Synonyms
chlorobiphenyl, Aroclor (USA), Clophen (Germany), Kanechlor (Japan), polychlorinated diphenyls
Definition
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) belong to the halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon family of chemicals that also includes dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). PCBs are a mixture of up to 209 individual chlorinated compounds, known as congeners, which are no longer produced in the USA but are among the most widespread of environmental pollutants. Electrical transformers, capacitors, lighting fixtures, hydraulic oils, paints, inks, and home appliances may contain PCBs if they were manufactured before 1977. Burning of some wastes can also release PCBs into the environment. Commercial PCB mixtures are known in the USA by the trade name Aroclor (Monsanto, St Louis MO, USA). There are no known natural sources of PCBs. Human exposure to PCBs occurs primarily through food contamination. Occupational exposure was reported to produce acute health effects as early as 1936....
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© 2005 Springer-Verlag
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Olsen, J.L. (2005). Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and the Immune System. In: Vohr, HW. (eds) Encyclopedic Reference of Immunotoxicology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-27806-0_1186
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-27806-0_1186
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-44172-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-27806-1
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