Chemical Substances
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Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
What are they?
PCBs, or Polychlorinated Biphenyls, refers to any one, or any combination of 209 specific chemical substances that are similar in structure. PCBs are synthetic compounds.
Where are they found and how are they used?
For several decades, PCBs were used widely as ingredients in many industrial materials, such as sealing and caulking compounds, cutting oils, inks and paint additives. PCBs were also used to make coolants and lubricants for certain kinds of electrical equipment, such as transformers
What are their effects?
PCBs are very persistent both in the environment and in living tissue. The most obvious signs of environmental harm caused by PCBs are in aquatic ecosystems and in species that eat primarily aquatic organisms. While persistence is well-documented, little is known about the health impacts that result from long-term exposure to low concentrations of PCBs. Most of what is known about health risks of short-term exposure to PCBs is based on observations of people who were exposed briefly to high levels as a result of accidents or job-related activities. Currently available scientific evidence demonstrates that exposure to PCBs can cause cancer in experimental animals. However, the available epidemiological evidence has not demonstrated an association between exposure to PCBs and the incidence of disease in the human population. Taken together, this information does raise concerns regarding the potential for PCBs to cause cancer in the human population. The resulting consensus among scientific experts is that PCBs are classified as probable human carcinogens.
What are we doing?
Strong and effective action has been taken on PCBs under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and other laws. On September 17, 2008, Environment Canada published the new PCB Regulations in the Canada Gazette Part II as a final publication. The manufacture, export, import, offer for sale, sale, use, processing, storage and release of PCBs are controlled under this new legislation. These Regulations, in addition to strengthening controls, set deadlines for ending the use of PCBs, eliminating PCBs currently in storage and limiting the storage time period before PCBs are destroyed. It is expected that these deadlines will result in the removal of 90% of PCBs still in use and 100% of PCBs currently in storage by the end of 2009. A copy of the new PCB Regulations may be obtained on-line at: 
http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/regulations/detailReg.cfm?intReg=105.
Health Canada is continuing to monitor amounts of PCBs in food, air and water to ensure we are not exposed to levels that pose a health risk.
Being informed is the best protection. Find out more about PCBs on both Health Canada and Environment Canada websites at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/environ/pcb-bpc-eng.php and http://ec.gc.ca/wmd-dgd/default.asp?lang=En&n=75C647A7-1.
Health effects for any substance depend on the amount of exposure, and how that exposure occurs.
