Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been produced commercially since be fore 1930. They proved to be highly versatile mixtures and their uses continued to expand during the early 1970's even after the unanticipated world-wide en vironmental contamination had been discovered (Jensen et aI. , 1969; Koeman et aI. , 1969). Over 600,000 metric-tons were produced and/or used in the U. S. during this time and it is estimated that worldwide production totaled about 1,200,000 metric-tons (Table 1). With low acute toxicities (Fishbein, 1974), these mixtures were considered gen erally biologically inactive even though industrial exposure had demonstrated he patic and dermatological effects (Fishbein, 1974; Hansen, 1987). Thus, use and disposal were not carefully monitored and it is estimated that one-third of the world-wide production of PCBs has been released into the global environment (Table 1). Table 1. Estimated production and disposition of PCBs b U. s. a Worldwide 6 6 Production/use 610 X 10 kg 1200 X 10 kg Mobil environmental reservoir 82 400 Static reservoirs In service 340 Dumps 130 Total static 470 800 a NAS, 1979 b Tatsukawa and Tanaba, 1984 2 Environmental Distribution Many countries now impose strict controls on the use and release of PCBs. Re lease into the environment has declined dramatically in the last decade, but con tinued release from reservoirs (Table 1) into burdened ecosystems (Table 2) ap pears inevitable for several more decades (Barros et aI. , 1984).

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds, produced commercially since 1929 for use in a variety of products including plastics and adhesives, surface coatings, inks, flame retardants, pesticides and paints. PCBs are environmentally persistent, and accumulate in the food chain. They are designated by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants as persistent pollutants, and many countries have severely restricted or banned the production of PCBs. This report evaluates the effects of PCBs on human health, caused due to exposure by inhaling contaminated air or ingesting contaminated food and water.

Though polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been banned in the United States for more than thirty years, the toxic effects of their presence in local environments continue to be a significant public health concern. PCBs: Human and Environmental Disposition and Toxicology brings together more than fifty established specialists on PCB toxicity to discuss recent trends and specialized investigations of PCB influences on the environment and on humans. Renowned scientists including Paul S. Cooke, Takeshi Nakano, Tomas Trnovec, Deborah C. Rice, Linda S. Birnbaum, and Charles S. Wong present cutting-edge research on Hudson River PCBs, human contamination, homologue profiles, high PCB exposure in Slovakia, and PCB effects on the thyroid hormone, nutrition, and estrogen levels in humans and animals. Focusing on the detection, movement, metabolism, toxicity, remediation, and risk assessment of PCB contamination, this multi-disciplinary study is a valuable resource for regulatory agencies and scientists working with PCBs.