Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Fact Sheet
What are Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)?
How do PCBs affect human health?
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of 209
synthetic chemical compounds which are colorless and
odorless. PCBs have been used as coolants and
lubricants in transformers, capacitors, and other
electrical equipment because they do not burn easily and
are good insulators. From 1929 to 1977 PCBs were
manufactured in the United States and widely used in
electrical equipment and other industrial uses. Due to the
harm PCBs cause to humans and wildlife, their
manufacture was banned in 1977.
Skin conditions such as acne and rashes are the most
commonly observed health effects in people exposed to
high levels of PCBs in the workplace. Some studies in
exposed workers have shown changes in blood and urine
that may indicate liver damage. PCB exposures in the
general population are not likely to result in skin and
liver effects.
What happens to PCBs when they enter the
environment?
Pregnant women exposed to high levels of PCBs in the
workplace or from eating fish contaminated with PCBs
had babies with lower birth weight, lessened motor skills
and decreased immune systems.
How can I reduce my exposure to PCBs?
PCBs may be released to the environment from
hazardous waste sites; illegal or improper disposal of
industrial wastes and consumer products; leaks from old
electrical transformers; and burning of some wastes in
incinerators. Most PCBs in the environment stick to soil
or sediments and can remain there for years. When PCBs
are deposited in water small amounts may remain
dissolved, but most stick to organic particles and bottom
sediments.
How are people exposed to PCBs?
 Contact with PCB contaminated soil or sediments
can lead to exposure. Children are at the greatest
risk for exposure to contaminants in the soil. Preschool aged children often play in dirt and place
their hands and other dirty objects in their mouths.
 Breathing air near hazardous waste sites and
drinking contaminated well water.
 In the workplace, workers may be exposed during
repair and maintenance of PCB transformers;
accidents, fires or spills involving transformers,
and other old electrical devices; and disposal of
PCB materials.
 Children should be discouraged from playing in the
dirt near hazardous waste sites and in areas where
there was a transformer fire. Children should also
be discouraged from eating dirt and putting dirty
hands, toys or other objects in their mouths, and
should wash hands frequently.
 Children should be told not to play with old
appliances, electrical equipment, or transformers,
since they may contain PCBs.
Is there a medical test to show if someone has
been exposed to PCBs?
Tests exist to measure levels of PCBs in your blood,
body fat, and breast milk, but these are not routinely
done. The tests can show if your PCB levels are
elevated, which would indicate past exposure to abovenormal levels of PCBs. However, these tests cannot
determine when or how long you were exposed or
whether you will develop health effects.
For more information please contact the:
Texas Department of State Health Services
Health Assessment and Toxicology Group
1100 West 49th Street, MC 1964
Austin, Texas 78756
1-800-588-1248
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us