Polychlorinated biphenyl
Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB)
Polychlorinated biphenyls (pronounced: pol-ee-klor-in-ated bi-fen-ils), commonly known as PCBs, are a group of man-made organic chemicals consisting of carbon, hydrogen and chlorine atoms. The number of chlorine atoms and their location in a PCB molecule determine many of its physical and chemical properties. PCBs have no known natural sources.
Etymology
The term "polychlorinated biphenyl" is derived from the chemical structure of the compound. The prefix "poly-" means many, "chlorinated" refers to the presence of chlorine atoms, and "biphenyl" refers to the two connected benzene rings that form the basic structure of the compound.
History and Uses
PCBs were manufactured from 1929 until their ban in the United States in 1979 due to evidence of environmental accumulation and health effects. They were used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications including electrical, heat transfer, and lubricating products.
Health Effects
Exposure to PCBs can lead to a variety of health effects. Depending on the specific PCB, these effects can include cancer, as well as a variety of effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, and endocrine system.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Polychlorinated biphenyl
- Wikipedia's article - Polychlorinated biphenyl
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski