Are PCBs a dioxin?
Dioxins and some PCBs referred to as dioxin-like PCBs (due to their similar toxicological properties) are often considered together within the context of public health. Other PCBs referred to as ‘non dioxin-like PCBs’ have a different mechanism of toxicity but can also cause adverse effects on health.
What is a PCB congener?
A PCB congener is any single, unique well-defined chemical compound in the PCB category. The name of a congener specifies the total number of chlorine substituents , and the position of each chlorine.
What are examples of dioxins?
These are: chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs) polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) some polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
How are dioxins and PCBs related?
Dioxins are unwanted by-products generated by thermal and industrial processes. PCBs had numerous industrial applications before being banned in the EU by the 1980s. Twelve PCBs are referred to as “dioxin-like PCBs” as they share toxicological properties with dioxins.
How are humans exposed to PCBs?
People are exposed to PCBs primarily from contaminated food and breathing contaminated air. The major dietary sources of PCBs are fish (especially sportfish that were caught in contaminated lakes or rivers), meat, and dairy products.
What does PCB do to humans?
PCBs are a probable human carcinogen. Studies of PCBs in humans have found increased rates of melanomas, liver cancer, gall bladder cancer, biliary tract cancer, gastrointestinal tract cancer, and brain cancer, and may be linked to breast cancer.
What are the health effects of PCBs?
Studies of PCBs in humans have found increased rates of melanomas, liver cancer, gall bladder cancer, biliary tract cancer, gastrointestinal tract cancer, and brain cancer, and may be linked to breast cancer. PCBs are known to cause a variety of types of cancer in rats, mice, and other study animals.