Human Health and the Environment Polychlorinated Biphenyls

From 1947 to 1977, these two plants legally discharged from 500,000 to 1.5 million pounds of PCBs into the Hudson, and unknowingly saturated the bedrock beneath both sites with at least that much again. There are PCBs in Hudson River water, biota, and sediment from Hudson Falls to New York City - 200 miles that comprise the nations largest Superfund site. Pure PCBs are oozing out of the bedrock to this day, constantly recontaminating the river and over 300,000 pounds remain concentrated in bottom sediments of the river today. The spread of PCBs throughout the Hudson River and the food chain, which it supports, has created one of the most extensive hazardous waste problems in the nation. Polychlorinated biphenyl’s (PCBs) are a group of synthetic oil-like chemicals (therefore insoluble in water) of the organochlorine family. Until their toxic nature was recognized and their use was banned in the 1970s, they were widely used as insulation in electrical equipment, particularly transformers. Reputable chemists have since concluded, “it was probably a mistake ever to make or use PCBs.” These are serious poisons, which have been shown to cause damage to the reproductive, neurological and immune systems of wildlife and humans and are known to cause cancer. Exposure has also been linked to behavioral damage. Specifically, because PCBs in the body mimic estrogen, women of childbearing age and their infants are particularly susceptible

The number and prevalence of known or suspected carcinogens is growing. Many environmental contaminants are manufactured synthetic chemicals; waste and by-products of industrial processes; chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals used in farming and for landscaping; chemicals used in other commercial activities; combustion by-products of petroleum-powered engines; water disinfection/chlorination by-products; and both man-made and natural sources of radiation (Reuben 16).

Between 1947-1977 General Electric (GE) dumped 1.3 million pounds of PCBs in the river polluting it and making it hazardous. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are used as an insulator and a fire preventer. They also can cause illnesses, such as cancer. If the fish take in the PCBs and then we eat the fish, we can get sick.

The main intention of this experiment is to distinguish whether the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) has effects on Atlantic Croaker fish. Samples from Atlantic Croaker were taken from both tributaries, one being a Bisphenol A (BPA) free tributary, and the other being filled with Bisphenol A (BPA). In which data was recorded, analyzed, and had astonishing results. The results displayed that when the female Atlantic Croaker hepatic system were exposed to high dosages of Bisphenol A they showed physical abnormalities

Five environmental agents that can cause disease in humans are mercury, lead, radiation, air pollution, and pesticides. People are exposed to mercury in different ways. For example, a common way is by eating fish containing mercury or being exposed to broken products that contain mercury (thermometer). People are exposed to lead by exposure to lead-based paint and pipes of older buildings, as well as, ingesting contaminated water. We are exposed to radiation through the sun's UV radiation or x-rays people get when getting checkups in the hospital. As for air pollution, people can be exposed to CO2 emissions from cars, factories, and cities in general. Another way is being exposed while indoors by CO that comes from appliances that have no odor,

“sparsity [sic] of knowledge about PCBs in the environment. Only general statements can be made about how PCBs reach the environment, how they reach target organisms, and how much is present.”

The goal of this case study was to understand the historical timeline of the production and management of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). A literature review of research studies and governmental legislation was conducted to understand how research has influenced the development of PCB policies and how key issues surrounding PCBs have been addressed. This case study will examine the dangers that PCBs present to the environment and their potential risk to humans and animals. This study will also follow a timeline of the EPA’s actions towards developing regulations in the past, and how the EPA has implemented laws today to tackle the key issues surrounding PCBs. We will explore the events that led up to the EPA’s decision to ban the production

PCBs were once used in electrical gear, paints and flame retardants, but were banned from the 1970s because of their toxic effect in humans and animals. It impacts on human and animal health by causing cancer, suppressing immune system and causing reproductive problems. "Europe is a big big hotspot” scientists said and some populations of killer whales are facing extinction because of it. They also added that the global policymakers should act quickly and decisively to tackel the toxic legacy of PCBs, before it’s too late for the important marine predators to be extincted.

Studies in children who were prenatally exposed to high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBS) have indicated a link between these contaminants and neurodevelopmental effects. These included lower intelligence, behavioral issues such as impulsive behavior, inattention, as well as learning and memory problems.

Previous epidemiological studies have explored potential health effects of prenatal exposure to TCS and reported no significant impact on birth weight and head circumference. On the other hands, one study did report that male infants were significantly shorter when prenatally exposed to higher levels of TCS (Arbuckle, et al., 2015). Other studies have observed no behavioral change in infants exposed to BPA. All three chemicals have a potential for endocrine disruption.

PCBs were not the only contaminations which led to the movement of cleaning the oil refinery site, however, it was one of the contaminants that existed above the levels allowed, to the extent that it would be increasingly detrimental if it entered surrounding waters. There are numerous occasions where PCBs have left a negative impact on a community and have shown detrimental effects on the population of a community. PCBs were first recognized in 1968 when rice was cooked in oil that was contaminated by PCBs and poisoned over 1200 individual in Japan. After this incidence and many alike in Italy and Belgium, the U.S. decided to tests the consequences of PCBs in rats. Scientists in the U.S. discovered PCBs caused cancer in rats so it may cause cancer in humans and was banned in 1972.

During recent years, numerous newspaper and magazine articles have suggested that humans may be at risk because small amounts of well known environmental contaminants, such as dioxin, PCBs and DDT, can affect hormone levels. Hormones are produced by the endocrine system as regulators of biological function in target organs. Because hormones play a critical role in early development, toxicological effects on the endocrine system often have an impact on the reproductive system. The term endocrine disruptor is used to describe chemicals that can mimic hormones and may either enhance or counteract their effects. It has been suggested that these hormone changes can, in turn, lead to a variety of health problems

The first two families of compounds, PCDDs and PCDFs, are structurally and chemically related, and the PCBs, has toxic properties similar to dioxins. All those compounds have number of variants, or congeners, or structure, or function. There are about 29 toxic dioxins, but the most toxic is the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD). (Montoya, 2015)

Many scientific researchers have said that our environment has been filled with toxic chemicals, which us humans have had a part of. There are many different issues that should concern us surrounding these toxic chemicals. The major concern is that many of these toxic chemicals have been claimed to be causing damage to the health of humans and even other life forms. Another concern is that most of the theses toxic chemicals have just recently been produced; and by our environment changing everyday there is no telling what effects these toxic chemicals may have in the long run on the public 's health. Just about all of these toxic chemicals exist in the way they do because of humans. As humans we practice a lot of different activities that cause toxic chemicals to pollute our environment such as, agriculture, industrial, and many domestic activities as well. Many of the toxic chemicals that we produce and use don 't get used in a effective way, which causes them to be wasted, left abandoned, and disposed of. When toxic chemicals are not disposed of properly they effect the environment and the public 's health in a negative way.

PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyls) and dioxins have been in focus recently as there are concerns that the different structures are appearing to mimic the effects of female oestrogenic hormones. (Gray 1996) These chemicals can cause genetic chromosomal problems and major concerns to the reproductive effectiveness of marine animals. Oil spills and the burning of wood and coal can cause poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which has a negative effect on all wildlife causing genetic abnormalities. (EMCBTAP-ENVIS Newsletter 2002).