Polychlorinated biphenyl

What is it? PCBs belong to a broad family of man-made organic chemicals known as chlorinated hydrocarbons. They have a range of toxicity and vary in consistency from thin, light-colored liquids to yellow or black waxy solids.

Sources They aren`t natural chemical compounds. They are created by human activities. They are used in electrochemical industry.

Effects PCBs have been demonstrated to cause a variety of serious health effects.

Neurological effects Based on studies performed on monkeys we know that PCB causes problems with short–term memory, visual recognition and learning. For example, children who are exposed to PCBs before birth through maternal consumption of PCB contaminated fish were found to have a 6.2-point IQ deficit as compared to non-exposed children. Other studies have reported reduced alertness and increased tiredness in association with PCBs.

Endocrine Effects PCB causes deficits in human and animal bodies. Among other things, it causes endocrine disruption, makes damages in hearing. PCBs can alter the sex hormone systems, and have been found to lower the age at which a girl reaches puberty and can reduce the levels of the male hormone, testosterone.

Respiratory diseases PCBs cause an overall increased risk of asthma and other infectious respiratory diseases. More specifically, children have an increased risk of asthma and other infectious respiratory diseases when exposed to persistent organic pollutants, including PCBs.

Reproduction and development of newborn babies Consumption of fish with PCB during pregnancy was related to lesser neuromuscular maturity of the newborn baby. PCB-contaminated fish consumption has also been linked to impaired involuntary muscle actions and abnormally weak reflexes. High levels of PCBs in umbilical cord blood serum have repeatedly been linked with poor performance in standard tests carried out to assess the mental and motor abilities of the newborn.

Other non-cancer effects PCBs have been shown to cause cancer and a number of serious non-cancer health effects. The different health effects of PCBs may be interrelated, as alterations in one system may have significiant implications for others regulatory systems of the body.