The production of PCB chemicals, which are known to cause cancer, may be greater now than at any other time in history, even though they were prohibited more than four decades ago.

Polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs, were produced by humans and utilized as coolants and lubricants in electrical equipment until they were prohibited for their connection to health issues and their slow degradation in nature.

These substances have been shown to promote cancer and harm the immune, reproductive, nervous, and endocrine systems in animals. They also have the ability to cause cancer in humans and have been associated with skin conditions resembling acne in adults, and changes in behavior and immune function in children.

According to studies from the Guardian and Watershed Investigations, PCBs are being created as secondary products during chemical reactions, resulting in their presence in small amounts in numerous commonly used chemicals.

Dr. Dave Megson, an environmental forensic scientist at Manchester Metropolitan University who conducted the study, expressed shock at the fact that production of PCBs has been banned for over 40 years but they are still present due to our failure to eliminate them as required by the Stockholm convention.

According to the study, the amount of PCBs in these chemicals and their corresponding volumes results in a significant figure of approximately 45,000 tonnes per year in the United States. This number is even higher than the 39,000 tonnes produced annually during the peak of commercial production in the 1970s.

According to Megson, the creation of PCBs by accident is commonly linked to paints and pigments. However, our study reveals that it is a wider problem. A significant contributor to the production of PCBs is chlorinated solvents, commonly utilized in chemical industries.

“Many studies are overlooking the presence of certain PCBs, as the unintentionally produced PCBs are distinct from the ones intentionally created in commercial mixtures over 50 years ago.”

According to the research, certain by-product PCBs are not regularly included in current monitoring programs and could potentially present an unmonitored threat to the environment and human health. The findings recommend that these by-product PCBs should be recognized as a “contaminant of growing concern” and immediate action should be taken, as all PCBs are deemed harmful, not just those from older commercial mixtures.

According to Lee Bell, a member of the Stockholm Convention PCB expert group and the international chemicals NGO network, there has not been enough action taken to regulate the unintentional production of PCB during chemical manufacturing. While the convention has set a deadline of 2028 for parties to eliminate intentional PCB production and stockpiles, progress has been slow and only about 20% of PCB stockpiles have been destroyed so far.

“The study’s assumption that about 43,000 tonnes of PCBs could have been legally produced in 2019 in the US may well be the case despite uncertainties. This would outstrip Monsanto’s 1970 peak US production of 39,000 tonnes in 1970. On a global scale current unintentional PCB production could be much higher and needs urgent investigation.”

Bell recommends implementing more stringent regulations for the disposal of legacy and byproduct PCBs into water. It is concerning that a significant amount of money is being invested in the elimination of legacy PCBs, while unintentional PCB pollution is still able to spread without restriction under regulatory oversight.

Marine mammals have been discovered with significant amounts of PCBs, which has raised concerns for Dr Francesca Ginley of the Marine Conservation Society. These chemicals are resistant and can remain in the environment for many years, gradually collecting in marine animals through bioaccumulation.

Ginley stated that the presence of PCBs has greatly affected the killer whale population in the UK, leading to a potential extinction within the next century due to severe pollution. A female killer whale from the west coast of Scotland was discovered deceased in 2016, having become caught in fishing nets. Upon examination, it was found that the levels of PCBs in her tissues were 100 times higher than the established threshold for impacting the health of marine mammals.

A study conducted by the Zoological Society of London and the University of Glasgow in the previous year uncovered that UK stranded killer whales have levels of PCBs that are 30 times higher than the safe limit. The organizations have issued a warning that these pollutants pose a severe threat to the survival of these orcas.

Manufacturing of PCBs was prohibited in the US in 1979 and in the UK in 1981. Efforts to limit their incorporation in electrical equipment are ongoing in the UK. Sources of persistent pollution from PCBs produced commercially include disposal sites and building materials.

A representative from Defra declined to discuss the creation of PCBs as secondary products, but stated: “We have made a pledge to aim for the elimination of PCB usage by 2025 through our environmental improvement strategy. We will collaborate with the industry to identify and remove all devices containing these substances from use.”

We have recently discussed potential changes to PCBs regulations in order to fulfill our obligations under the international Stockholm Convention. This will also provide clarity for industries and businesses. Our response to the consultation and future plans will be released soon.

The EPA has rules in place that permit unintentional creation of PCBs in small amounts and specific circumstances. Although there is no official monitoring system, facilities that produce or import unintentionally created PCBs must inform the EPA and keep records on the PCBs, including the amount produced and released.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that it was unable to provide a response to Megson’s discovery. However, they did mention that according to their data at the time the regulations were implemented, less than 11,000 pounds (4,989 kilograms) of accidentally produced PCBs were projected to be used in products each year. From that estimate, it was estimated that only less than 1,000 pounds annually would end up in the environment.

In the previous month, the Environmental Protection Agency was sent a formal request from the Department of Ecology in Washington State regarding the unintentional creation of PCBs. The request demands that the EPA take action in creating regulations to protect public health from PCBs in consumer goods. The EPA is required to make a decision on the petition by April 3, 2024.

“If the release of PCBs continues, the issue will only escalate. These chemicals are not causing temporary problems; they are affecting entire animal populations for generations. It is not just killer whales that are impacted; PCBs have also been associated with increased mortality from infectious diseases and decreased testes weights in UK harbour porpoises. Instead of repeating the same mistakes, we should be using the lessons learned from the ongoing harm caused by PCBs to address other persistent chemicals.”

Source: theguardian.com