Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
and You
What are PCBs?
Where are PCBs found?
Why are PCBs harmful?
How might I be exposed?
What to do if you believe you have an exposure problem?
How to reduce exposure?
What are the Federal Regulations for PCBs?
Where to obtain more information?
What are PCBs?
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic chemical compounds consisting of chlorine, carbon and hydrogen. PCBs belong to a family of organic compounds known as chlorinated hydrocarbons. PCBs may be clear to yellow oily liquids or waxy solids.
Due to public concern over the harmful effects of PCBs on the environment, the primary United States manufacturer voluntarily stopped making them in 1977. The 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA Public Law 94-469) prohibited any further manufacture of PCBs in the U.S. Even though PCBs are no longer manufactured in the U.S., small amounts of PCBs continue to be formed in production processes when chlorine, carbon and elevated temperatures or catalysts are present together.
Where are PCBs found?
PCBs were produced in the United States between 1929 and 1977. PCBs were primarily used in industrial applications as an electrical insulator, but were also used in small amounts in other commercial products. They were popular because they were inexpensive, did not conduct electricity, tolerate high temperatures, and last a very long time without degrading. The majority of the PCBs were used insulating liquids in electrical equipment including transformers and capacitors. They were marketed under several trade names, including Aroclor, Askarel, Pyroclor, Sanotherm, Kennechlor, Hyvol, Chlorextol, and Pyranol. Some other commercial applications of the product were for heat transfer, hydraulic fluids, dye carriers in carbonless copy paper, adhesives, and as a plasticizer in paints. They were also used in electronic devices such as older fluorescent lights, refrigerators and television sets.
Why are PCBs harmful?
Once PCBs are released into the environment through improper disposal or leakage from PCB transformers and capacitors, they take several decades to slowly degrade. When they are ingested by people and animals, PCBs are stored in the fatty tissue and then are slowly released into the blood stream. Even at low exposure levels, the concentration of PCBs in fatty tissue can accumulate to a high level. This is the process termed bioaccumulation. PCB accumulations in the fatty tissue of organisms low in a food chain are Amagnified@ when consumed by the animals in the higher level of the chain. This process is termed biomagnification.
As PCBs bioaccumulate in organisms and biomagnify in the food chain, they create health hazards at all levels. The short term health hazards associated with PCB exposure for people include irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. High, acute exposures can damage the liver and in some extreme cases it can cause death. Chronic (long term) health effects are often not immediately apparent and may last for months or years. Certain PCBs are probable carcinogens for people. There is some evidence that they cause skin cancer in people and have been shown to cause liver cancer in animals. Some long term effects include liver damage, reproductive problems, a severe acne like rash (chloracne), and damage to the nervous system resulting in numbness, weakness and tingling in the arms and legs.
How Might I be Exposed?
Exposures to PCBs may come from many areas including:
• workplace practices
• hazardous waste sites where improper disposal of PCBs has occurred
• leakage from PCB transformers and capacitors
• drinking contaminated water
• eating contaminated food, especially seafood
• skin contact with contaminated soil
• breathing contaminated air
• fluorescent light ballasts
The best way to know whether or not you are exposed to PCBs at work is through routine evaluation or a blood test that is available to detect recent large exposures. Evaluation can include personal or work area sampling and analysis. The evaluation only indicates one’s exposure to PCBs and does not predict potential health effects.
A rout of both industrail and nonindustrial potential exposure is fluorescent light ballasts (bulbs). Before EPA banned the manufacture of PCBs in 1977, PCBs were commonly used in the manufacture of fluorescent light ballasts. If the ballasts fail, the capacitor, which contains the PCB may break open releasing the PCBs to contaminate the surrounding tar-like material. It is virtually impossible to determine whether a small capacitor inside a light ballast is leaking since you cannot see the capacitor. The importance is whether or not the ballast itself is leaking. The black potting compound around the capacitor may be PCB-contaminated.
What to do if you believe you have an exposure problem?
If you believe you are having work related health problems and any other health problems related to PCB exposure, seek help from a physician who is trained to recognize occupational diseases. Take this information with you.
How to reduce exposure?
PCBs chemicals can be eaten, inhaled, or absorbed via skin. PCBs are probable cancer-causing agents; therefore, all contact should be reduced to the lowest possible level. Many scientists believe there is no safe level of exposure to PCBs. To keep from getting exposed, the following steps should be taken:
• In areas where PCBs are handled, processed, or stored, do not eat, smoke, or drink.
• After working in the area, wash hands thoroughly before eating or smoking.
• Wear full body protective clothing when working with the chemical.
• If a possible skin contact occurs, emergency shower facilities should be used.
What are the Federal Regulations for PCBs?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a maximum containment level for PCBs of 0.0005 milligram per liter of drinking water (0.0005mg/L). Accidental releases of PCBs into the environment of one pound or more are required to be reported to the EPA. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that milk, eggs, other dairy products, poultry fat, fish, shellfish, and infant foods contain not more than 0.2-3 parts of PCBs per million parts (0.2-3 p.m.) of food.
Where to obtain more information?
If there are more concerns or questions, please contact your community, state health, or environmental quality department or,
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Division of Toxicology
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop E-29
Atlanta, Georgia 30333
Phone: 1-800-447-1544
Website: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts17.html
ATSDR can tell you where to find occupational and environmental health clinics. Their specialists can recognize, evaluate, and treat illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous substances.
For more information, please call your Regional PCB coordinator