air after a light ballast failure can be significant. If the ballasts fail, PCBs can leak out and contaminate exposed surfaces and the air. Older fluorescent lights found in schools, offices and homes may still contain transformers or ballasts that contain PCBs. If the pump seal fails, PCBs can leak into the well and contaminate the drinking water. Some private wells may use old submersible pumps that contain PCB oil. PCBs do not dissolve well, so exposure to them from water is usually not a concern. Dust contaminated with very small levels of PCBs may be found on the outer surfaces of fruits and vegetables. Plants take up only small amounts of PCBs from the soil, so amounts in grazing animals and dairy products are generally lower than in fish. Catfish, buffalo fish, and carp usually have the highest PCB levels. Most people are exposed to PCBs by eating contaminated fish, meat, and dairy products. PCBs are not eliminated well, so they can accumulate in the body. PCBs are easily absorbed by the body and are stored in fatty tissue. PCBs can enter the body by eating or drinking contaminated food, through the air we breathe, or by skin contact. Since PCBs are found throughout the environment, it is likely that everyone has been exposed to them. Because PCBs have not been made since 1977, the levels in the environment and in the food chain have been declining. They have been found in air, water, soil, and sediments throughout the world. Once in the environment, PCBs can be transported long distances and they bind strongly to soil and sediment so they tend to be persistent in the environment. It is estimated that more than half of the PCBs produced have been released into the environment. PCBs have been released into the environment through spills, leaks from electrical and other equipment, and improper disposal and storage. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) banned the use of PCBs however, PCBs are still present in many pre-1979 products.
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Commercial production of PCBs ended in 1977 because of health effects associated with exposure. The primary company that made PCBs in the United States was Monsanto Inc., mainly using the name Aroclor. They also were used in hydraulic fluids, heat transfer fluids, lubricants, and plasticizers. PCBs were used widely in electrical equipment like capacitors and transformers. PCBs are very stable mixtures that are resistant to extreme temperature and pressure. They are oily liquids or solids, clear to yellow in color, with no smell or taste. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of manmade chemicals. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) What are polychlorinated biphenyls?