Super Eco

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Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that continue to be a significant environmental hazard despite having been banned since the 1970s. They were used in transformers and capacitors, coolants, lubricants, stabilizing additives in flexible PVC coatings of electrical wiring and electronic components, pesticide extenders, cutting oils, flame retardants, hydraulic fluids, sealants (used in caulking, etc), adhesives, wood floor finishes, paints and carbonless carbon paper.

Although the toxicity of PCBs was noted before 1940,  production (handled in the United States primarily by Monsanto as well as General Electric) continued largely unabated into the 1970s. Concern over the toxicity and persistence of PCBs in the environment led the United States to ban domestic production in 1977, although some use continues in closed systems such as capacitors and transformers. Areas such as the Great Lakes remain contaminated by PCBs, despite extensive cleanup efforts. Fish there are contaminated, and their consumption is restricted. Recent research suggests that PCB-contaminated indoor air from buildings is the primary source of global atmospheric PCB contamination.

PCBs are classified as a probable human carcinogen. Exposure has been linked with liver cancer, skin rashes, liver damage, irregular menstrual cycles, lowered immune response, fatigue, headaches, coughs and poor cognitive development in children. Animals that eat PCB-contaminated food get liver damage and die. Women who are exposed to relatively high levels of PCBs in the workplace or eat large amounts of PCB-contaminated fish give birth to babies that weigh slightly less than babies from women without PCB exposures. Their babies show abnormal responses and problems with motor skills and short-term memory, lasting for several years. PCBs accumulate in breast milk and are the most likely way that babies are exposed to PCBs. PCBs are an endocrine disruptor that alters estrogen levels, contributing to reproduction problems in both humans and wildlife.