Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): Health effects
Description
Symptoms experienced by people exposed to large amounts of PCBs are skin conditions such as acne or rashes (also known as chloracne) and irritation and burning in the eyes. Blood and urine tests indicate damage to the liver for affected people.
Other symptoms include nausea, lethargy, brown pigmentation of skin and nails, swelling of the face, distinctive hair follicles, excessive eye discharge, swelling of the eyelids, visual disturbances, gastrointestinal disturbances, jaundice and decreased lung function. These are only likely to be evident in those who work with PCBs and who do not wear appropriate protective clothing.
In the general population these effects are not considered likely.
Women exposed to relatively high levels of PCBs either in the workplace, or from consuming contaminated fish, may have babies that weigh slightly less at birth, and have an effect on the gestational period and head circumference. The babies may also have abnormal responses in tests of infant behaviour, such as motor skills and short term memory. Affected babies may also exhibit an altered immune system.
Animal studies indicate that consumption of large amounts of contaminated food for short periods of time causes mild liver damage. Animals that consumed tainted food of lower concentration over a longer period of time developed various kinds of health effects, including anaemia, acne-like skin conditions, liver, stomach and thyroid-gland injuries. The immune system was affected, behavioural alterations were noted, and reproduction was impaired.
The Australian Safety and Compensation Council considers PCBs as probable human carcinogens, or compounds capable of causing cancer. This is based on evidence of carcinogenicity in both humans and animals.
Entering the body
PCBs can enter the body by ingestion, inhalation of vapours, or by absorption through the skin.
Exposure
Exposure to PCBs may result from using old fluorescent lighting fixtures and electrical devices and appliances made over 30 years ago; eating contaminated food such as fish caught in contaminated waterways; breathing air near hazardous waste sites and drinking contaminated well water; and in the workplace during the repair and maintenance of PCB transformers, accidents, fires or spills involving transformers, fluorescent lights and other old electrical devices, and disposal of PCBs or materials containing PCBs.
Health guidelines
Workplace exposure:
Currently, the eight-hour time weighted average (TWA) exposure limit is 0.5 milligrams of PCBs (containing 54% chlorine) per cubic metre of air. A 15-minute short term exposure limit (STEL) is 1 milligram of PCBs per cubic metre of air.
Australian drinking water guidelines:
No drinking water guidelines have been established for PCBs.
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