PCBs Assessment

The PCBs profile measures the body burden of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs were used in transformers, capacitors, and coolants. Its production was banned in 1979 by the US Congress and in 2001 by the Stockholm Convention for its persistence in the environment. PCBs have entered the environment through its use as well as its improper disposal. There have been many large scale contaminations of PCBs by electric companies like General Electric and Westinghouse, into our landfills and rivers and lakes. PCBs are bioaccumulative are found in highest concentration in fish and butter. The most common health effect observed from PCB exposure are skin conditions such as chloracne and rashes.

The compounds measured in this profile include:

Dioxin-like Polychlorinated Biphenyls:
2,3',4,4',5-Pentachlorobiphenyl
3,3’,4,4’,5-Pentachlorobiphenyl
3,3',4,4',5,5'-Hexachlorobiphenyl

Non-dioxin-like Polychlorinated Biphenyls:
2,2’,3,4,4’,5’-Hexachlorobiphenyl
2,2’,4,4’,5,5’-Hexachlorobiphenyl
2,2’,3,4,4’,5,5’-Heptachlorobiphenyl