The Issue

PCBs are a class of manufactured chemicals that tend to last for many years. They do not break down easily on their own, and they are difficult to destroy.

Little is known about the long-term health effects of PCBs, so it is important to keep our exposure to these chemicals as low as possible.

Background

Did you know.... PCBs stands for Polychlorinated Biphenyls.

From the 1930s to the 1970s, PCBs were widely used as ingredients in a number of industrial materials, including sealing and caulking compounds, inks and paint additives. They were also used to make coolants and lubricants for certain kinds of electrical equipment, including transformers and capacitors.

By 1977, concern about the impact of PCBs on the environment led to a North American ban on manufacturing and importing PCBs. However, the ban did not cover existing PCBs that were used in electrical applications. Those are being phased out now, and the federal government has set strict guidelines for the storage and disposal of PCBs.

Where We Find PCBs Today

Small amounts of PCBs are found in the environment all over the world. There are also traces of PCBs in our food and in our own bodies. PCBs move up the food chain by getting into the body fat of animals and staying there for a long time.

Larger concentrations of PCBs are found in certain types of electrical equipment, and at storage sites across the country, which contain PCBs that have been collected for disposal. An uncontrolled fire at one of the storage sites could release large amounts of PCBs into the environment.

Health Risks of Exposure to PCBs

Scientists do not know much about the long-term impact of PCBs on human health. Most of what is known about the health risks of PCBs is based on observations of people who were exposed briefly to high levels as a result of accidents or job-related activities.

This kind of exposure is known to cause the following conditions:

• A severe form of acne called chloracne
• Swelling of the upper eyelids
• Numbness in the arms and/or legs
• Weakness
• Discolouring of the nails and skin
• Muscle spasms
• Chronic bronchitis
• Problems with the nervous system

There have also been suggestions that workplace exposure to high levels of PCBs over a long period of time may increase a worker's chance of getting cancer - especially cancer of the liver and kidney. However, there is no proof yet of a definite link between PCBs and cancer.

Fortunately, most Canadians are not exposed to high levels of PCBs. For most, exposure to PCBs is limited to the very low levels found in food and the environment. These levels are not likely to cause health problems.

There may be health risks for specific groups of people who eat large amounts of sport fish or game contaminated by PCBs. These higher risk groups include Aboriginal peoples and the families of people who hunt and fish for food.

More research is needed before scientists can say exactly how exposure to low levels of PCBs will affect human health over the long term.

Government Action on PCBs

Health Canada and Environment Canada have taken strong and effective steps to control every aspect of PCBs, including how they are used, stored and destroyed.

The long-term solution to the problem is to destroy the remaining stores of PCBs. This process is underway using proven methods that do not threaten the environment.

In the meantime, Health Canada continues to monitor the amount of PCBs in our food, air and water to ensure that Canadians are not exposed to levels that pose a health risk. In addition, Health Canada continues to track and assess research about the long-term health effects of low-level exposure to PCBs.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

If you do a job that might bring you into contact with high levels of PCBs, you should wear protective clothing and follow decontamination procedures when you finish work. This applies to workers who:

• Replace or service old electrical equipment
• Transport PCBs to storage and destruction sites
• Handle PCBs at these sites

Most Canadians do not need to take extra precautions because their exposure to PCBs is limited to the very low levels found in food and the environment. If you are concerned about exposure to PCBs through food, you may want to limit the amount of sport fish and game that you eat.

Source: Health Canada