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....
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
DeVito MJ, Birnbaum LS (1995) Dioxins: model chemicals for assessing receptor-mediated toxicity. Toxicology 102:115–123
Yu ML, Hsin JW, Hsu CC, Chan WC, Guo YL (1998) The immunologic evaluation of the Yucheng children. Chemosphere 37:1855–1865
Weisglas-Kuperus N, Patandin S, Berbers GA et al. (2000) Immunologic effects of background exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins in Dutch preschool children. Environ Health Persp 108:1203–1207
Ahlborg UG, Becking GC, Birnbaum LS et al. (1994) Toxic equivalency factors for dioxin-like PCBs: Report on WHO-ECEH and IPCS consultation, December 1993. Chemosphere 28:1049–1067
Rothman N, Cantor KP, Blair A et al. (1997) A nested case-control study of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and serum organochlorine residues. Lancet 350: 240–244
Ahlborg UG, Becking GC, Birnbaum LS et al. (1994) Toxic equivalency factors for dioxin-like PCBs: Report on WHO-ECEH and IPCS consultation, December 1993. Chemosphere 28:1049–1067
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2005 Springer-Verlag
About this entry
Cite this entry
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
Download citation
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
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences