A Review of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Pollution in the Air: Where and How Much Are We Exposed to?

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were widely used in industrial and commercial applications, until they were banned in the late 1970s as a result of their significant environmental pollution. PCBs in the environment gained scientific interest because of their persistence and the potential threats they pose to humans. Traditionally, human exposure to PCBs was linked to dietary ingestion. Inhalational exposure to these contaminants is often overlooked. This review discusses the occurrence and distribution of PCBs in environmental matrices and their associated health impacts. Severe PCB contamination levels have been reported in e-waste recycling areas. The occurrence of high PCB levels, notably in urban and industrial areas, might result from extensive PCB use and intensive human activity. Furthermore, PCB contamination in the indoor environment is ten-fold higher than outdoors, which may present expose risk for humans through the inhalation of contaminated air or through the ingestion of dust. In such settings, the inhalation route may contribute significantly to PCB exposure. The data on human health effects due to PCB inhalation are scarce. More epidemiological studies should be performed to investigate the inhalation dose and response mechanism and to evaluate the health risks. Further studies should also evaluate the health impact of prolonged low-concentration PCB exposure.

Release of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from cigarette butts into the aquatic environment: Levels and ecotoxicity

“…CBs are transported to the oceans through storm sewers, runoff, and rivers (Rech et al, 2014) and remaining suspended in the water body and then reached the oor sediment (Lima et al, 2021). Due to the wide quantity of the littered CBs, the toxic impacts of CBs on aquatic and/or terrestrial organisms have been con rmed previously (Gill et PCBs and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are toxic environmental pollutants (Othman et al, 2022;Wang et al, 2016). PCBs as ubiquitous chemicals with carcinogenic and teratogenic properties (McFarland and Clarke, 1989;Safe and Hutzinger, 1984), can bioaccumulate in the human body (Esser et al, 2021).…”

A Review: Subcritical Water Extraction of Organic Pollutants from Environmental Matrices

“…Humans are mainly exposed to PCBs by oral intake, inhalation, and skin adsorption [ 65 ]. PCBs have several negative consequences on human health, including cancer, skin and liver damage, birth defects, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular problems, immune system failure, and other health problems [ 66 , 67 ]. Thus, due to PCBs’ health risks, they are currently forbidden, and manufacturers stopped producing PCBs commercially in 1977.…”

Health benefits and health risks of contaminated fish consumption: Current research outputs, research approaches, and perspectives

“…According to Ref. [ 149 ], exposure to PCB can cause the risk of cancer which is 20 % higher in men than women.…”