Toxicological Profile
for
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
November 2000
Toxicological Profile Information
The ATSDR toxicological profile succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for the hazardous substance described here. Each peer-reviewed profile identifies and reviews the key literature that describes a hazardous substance's toxicologic properties. Other pertinent literature is also presented, but is described in less detail than the key studies. The complete list of topics covered (chapter titles) is shown at the left and in more detail further down this page.
The focus of the profile is on health and toxicologic information. Therefore, each profile begins with a Public Health Statement that summarizes in nontechnical language, a substance's relevant properties.
A useful two page information sheet, the ToxFAQs™, is also available.
In order to access the ATSDR toxicological profiles' PDF files below, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader .
You may download that program for free from this link to Adobe and then use it to access (open) the files below that are labeled as PDF files.
The table of contents and list of individual PDF files are given below.
- Disclaimer
- Update statement
- Foreword
- Quick reference
- Contributors
- Peer review
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
1. Public Health Statement, 125 KB
- 1.1 What is this substance?
1.2 What happens to it when it enters the environment?
1.3 How might I be exposed to it?
1.4 How can it enter and leave my body?
1.5 How can it affect my health?
1.6 How can it affect children?
1.7 How can families reduce the risk of exposure?
1.8 Is there a medical test to determine whether I have been exposed to it?
1.9 What recommendations has the federal government made to protect human health?
1.10 Where can I get more information?
2. Relevance to Public Health, 207 KB
- 2.1 Background and environmental exposures in the United
States
2.2 Summary of health effects
2.3 Minimal risk levels (MRLS)
- 3.1 Introduction
3.2 Discussion of health effects by route of exposure
3.3 Genotoxicity
3.4 Health effects in wildlife potentially relevant to human health
3.5 Toxicokinetics
3.5 Mechanisms of action
3.6 Toxicities mediated through the neuroendocrine axis
3.7 Children's susceptibility
3.8 Biomarkers of exposure and effect
3.9 Interactions with other chemicals
3.10 Populations that are unusually susceptible
3.11 Methods for reducing toxic effects
3.12 Adequacy of the database
4. Chemical and Physical Information, 191 KB
- 4.1 Chemical identity
4.2 Physical and chemical properties
5. Production, Import, Use, and Disposal, 156 KB
- 5.1 Production
5.2 Import/Export
5.3 Use
5.4 Disposal
6. Potential for Human Exposure, 544 KB
- 6.1 Overview
6.2 Releases to the environment
6.3 Environmental fate
6.4 Levels monitored or estimated in the environment
6.5 General population and occupational exposure
6.6 Exposures of children
6.7 Populations with potentially high exposure
6.8 Adequacy of the database
- 7.1 Biological materials
7.2 Environmental samples
7.3 Adequacy of the database
8. Regulations and Advisories, 137 KB
- A. ATSDR Minimal risk levels and worksheets
B. Users guide
C. Acronyms, abbreviations, and symbols
D. Index
E. Summary report for the expert panel review of April 13, 2000
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 2000. Toxicological profile for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
All ATSDR toxicological profile PDF files are electronic conversions from paper copy or other electronic ASCII text files. This conversion may have resulted in character translation or format errors. Users are referred to the original paper copy of the toxicological profile for the official text, figures, and tables. Original paper copies can be obtained via the directions on the toxicological profile home page, which also contains other important information about the profiles.
Where can I get more information?
ATSDR can tell you where to find occupational and environmental health clinics. Their specialists can recognize, evaluate, and treat illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous substances. You can also contact your community or state health or environmental quality department if you have any more questions or concerns.
For more information, contact:Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: 1-800-232-4636 / TTY: 888-232-6348
Email: cdcinfo@cdc.gov