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 further information, please call
your Regional PCB coordinator:
EPA Region 1 (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island)
Boston, MA: Kim lisa (617) 918-1527
EPA Region 2 (New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico,
Virgin Islands)
New York, NY: Dave Greenlaw (732) 906-6817
EPA Region 3 (Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia,
Maryland, Delaware, D.C.)
Philadelphia, PA: Ed Cohen (215) 814-2147
EPA Region 4 (Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi,
Florida)
Atlanta, GA: Stuart Perry (404) 562-8980
EPA Region 5 (Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio)
Chicago, IL: Tony Martig (312) 353-2291
EPA Region 6 (New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma,
Arkansas, Louisiana)
Dallas, TX: Lou Roberts (214) 665-7579
EPA Region 7 (Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa)
Kansas City, KS: Dave Phillippi (913) 551-7395
EPA Region 8 (Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Utah, Colorado)
Denver, CO: Dan Bench (303) 312-6027
EPA Region 9 (California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii,
American Samoa, Guam)
San Francisco, CA: Max Weintraub (415) 744-1129
EPA Region 10 (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska)
Seattle, WA: Dan Duncan (206) 553-6693
EPA910-F-99-001
O
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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 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 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 as
insulating liquids in electrical equipment, including
transformers and capacitors. They were marketed
under several trade names, including Aroclor,
Askarel, Pyroclor, Sanotherm, Kennechlor, Hyvol,
Chlorextol, 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 PCS
transformers and capacitors, they take several
decades to slowly decompose. 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. PCBs accumulate in the fatty tissue
of organisms low in a food chain are "magnified"
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 PCBs exposure for people include
irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. High, acute
exposures can damage the liver and 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 PCS 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; it
does not predict potential health effects.
A route of both industrial 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 PCS 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
PCBs exposure, seek help from a physician who is
trained to recognize occupational diseases. Take this
information with you.
How to reduce exposure?
PCBs chemical 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 being 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 occurred, emergency
shower facilities should be provided.
What are the Federal Regulations
for PCBs?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
set a maximum contaminent level for PCBs of 0.0005
milligrams 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
Email address:
http://atsdr1.atsdr.cdc.gov:8080/ToxFAQ.html.
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