Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) Toxicity
Standards and Regulations

Workplace

Air

• OSHAs PEL is 1,000 µg/m³ for PCBs containing 42% chlorine and 500 µg/m³ for compounds containing 54% chlorine.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) is a time-weighted average (TWA) airborne concentration of 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) for PCBs containing 42% chlorine (average molecular formula of C₁₂H₇C_l3). The PEL for PCBs with 54% chlorine and an average molecular formula of C₁₂H₅C_l5 is 500 µg/m³. Both standards encompass all physical forms of these compounds: aerosols, vapor, mist, sprays, and PCB-laden dust particles. OSHA recognizes that PCBs are absorbed through intact skin; therefore, both dermal and inhalation exposure routes should be evaluated by an industrial hygienist.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends a 10-hour TWA of 1 µg/m³ based on the minimum reliable detectable concentration and the potential carcinogenicity of PCBs. NIOSH also recommends that all workplace exposures be reduced to the lowest feasible level.

Environment

Water

• EPA's enforceable maximum contaminant level for PCBs in public drinking water systems is 0.0005 ppm.

EPA considers PCBs a probable human carcinogen and prohibits industrial discharges under the Clean Water Act Effluent Guidelines. The EPA drinking water maximum contaminant level goal is zero and the enforceable maximum contaminant level for PCBs in public water systems is 0.0005 ppm (EPA 2001). EPA also requires that spills or accidental releases into the environment of 1 pound or more of PCBs be reported to EPA (ATSDR 2000a).

Food

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tolerance levels for PCBs in food range between 0.2 and 3 ppm.

FDA mandates tolerances of 0.2 to 3.0 ppm PCBs for all foods, with a tolerance level in fish of 2 ppm. FDA also limits PCBs in plastic food-packaging materials to 10 ppm.

The allowable daily intake set for PCBs by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization is 6 ìg/kg per day (AAP 1999).

Challenge Questions

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