A major group of industrial water contaminants are known as PCBs. PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are a group of chemicals that were widely used in industrial and commercial applications until they were banned in the 1970s due to concerns about their toxic effects on human health and the environment. That was back when the EPA still had some teeth!
PCBs were popular because they were slick, durable, and heat resistant. They were used in factory equipment and also on consumer goods like Teflon pans, cars, boats, and construction materials.
The problem with PCBs is that they are classified as a persistent organic pollutant meaning, just like glyphosate, they attach to the fatty tissues of animals and stay there forever. They also remain in the environment for years, continuously exposing animals to their detrimental effects.
Like glyphosate, they accumulate in the food chain, which eventually devastates entire ecosystems. Also, like glyphosate, PCBs have caused humans many adverse health effects. Here are some of them:
1. Developmental delays: Children exposed to PCBs in the womb or during early childhood may experience developmental delays, including cognitive and motor deficits.
2. Immune system suppression: PCBs can suppress the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight off infections and diseases.
3. Hormone disruption: PCBs can interfere with the body’s hormonal balance, leading to a variety of health problems, including reproductive issues, thyroid dysfunction, and certain types of cancer.
4. Neurological effects: Exposure to PCBs has been linked to neurological effects, including decreased IQ, memory and learning problems, and behavior disorders.
5. Skin conditions: PCB exposure can cause a variety of skin conditions, including rashes, acne-like eruptions, and skin discoloration.
6. Cancer: PCBs have been classified as probable human carcinogens, meaning they are likely to cause cancer in humans. PCB exposure has been linked to several types of cancer, including liver, biliary tract, and skin cancer.
This is certainly a horrifying list. It’s hard to imagine babies being born autistic or with motor skill problems and it’s not because of genetics, it’s because there was a factory nearby making Teflon to put on pans they sold to Walmart.
It’s also hard to imagine someone having a decreased IQ, learning disorders, or severe acne. But the scariest is the behavioral disorders. How many violent crimes have been committed because of PCB contamination in water? Have people been murdered? It would be hard to prove a murder was caused by PCB exposure, but the fact that it is even a possibility is terrifying.
The sad part is that even though PCBs are banned, they are a forever chemical, which means they are still found in bodies of water all across the US. Furthermore, some PCBs may leach from old electrical equipment and enter the environment. They can also enter water bodies through industrial discharge, sewage treatment plants, and runoff from contaminated soil and sediments.
The threat of PCBs to our health is far from over. Even worse, many manufacturers have turned to producing PFAs. They’re similar to PCBS with similar adverse health effects but STILL LEGAL!
