chemical information
CAS RN:

52712-04-6

Chemical Class:

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)

Chemical SubClass

Hexa-PCB

Manufacturing/Use Status

banned for use/manufacture in the U.S.

Found in these people:

Baby #10, Baby #7, Baby #9, Michael Lerner, Davis Baltz, Sharyle Patton, Cord Blood Sample 20, Cord Blood Sample 19, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 13

Found in these locations:

Bolinas, CA; Berkeley, CA

Exposure routes:

Banned industrial insulators and lubricants. Residual environmental contamination results in continued exposures.


Summary

Laboratory animals. In animal studies, PCBs cause a wide variety of effects including liver and thyroid tumors; kidney, gastrointestinal, immune, urinary tract, and reproductive toxicity; altered lipid and carbohydrate metabolism; nail and nail bed changes; reduced fertility and birth defects. Specific birth defects include reproductive tract and skeletal abnormalities. PCBs are endocrine disruptors because they alter thyroid and adrenal hormone levels and function. PCBs cause significant neurotoxicity, including decreased exploratory behavior, learning, spatial and non-spatial discrimination, auditory deficits and altered levels of brain neurotransmitters (dopamine and serotonin) (ATSDR 2000b).

Humans. The effects of PCBs have been studied in humans who were exposed through diet, work, and industrial accidents. PCBs are reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogen (NTP 2002). They are associated with skin, liver, biliary tract, and intestinal cancers. Other effects of PCBs include respiratory effects, gastrointestinal damage (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain), eye irritation, increased susceptibility to infection, and hypothyroidism (ATSDR 2000b, Persky, et al. 2001). Other possible health effects associated with PCB exposure are menstrual irregularities and decreased fertility in women. Inconsistent associations have been noted with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, sperm and fertility in males, low birth weight and head circumference (ATSDR 2000b). PCB exposure in the womb or during lactation is also associated with decreased IQ and impaired psychomotor development, decreased immune function, altered liver enzyme and lipid levels, and skin disease (chloracne) (ATSDR 2000b).


PCB-141

In polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) family of chemicals - banned industrial insulators and lubricants; cause cancer and nervous system problems.

PCB-141 has been found in 11 of the 35 people tested in EWG/Commonweal studies.


Top health concerns for PCB-141 (References)

health concern or target organ weight of evidence
Brain and nervous systemunknown
Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)limited


Results for PCB-141

in blood serum (lipid weight)

Showing results from EWG/Commonweal Study #1, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults, Pollution in Minority Newborns, San Francisco Reporter, EWG/Commonweal Study #4, industrial chemicals and pesticides in cord blood, EWG Study #3, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults, EWG Study #8, chemicals in mother and 2 children

EWG/Commonweal results

  • geometric mean: 0.0019 ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
  • found in 11 of 35 people in the group
ng/g (lipid weight) in blood serum 1.81


PCB-141 results


Detailed toxicity classifications (References)

classification governing entity/references
Nervous system toxicity - weight of evidence unknown/unassessedATSDR (2000). Toxicological profile for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): Health effects chapter. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts17.html
Limited evidence in humans - immune system toxicityATSDR (2000). Toxicological profile for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): Health effects chapter. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts17.html