Where It Comes From
Legacy PCBs in transformers/fluorescent light ballasts, old caulk/paint/sealants, contaminated soil and sediment, and improper waste disposal; can evaporate into indoor air [1][2].
How You Are Exposed
Eating contaminated fish/seafood, meat, and dairy; breathing indoor air or dust in older buildings; contact during renovation, demolition, or work around old electrical gear or waste sites [1][2].
Why It Matters
PCBs are persistent, bioaccumulative, and linked to cancer and immune, neurologic, reproductive, and developmental harms; they cross the placenta and enter breast milk [1][3][4].
Who Is at Risk
Pregnant or breastfeeding people, infants and young children, subsistence anglers and communities eating contaminated fish, and workers in demolition, remediation, or electrical maintenance [1][2].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Follow local fish advisories; trim fat and cook to let fat drip; avoid disturbing old caulk/ballasts—use certified abatement; reduce dust (wet-wipe, HEPA vacuum); ventilate work areas; wash hands before eating [1][2].
References
- [1]ATSDR. ToxFAQs for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts17.html
- [2]U.S. EPA. Learn About Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) — Basic Information. https://www.epa.gov/pcbs/learn-about-polychlorinated-biphenyls-pcbs
- [3]IARC. Polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated biphenyls. IARC Monographs, Vol. 107 (2016). https://publications.iarc.fr/547
- [4]NTP. Report on Carcinogens, Fifteenth Edition: Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/roc