what are pcbs

PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are a group of man-made organic chemicals consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine atoms. They were domestically manufactured from 1929 until their ban in 1979 and were widely used in electrical equipment, hydraulic fluids, heat transfer fluids, lubricants, and plasticizers. PCBs are very stable mixtures that are resistant to extreme temperature and pressure, and they can enter the body through contaminated food, air, or skin contact. They are easily absorbed by the body and stored in fatty tissue, and due to their environmental persistence, they can be found in air, water, soil, and sediments throughout the world. PCBs have been banned due to their harmful effects on human and environmental health, and their levels in the environment and the food chain have been declining since the ban