Overview
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of human-made chemicals that were manufactured as mixtures of individual chlorinated compounds (called congeners). These chemicals were used in many industrial processes and products until they were banned in 1979 by the Toxic Substances and Control Act (TSCA). PCBs take a long time to break down and can still be found today in the environment and in certain products made before 1979.
Exposure and human health
Exposure to PCBs typically occurs through eating food of animal origin (e.g., fish, meat, dairy), especially fish caught from contaminated waterbodies. People may also be exposed to PCBs from releases at hazardous waste sites or from old products and building materials manufactured with PCBs before they were banned.
A chemical impacts one’s health when it is both present in the environment, and a person comes into contact with the chemical by touching, swallowing or breathing in the chemical. Health effects will depend on how much a person is exposed to, how often, and for how long they are exposed. Possible harm from exposure to PCBs also depends on which specific PCB congeners or mixtures a person was exposed to and personal factors, such as age, sex, diet, lifestyle, and current health status.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) recommends that people who are concerned about PCB exposure and health effects seek the advice of a health care provider knowledgeable about environmental exposures. Clinicians can contact the DPH for more information about how to get in touch with health care providers in Massachusetts trained in environmental medicine. See Clinician contacts below.
Information for clinicians about PCBs
The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), including a link to an instructional video, and discussion of PCB exposure sources, associated health effects, and clinical management of patients exposed to PCBs.
Site-specific education
The following fact sheets describe DPH fish consumption advisories for some waterbodies in Massachusetts impacted by PCB contamination. Use them to educate patients about reducing exposure to chemicals by following DPH fish consumption advice and avoiding highly contaminated areas at local waterbodies.
General Electric (GE) - Pittsfield/Housatonic River site:
- DPH Advice for Eating Fish and Waterfowl from the Housatonic River Area in Massachusetts
- For more site-related information see the US EPA Webpage for the GE Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site
Lower Neponset River superfund site:
- DPH Community Fact Sheet for Recreational Use of the Neponset River (9 languages)
- For more site-related information see the US EPA Webpage for the Lower Neponset River Superfund Site
Mystic River:
New Bedford Harbor superfund site (main landing page or link to doc/pdf):
For more site-related information see the US EPA Webpage for the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site
The DPH Freshwater Fish Consumption Advisory Lookup Table provides a complete list of all public health fish consumption advisories issued at freshwater locations in Massachusetts.
Find information about other hazardous waste sites using the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) or US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) searchable databases.
Additional resources
Clinician contacts
Clinicians can contact the DPH or can also contact an environmental health specialist using the following national directories listed below.